Farmers Bank - Wilmington, DE

Bank Information

Episode Type: Run Only
Bank Type: state
Start Date: October 19, 1929
Location: Wilmington, Delaware (39.746, -75.547)

Metadata

Model: gpt-5-mini
Short Digest: 2f6235cb

Response Measures

Accommodated withdrawals, Public signal of financial health

Other: Airplane signal/public demonstration of cash reserves helped disperse crowd.

Description

Article (The News Journal, 1929-10-19) describes a large line of depositors (about 250) and 'empty vaults' that later dissipated — a run that was calmed the same day. No suspension, receivership, or reopening is mentioned. OCR is noisy; inferred date from publication. Bank type inferred as state (not explicitly stated).

Events (1)

1. October 19, 1929 Run

Cause: Rumor Or Misinformation
Cause Details: Public panic/nervousness led to heavy withdrawals; article implies fear spread but no bank-specific insolvency cited.
Measures: Public reassurance appears to have been used (mayor/officials/airplane signal helped calm crowd); no formal suspension or 30-day rule invoked.
Newspaper Excerpt: the line of 250 depositors ... empty vaults at the ... bank ... the line faded away
Source: newspapers

Newspaper Articles (1)

1. October 19, 1929 The News Journal Wilmington, DE

Article from The News Journal, October 19, 1929

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Article Text

FILE FOUR APPEALS WITH ZONING The following appeals will be con- The Associated sidered by the Adjustment, Zoning meeting the the yesterday dropped money office the Mayor Public bags faith panic Building next Thursday stricken town and stave off bank Walter rebuild kitchen which almost with less than 10 feet setback in rear have resulted empty vaults at the yard. 517 West Third bank which Louis Iannotti, 1923 West Eighth drone of an airplane motor erect private garage insuffi- signal the day was saved cient rear yard, 101 North that the line of 250 depositors Arthur erect within garage in front Farmers Bank than 50 fee the building need have no fears getting rear, 3511 Tatnall their money. Almost like magic the Ice and Company, line faded away and formed erect nine community -customers the money less than feet southcorner Ninth and Pine Sts. Relief rushed airplane