Plano National Bank/I.O.O.F. Lodge Building

Duane's take

Here's how the marker tells it, and here's how I'm gonna tell it to you. Two outfits, a bank and a lodge of Odd Fellows, and one building they were willing to share. Now, that right there already raises an eyebrow or two.

A banking institution and a fraternal order bunking together under the same roof. But it worked, apparently, until 1895, when fire made the decision for everybody and destroyed the building they shared. That'll settle a debate quick.

So what do you do when fire takes the floor out from under you? You build back better, or at least fancier. The Plano National Bank, established back in 1887, and the I.O.O.F.

Lodge, the Odd Fellows, who'd been organized even longer, going back to 1870; they pooled their intentions and erected this commercial building right here in 1896. One year after the fire. That is not a slow response.

Now, the story doesn't stop there, because a good building has layers. Come 1936, an architect and builder by the name of Abe Cain got his hands on the structure and redesigned it (top to bottom) with art deco detailing. And art deco, friends, is the style that says: we have arrived, and we would like you to notice.

The building was remodeled again in 1958, which nudged it away from that sleek deco look. But then along came a restoration project in the 1980s that said, no, no; we know what this building is supposed to be; and brought it back to its 1936 art deco appearance. Full circle.

And among the prominent features you can still appreciate today: Czechoslovakian black Carrara glass. Not local glass. Not ordinary glass.

Czechoslovakian black Carrara glass. Because apparently when a bank and a lodge of Odd Fellows decide to build something together in Plano, Texas, they are not cutting corners on the glass.

What the marker says

After a building they shared was destroyed by fire in 1895, the Plano National Bank (est. 1887) and the I.O.O.F. (Odd Fellows) Lodge (est. 1870) erected this commercial building here in 1896. In 1936 the structure was redesigned by architect/builder Abe Cain with art deco detailing. The building was remodeled in 1958 but a 1980s restoration project returned it to its 1936 art deco appearance. Prominent features include Czechoslovakian black Carrara glass. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1993