17 vault front and door. Total project cost was $4,390. On Monday, May 24, 1881, while workmen were engaged in digging the foundation for the building, they came upon the bones of four or five human bodies, found within two or three feet of the surface and bearing evidence of having been buried there for a number of years. No one living possessed any knowledge of this spot having been used as a burying ground. It was first thought that these relics belonged to the bodies of Indians, but this theory was contradicted by the fact that some nails were found at the same place, showing that the bodies had been placed in coffins before burial – a practice never indulged by Indians. It was eventually determined that the bodies were probably relics of possible soldiers of the Revolutionary War period. There was no reference as to the relocation of the remains. By the summer of 1881 good progress was being made on the bank building. Work was periodically delayed by bricklayers Watson and Taylor due to the inability to procure brick. Inclement weather forced the delay of getting an acceptable kiln of brick burnt in a timely manner. By September the building was under roof. The Clarke Courier reported that “it’s quite a large structure and when finished will no doubt be an ornament to our town”. Sensing the fact that only a part of the first floor would be used for banking operations, the decision was made to rent out the remainder of the building - two first-floor rooms at $150 each per year and $40 per year for each of the three offices upstairs. One downstairs’ room was rented by the law firm of McDonald and Moore. A stove was installed in November 1881, and the building was insured. To finish the project, a water closet and coal bins were built in the rear of the bank. TheDecember8,1881ClarkeCourierannouncedthatthebuildingwasnow open for business and the amount already placed on deposit was considerable. They reported that the Bank “is supplied with safe and fireproof vault, the doors of which are constructed with the latest and most improved combination locks and built to resist any burglarious attempts to force them open.” Permission was given to store the former Bank of Berryville documents in an upstairs room. The Cashier was asked to report on the first nine months’ profits of the bank. He was unable to make an exact statement and reported that the net profits were about $550 to January 1, 1882. S. Scollay Moore resigned from the Board on September 25, 1882 to enter the Episcopal Theological Seminary. His resignation was accepted with deep regret “because of his very efficient service as director.” Mr. Thomas D. Gold was elected to fill the vacancy. A January 4, 1883 stockholders’ meeting was held but the Cashier was sick at the time and the record of the meeting was not preserved. The January 3, 1884 stockholders’ meeting reaffirmed the seven Board members for another year’s service to the bank. Mr. John B. Neill, then 18 years old, was hired as bookkeeper at a salary of $150 per year. By 1885 business and profits were experiencing a decrease, causing the