Massanutten Bank - Strasburg, VA

Bank Information

Episode Type: Suspension → Reopening
Bank Type: state
Start Date: April 27, 1900
Location: Strasburg, Virginia (38.989, -78.359)

Metadata

Model: gpt-5-mini
Short Digest: 3c74d7de

Response Measures

None

Description

Article describes a bold burglary/robbery of the Massanutten Bank (vault blown, $5,000 taken). Paper reports The bank was closed this morning, and will remain closed until the loss is adjusted. There is no mention of depositor runs or a permanent receivership; closure appears temporary pending adjustment, so classified as a suspension with expected reopening. Bank type inferred as state (small local bank; name lacks 'National' or 'Trust').

Events (1)

1. April 27, 1900 Suspension

Cause: Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details: Bank was broken into and robbed (vault and safe blown open with nitro-glycerine); about $5,000 in currency and silver stolen, prompting temporary closure until loss adjusted.
Newspaper Excerpt: The bank was closed this morning, and will remain closed until the loss is adjusted.
Source: newspapers

Newspaper Articles (1)

1. April 28, 1900 The Times Richmond, VA

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Article Text

BOLD ROBBERY IN STRASBURG The Massanutten Bank Entered and Looted. BY EIGHT BURGLARS Who Made Good Their Escape in Direction of Front Royal. THEY TERRORIZED THE TOWN Citizens of the Town Dared Not Interfere for Fear of Being Shot-The Robbers Secured a Booty of $5,000 in Currency and SIIver-The Bank Insured Against Burglary. WOODSTOCK, V.A., April 27.-Special.Professional burglars cracked Massanutten Bank at Strasburg this morning about 1 o'clock and carried away about $5,000. An entrance was effected by a skeleton key. The vault and safe were blown open by means of nitro-glycerine injected into the side of the door which had been stopped up with soap. There were eight men in the gang, most of whom stood guard for several squares around the bank. A large number of pistol shots were fired to draw attention from the bank. Several persons looked out of their windows, but were ordered to withdraw on pain of being shot. After wrecking the bank the men collected at the Massanutten Hotel, and went to the Southern Depot, where they took a hand truck and went to Riverton, where they left the car, and all traces were lost. The bank is a member of the Bankers' Association, and is insured for five thousand in Fidelty and Casualty Deposit of New York. TERRORIZED TOWN. FRONT ROYAL, VA., April 27-Special. One of the boldest bank robberies in the history of Virginia occurred last night at Strasburg. The Massanutten Bank was broken open and $5,000 in silver and currency stolen. The "Burglar Proof" inner safe and the fire-proof safe were blown to smithereens, and the windows and glass in door and the whole of the railings surrounding the cashier's desk were demolished by the force of the explosives. There were about eight persons in the gang, and they were not very secret about their operations. The president of the bank, Mr. Edward Zea, heard the noise and found out what was going on, but his family would not let him venture out. THREATENED TO SHOOT. A neighbor, Dr. White, put his head out of the window, and was warned to take it back, or they would shoot him. One neighbor came out on the porch, and he was also warned to enter his house. The gang shot off pistols and made plenty of noise, but the people were terrified and helpless, and could not but stand and see the bank looted. The robbers secured tools from the tool house of the Southern Railway Company, which were left in the bank. They also got a hand truck and ran it to Riverton, about ten miles east of Strasburg, where it was discarded, and there they must have scattered, perhaps, getting on freight trains on the Southern and Norfolk and Western Railroads. ORGANIZED GANG. Three men were seen going from Buckton to Strasburg on the track about 10 o'clock last night, who are thought to be of the gang. It seems to have been an organized band of bold burglars. Others were seen at Riverton yesterday. Your correspondent was informed this morning by a director in the bank that the bank was insured against burglary. The bank was closed this morning, and will remain closed until the loss is adjusted. Mr. Zea, of Strasburg, is president, and Mr. Eberly cashier. The man who forged a check, and which was cashed by the Front Royal National Bank, as reported in The Times yesterday, was captured near Limeton yesterday. His name is Elliott, and he is a resident of the county.