First National Bank - Lynchburg, VA

Bank Information

Episode Type: Run Only
Bank Type: national
Bank ID: 1558
Charter Number: 1558
Start Date: October 2, 1873
Location: Lynchburg, Virginia (37.414, -79.142)

Metadata

Model: gpt-5-mini
Short Digest: 1adfa703

Response Measures

Accommodated withdrawals

Description

Single article (Wilmington Daily Gazette, 1873-10-02) describes a panic/run at the First National Bank of Lynchburg triggered by a false alarm when the ceiling fell and the watchman was frightened. The bank resumed business the next morning after debris was cleared. OCR appears accurate.

Events (2)

1. September 13, 1865 Chartered

Source: historical_nic

2. October 2, 1873 Run

Cause: Rumor Or Misinformation
Cause Details: False alarm caused by a falling ceiling; the frightened watchman raised an alarm that led to a run, but there was no damage.
Random Run: Yes
Random Run Snippet: ceiling fell; watchman alarmed, false run; bank resumed next morning
Measures: Cleared debris; resumed business next morning.
Newspaper Excerpt: The Lynchburg papers boasted their banks were intact, and could laugh a seige to scorn, nevertheless, a serious panic was created in one of them, the first National, which caused considerable consternation, and a run from it. The ceiling fell in during the night, and frightened the watchman, who thought it time for him to get up a run. The Virginian says, no damage was done beyond the alarm of the watchman, and in the morning the bank resumed business as soon as the debris were cleared away.
Source: newspapers

Newspaper Articles (1)

1. October 2, 1873 Wilmington Daily Gazette Wilmington, DE

Article from Wilmington Daily Gazette, October 2, 1873

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Article Text

PANIC IN A LYNCHBURG BANK-A GREAT ORASH.-The Lynchburg papers boasted their banks were intact, and could laugh a seige to scorn, neverthelass, a serious panic was created in one of them, the first National, which caused considerable consternation, and a run from it. The ceiling fell in during the night, and frightened the watchman, who thought it time for him to get up a run. The Virginian says, no damage was done beyond the alarm of the watchman, and in the morning the bank resumed business as soon as the debris were cleared away.