Parke County RDC closes on the purchase of the former Rockville National Bank Building

The Parke County Redevelopment Commission announced Wednesday that it has officially closed on the purchase of the former Rockville National Bank Building.

The building is at 101 N. Market Street / 128 West Ohio Street on the Rockville Courthouse Square. Constructed in 1907, the building was last occupied by Old National Bank, which closed its Rockville branch in April 2020. The acquisition also includes the drive-thru and the rear parking lot on the north side of the square. Branson Insurance and Bonds will continue to operate out of the building during the transition.

The RDC, working in partnership with Parke County Government and the Town of Rockville will look to restore the structure and return it to active use as a county government annex. Anticipated departments expected to be consolidated and relocated include the Prosecutor’s Office, Health Department, Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Medical Services Billing, Partnership Parke County, among others.

The building will also feature a dedicated meeting space for the Parke County Commissioners, Parke County Council, and other county entities. The facility will also offer expanded storage for vital county records currently housed in multiple locations.

The RDC will immediately begin seeking consultants to assist in space planning and department relocation. Several upgrades will be necessary to bring the building up to modern standards. In the press release about the purchase, the commission states that it intends to retain and preserve the historic character of the building.

The project is being funded through the Central Parke and West Central Parke Tax Increment Finance Districts. No tax increases or county-backed debt are anticipated.

The press release also states that while the RDC may consider issuing debt supported solely by TIF revenues, county taxpayers will not be responsible for additional costs. The timeline of the project will depend on contract awards and the extent of restoration needed.

The site was originally home to Ray’s Tavern. By February 1824, the official decision was made to designate the location as the county sat.

In 1867, the tavern was demolished and replaced with a three-story structure built to house a national bank – the 63^rd such bank chartered in the United States. After fire destroyed that building in 1906, it was replaced by the current structure in 1907.

The RDC released a statement on the project – “This building perfectly meets the needs of an accessible and welcoming government space. Restoring and reactivating this important historic structure strengthens the courthouse square and enhances the overall wellbeing of the community. The RDC is excited to move this project forward and is grateful fr the strong collaborations with county leadership and the Town of Rockville.”