Photo by Ginger Tester.

The Future of the Bank of Bolivar Building?

With the 10-year anniversary of the fire in downtown Bolivar that changed East Market Street, the landmark building damaged by the blaze is still in limbo.
Known as the Bank of Bolivar building and recognized as a National Historic Landmark since 1979, it has remained empty for almost 10 years.
Built in 1910, the Neo-Federal style structure has four Corinthian crowned pilasters and gingerbread metal molding.  It was remodeled in 1950 and in 1961, the McAnulty building next to the bank was purchased for the expansion of the main office.  In May of 1979 the Bank of Bolivar relocated to West Market Street in Bolivar, which now houses CB&S Bank.
The building eventually became the property of Haley Smith who operated WMOD-Radio from the building until selling the business to WMOD, Inc. in 1997. Smith eventually sold the building and surrounding property to current owner Jac Belet in 2006.
With the five-year lease between Belet and the Bolivar Downtown Development Corporation (DEVCO) ending in December, the question of what use the building could have is at hand once again.
The lease, signed on December 9, 2011, gave DEVCO the use of the property, which includes the building, an area of land east of the building, the two buildings behind and connected to the building and a portion of the parking lot behind the building as well.
The roof and basement of the building were stabilized, but the structure has existed without utilities since the fire.