Former Bank of Waynesville Building

FORMER BANK OF WAYNESVILLE, 100 S. Benton St.: Constructed in 1904 on land purchased from attorney Joe McGregor, the Bank of Waynesville was housed in the lower level with the second story divided into offices. George M. Reed’s abstract business was one of the first tenants. In 1917, the bank’s safe was robbed by Jink Starling and his gang of yeggmen. A gunfight broke out between the bandits and citizens. A posse was formed to catch the fleeing gang, but the robbers escaped. Starling was later apprehended, tried, convicted, and sentenced to 20 years at the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City.