75 the front part of the machine and photographed on a film as rapidly as fed into the machine. 8,000 checks were photographed on a 100 foot reel. Photographs were the width of a match and could be enlarged by a special projector. A single posting machine was also installed. An ad during that time touted the fact that statements could now be made “in minutes upon request.” Mr. Kenneth Gilpin expressed his desire on February 2, 1939 not to be re-elected to the Board due to his inability to attend meetings regularly: “5 of the past 12 months in the hospital, 6 weeks’ work at Charles Town Races, one month at Saratoga, and appointment to State Highway Commission in September 1938.” Even though he wrote to President Bradford asking that his name not be put up for re-election, he was unanimously re-elected, the bank citing his importance regarding unfinished Boyce State Bank business and his representation of the southern section of the County. He then wrote to the Commissioner of Banking and said he would agree to serve only if the State Bureau of Banking saw no problem in his inability to be a regular attendee at meetings. He ended the letter with “the Board of Directors of the Bank of Clarke County have a very much exaggerated and erroneous idea of the value of my importance to the bank!” Commissioner Bristow responded that Mr. Gilpin should remain as a Board member. “There are other duties for a member of a Board of Directors to perform besides attending meetings. It is one of the evidences of a Director’s performance of duty to attend, it is true. Still, men can attend Board meetings regularly and never accomplish anything.” Mr. Potts had a routine of visiting Harrison’s Pharmacy in Berryville each day. One morning during 1940 he proudly announced to the coffee group gathered there that “we just hit one million in assets today”. President Bradford, speaking to stockholders at the January 11, 1940 meeting, announced new changes to the bank: “A new feature in the rules of the Banking Department requires an annual 5% charge-off on all real estate other than the banking house. It is obvious that such annual reductions will in a few years leave the real estate valuation at a figure much lower than its real value. This method of bookkeeping, while it absorbs that much of the earnings, in no wise impairs or curtails them. It was meant and does apply to all banks and ours had to fall under the rule. The service charge regulation which aroused such consternation when first put in operation is working smoothly and people generally recognize its justice.” There was renewed effort to obtain additional business for the Trust Department in 1940. There was also another rate-fixing meeting with First National where it was agreed to reduce the savings account rate to 2% at both banks. On January 9, 1941 Director Dorsey resigned due to his appointment as a director of the Northern Virginia Power Company. The Securities and Exchange Commission caused him to disassociate himself from financial institutions but he said he would remain a stockholder and customer, interested in the welfare and future progress of the bank. The Board responded with a fitting tribute: Be it resolved; that it is a source of regret that other business