First Bank of Murphy in Murphy, North Carolina

Welcome to one of Downtown Murphy’s oldest buildings and quite possibly one of its most colorful. This was once the Bank of Murphy, established on January 16, 1899. Today, it’s home to FairyCross Bottle Shop. Apparently, after more than a century, this building decided it had earned the right to stop dealing in money and start dealing in wine. Before you head inside, take a good look at the marble steps. Notice how worn they are? Those aren’t just scratches and weathering. They’re the footprints of history...literally. For decades, thousands of customers, bankers, shopkeepers, and assorted characters walked through these doors, slowly wearing down the marble beneath their feet. The building is one of the oldest surviving commercial structures in downtown Murphy. Its original brick façade was covered with stucco sometime in its long history, but many of its architectural details remain, including the graceful arched doors and windows and the original marble threshold. When the Bank of Murphy opened its doors in 1899, A.F. Dickey was president, A. McD. Harshaw was vice president, and Luke Bayless served as the bank’s first manager and cashier. Bayless was credited with helping make …

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