At this corner of Main and Second Street in Washington, the story has always been one of movement…of goods, of industry, and of people building something bigger than themselves.

Today, this site is home to the Peoples National Bank building, now filled with local businesses, organizations, and offices, including Discover Downtown Washington.

But long before this building rose, this corner was alive with a different kind of energy.

 A Store That Became an Empire

In 1852, two entrepreneurs, Joseph M. Cabel and George Kauffman Jr., opened a small dry goods store right here.

It didn’t stay small for long.

Over the next half century, their business expanded into one of the most prominent mercantile operations in Washington. Their storefronts stretched along Main Street, filled with everything a growing town could need—groceries, clothing, carpets, glassware, cigars, and more.

Photos from the time show bustling sidewalks, stacked goods spilling onto the street, and a steady flow of customers, evidence of a business that had become essential to daily life.

This wasn’t just a store.

It was the heartbeat of downtown commerce.

 Powering Progress Below the Surface

Cabel and Kauffman didn’t just build above ground, they helped fuel what was happening beneath it.

With the arrival of the railroad in 1857, coal quickly became one of the region’s most valuable resources. Recognizing the opportunity, they expanded into mining, forming the Cabel Coal Company.

As locomotives shifted from wood to coal, demand surged. By the late 1800s, their mining operations employed hundreds of workers and produced hundreds of thousands of tons each year.

Above ground, their stores supplied the town.Below ground, their coal powered its growth.

 A Lasting Impact Beyond Business

Joseph Cabel wasn’t just a businessman…he was also a philanthropist!

In 1903, he donated land for Washington’s Carnegie Public Library, ensuring that education and access to knowledge would be part of the community’s future.

Even as industries changed, that contribution continues to shape Washington today.

The Fire That Changed Everything

But like many stories along this trail, success was not immune to tragedy.

On April 27, 1923, a devastating fire tore through downtown, destroying all three Cabel & Kauffman buildings and their entire inventory. Historic images show smoldering rubble, crowds gathered in disbelief, and the remains of what had once been one of the city’s most important businesses.

Decades of growth—gone overnight.

Rising Again: A Landmark in Its Own Right

From that destruction came renewal.

The property was acquired by Peoples National Bank and Trust Company, and in 1928, a new five-story bank and office building rose from the site, a bold statement of resilience and forward momentum.

Now nearing a century of its own history, the Peoples National Bank building is not just what came after, it is part of the story itself.

Constructed with a steel frame and detailed with brick and stone, the building was designed to stand strong—both physically and symbolically. Its architectural features reflected confidence, permanence, and stability at a time when Washington was transitioning from its coal and mercantile roots into a new era of banking, business, and professional services.

Inside, the original bank space once featured teller windows and decorative finishes that matched its importance in the community—serving as a financial anchor for generations.

And perhaps most importantly…

Its construction sent a clear message:

Washington wasn’t slowing down.It was adapting.

A Space That Keeps Evolving

Nearly 100 years later, the purpose of the building has evolved, but its role has not.

Today, its offices are home to a variety of businesses, organizations, and community leaders working to shape the future of Washington, including Discover Downtown Washington.

Where goods were once sold…Where coal fortunes were built…Where money was once counted…

Ideas are now created.Connections are now formed.Community still happens here.

A Legacy of Enterprise and Renewal

This stop on the Landmarks & Legacies Trail tells a story of ambition, adaptation, and resilience.

From:

• A small dry goods store

• To a thriving mercantile empire

• To coal mines powering a region

• To devastating fire

• To a new landmark rising in its place

This corner has never stood still.

It has evolved…again and again, with the needs of the community.

Because in Washington, history isn’t just remembered…

It keeps working.