Bodie Bank vault remains
Bodie Bank vault remains - August 25, 1962
The Bank of Bodie opened on North Main Street in 1878. In 1888, Bodie business mogul J.S. Cain bought half interest in the bank from E. L. Benedict, and, using the fortune he made from mining, completed the purchase in 1890. Cain was a leader in several local industries, including mining and timber, so the Bank of Bodie became a center for business dealings when he took it over.
The bank escaped the fire of 1892, but was destroyed in the fire of 1932 that consumed most of the town. When the building caught fire, a few men rushed to salvage the bank’s valuable walnut counter, only to get it stuck in the door and block themselves from saving anything else.
Before the fire actually got to the bank though, Cain's grand-daughters, Helen and Ruth, got the key to the bank from their grandfather, so they could save some of their favorite items. Cain was sure the bank would be fine, but let them get their things to make them feel better.
According to stories, none of the valuables INSIDE the safe were damaged when the fire leveled the rest of the bank. All that remains of the Bank of Bodie is the brick vault pictured here.
In the early days, there were two banks: The Bodie Bank and The Mono County Bank. As population dwindled, these two competitors merged. J.S. Cain eventually bought out his partners and owned and operated the business until it burnt in the 1932 blaze that destroyed most of Bodie. The old advertisements reveal that this bank offered 24 hour security; the bank attendants slept on a cot in the back.
Inside Bodie Bank circa 1920 with owner J. S. Cain
Inside the Bodie Bank in 1913, Stuart Cain (son of J.S. Cain standing) and Ed Stinson wait for customers. The walls are adorned with calendars and attractive women. Ore samples are on display in the large cabinet. Behind the men, on the back wall, is the large brick vault containing the safe
Bodie Foundation Collection
Even though Bodie had a reputation for lawlessness, the bank was surprisingly secure. It was never robbed in broad daylight, though it was robbed in the night on September 1, 1916, by four men who got away with $4,000 in money and jewelry.
The other bank that Bodie boasted during its boom days, the Mono County Bank, was organized in 1877 by Timothy Hopkins, adopted son of Mark Hopkins of "Big Four" and Central Pacific fame. It operated until 1884 and closed with all accounts settled in full.
Several Bodie residents stand in front of the newly-constructed Mono County Bank building on Main Street. The photo reveals an interesting cross-section of residents: children, working men and a few men dressed more formally, perhaps bank officials. The Mono County Bank was just south of the Bodie Bank.
The Mono County Bank in Bodie - 1879 - Photo by R.E. Wood, courtesy of California State University, Chico, Meriam Library Special Collections
