After the Civil War, Carthage’s growing population attracted wealthy entrepreneurs such as Gustavius Cassil, who made his fortune in land speculation. Noticing that the city lacked a bank, and after having to carry large sums of cash personally, Cassil founded the Bank of Carthage in 1868 at 301 South Main Street, on a site where an earlier building had been destroyed during the Battle of Carthage.

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The bank expanded as the city grew. A larger two-story building replaced the original in 1884, and in 1890 it was remodeled with a third floor.  A portion of the remodeled Bank of Carthage Building would be refaced with rough, red sandstone designed in the Romanesque Architectural Style, while the rest of the building would keep its original facade, designed in the Italianate Architectural Style.

 

A major renovation in 1909 added marble walls, mahogany stairs, and wood trim. The building housed the bank, storefronts, offices, and a lodge hall for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, though the third floor was removed in 1949 due to structural issues.

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After nearly 90 years at the site, the bank moved across 3rd Street to a new building in 1960. The institution later became part of Boatmen’s Bank and eventually Bank of America.  Krummel’s Drug Store operated at the former Bank of Carthage Building for some time but would eventually close.

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Today, the historic 1884 bank building is home to The Carthage Deli, where original vaults, woodwork, marble interiors, and the “Bank of Carthage” sign remain.  The 1960 bank building across 3rd Street now serves as the Jasper County Police Annex, and both buildings stand as reminders of Cassil’s lasting impact on Carthage.