| Name: | (former) Hancock Bank [Masonic Hall {Southern Star Lodge No. 500, F&AM}] |
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| Address: | 126 Jeff Davis Avenue |
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| City/County: | Long Beach, Harrison County |
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| Construction Date: | 1926-27 |
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| Architectural Styles(s): | Italian Renaissance |
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| Easement Type: | Preservation/Maintenance |
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| Book/Vol. No.: | Book 2007 Pg. 9432D-J11 |
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| The building was built in 1926 as the second branch of Hancock Bank. In 1942 it was sold to the Masonic lodge, who used the upper story as a lodge hall and rented the lower story for use as a post office (until 1960) and later as a library. The building was rehabilitated about 1998 for commercial use. |
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| 2-story, steel frame, three-bay-wide (w-dd-w) Italian Renaissance building has a flat roof. The entrance is recessed and includes brass 1-light double doors framed by sculpted cast stone door-surround and semicircular arch with brass keystone. An ornate brass awning supported by chains sits under multi-light transom filling the arch. Corinthian columns flank the entry. A cornice with dentils wraps around the front (east) façade. The building has a continuous brick foundation, brick cladding, and metal roof. Windows are wood 1/1 double-hung-sash. Other details are brass cartouches, quoins framing Bays 1 and 3, and a frieze emblazoned with "Hancock County Bank Building." A galleried shed roof addition was appended to the left (south) façade. |
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| This building was constructed in 1926 to house the third branch of the Hancock County Bank, the first bank erected in Long Beach. The amount of $40,000 covered the cost of the lot, equipment, and construction. The Masonic Lodge bought the building in 1940, added on to it, and used the upper story as the Southern Lodge No. 500.hall. The lower level was rented to the U.S. Post Office in 1960. It later served as library and Justice of the Peace until 1997, when it was rehabilitated for commercial use. |
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