A facelift is in the works for the former Deerfield State Bank building located at 602 Main Street in Deerfield, Kansas. Kala Grauberger Fortin, owner of the building, is putting a bakery and coffee shop in the historic structure which was built in 1907.
The charter for the Deerfield State Bank was approved in November 1906 with a starting capital of $10,000. “Deerfield, Kearny county, has been known to fame as a mere railroad station, sort of a jumping off place, but so sudden and great has been the growth of this particular section of western Kansas, under the stimulating influence of the sugar beet industry, that Deerfield is a place of such proportions these days as to warrant the establishment of a bank there,” proclaimed the Garden City Reflector.
The board of directors, composed of A.G. Campbell, R.A. Beckett, Oscar Downing, A.R. Downing and E.R. Thorpe, secured lots 11 and 12 in block 8 and erected a temporary building at the back so that business could commence as soon as possible. The bank opened in the temporary building in February 1907 after a bit of bad luck. “The Deerfield Bank was to have opened for business last week, but when it was ready to be opened, it was found that it had been locked by someone who did not understand the combination, and they had to send for an expert locksmith who could work the combination to open it.”
By late April, work on the permanent brick and stone building was progressing nicely, and the bank moved into the handsome new two-story bank that August. The institution served not only the thriving little burg of Deerfield but also those who lived in the surrounding irrigated country. By the end of the first 10 years, the bank’s assets had reached over $100,000. When most banks had failed or were failing after World War I, the Deerfield State Bank came through the crisis unscathed.
There was, however, some excitement at the bank in August of 1920 when robbers gained entrance to the bank by breaking through the back door and burrowing through the vault wall. The thieves secured about $300 in silver and robbed the safety deposit boxes of about $2,500. The main articles in the safety boxes were bonds which were hard to trace at that time. The steel safe inside the vault was untouched and contained most of the money. “It is said the robbers took a wet towel and wiped every article and piece of furniture they had touched with their hands in order to leave no finger prints for clues.”
There were minor changes in bank personnel and officers through the years, and most of the stock was in Lakin hands by 1935. On April 20 of that year, the Deerfield State Bank merged with the Kearny County Bank, and the assets were moved to Lakin, dealing a severe blow to Deerfield.
In 1946, all of lot 12 and the south six inches of lot 11 were deeded to J.W. Wells, a former mayor of Deerfield, who was an insurance/real estate man. In 1972, the property changed hands from Wells’ daughters to Grant and Lula Meyers, and in 1974, the north 24 ½ feet of lot 11 also became Meyers’ property. That part had been deeded in 1930 to Deerfield’s Emerald Lodge No. 432. Last used as a residence, the bank building was on a decline, but then loving hands came to the rescue.
Fortin purchased the building in May of 2013 from Grant O. Meyers, Jr. She applied to the Kansas Historic Sites Board of Review for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places and was notified in June of 2018 that the Deerfield State Bank building made the National Registry. She then applied for the Kansas Heritage Trust Fund Grant and was awarded $30,360 in 2020 to replace the roof. Unfortunately, the Covid pandemic caused the project’s cost to skyrocket. Kala was left to pay $67,077.60 out of her own pocket.
Fortin said securing grants can be particularly challenging for individuals as many grants are designed to favor organizations, government entities and non-profit groups. Thankfully, Kearny County helped her out. Ralph Goodnight was instrumental in navigating the intricate process of securing the necessary approvals and documentation from Kearny County Commissioners on Fortin’s behalf for the Historic Economic Asset Lifeline and Community Development Block grants from the Kansas Department of Commerce. Kala said, “Ralph’s relentless efforts in finding us a grant administrator were crucial. Securing a competent grant administrator was a challenging and time-consuming task that required extensive knowledge and connections.” The HEAL grant was for $47,580 while the CDBG grant was for nearly $300,000.
Fortin is extremely thankful for the assistance from Goodnight and the commissioners and for all the individuals who wrote community support letters for the grant applications. Local matching funds are needed as well, and she continues to seek additional funding opportunities and accepts donations through GoFundMe at the following link: Historic Renovation – Est. 1906.
“Any support would be greatly appreciated and will go a long way in helping with the renovation project,” she said. “People often ask why I would invest so much time and money into this project. Logically, it might not make sense, except that I believe God placed this calling on my heart. Though these buildings aren’t alive in the traditional sense, I believe they bring life to a community and its people. Every time I’m there, I feel it deeply. This has always been, and will continue to be, a labor of love.”
Kala, a 2001 Deerfield High School grad, lives in North Carolina where her husband is stationed at Fort Bragg/Liberty. Once his contract is complete, they plan to return to Deerfield. Fortin thanks her husband for his support in managing the financials at home and taking on the full responsibility of their household expenses. By doing so, he has allowed her to direct her time, energy and financial resources entirely toward the project.
Kala also says her parents, sister, and brother-in-law have been incredibly supportive throughout the entire process and have played crucial roles in helping with everyday tasks such as maintaining the building. Her children have also been involved, joining her on inspections and walkthroughs as well as construction projects. She has also introduced them to the complexities of grant writing.
“I want my children to understand the importance of saving these historic buildings and the value they bring to the communities they serve.”
Rod Ferking is the contractor who helped to get the project off the ground. The renovation and construction must be completed by April 1, 2026, and the coffee shop/bakery must be open by September 1, 2026 according to grant guidelines. Fortin’s sincere hope is that the space will not just be a coffee shop but a place in the community where friendships flourish and memories are made.
Special thanks to Kala Fortin. Other sources include: History of Kearny County Vol. I; archives of the Topeka Daily Capital, Garden City Reflector, The Advocate, Garden City Telegram, Facebook, The Evening Telegram, and Lakin Independent; Kansas State Historical Society, and Museum archives. For more information and to see proposed drawings of the project, check out the Deerfield Ks Town Hall Facebook page.