Burke & Herbert (Alexandria, VA)

Episode Information

Episode UID
68010670737
Episode Type
Suspension โ†’ Reopening
Bank Type
private
Bank ID
6801067 routing
Routing Number
68-0106
Start Date
May 9, 1861
Location
Alexandria, Virginia (38.818, -77.082)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest
6b4a5c274acc97fe

Response Measures

None

Description

Suspension occurred during Union occupation/secession period; bank later reopened after the war.

Events (3)

1. May 9, 1861 Suspension
Cause
Government Action
Cause Details
Suspension triggered by Virginia's secession and the federal occupation/blockade of the Potomac leading to interruption of business (Union troops occupied Alexandria later in May 1861).
Newspaper Excerpt
the Alexandria banking house of Burke & Herbert (as well as that of Corse & Bro.) have suspended
Source
newspapers
2. January 1, 1865* Reopening
Newspaper Excerpt
After the close of the war their office was again opened for business and began from the day business was dropped, in 1861, and never closed by any financial panic or other cause.
Source
newspapers
3. September 29, 1873 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
Burke & Herbert continue, as last week, to pay all depositors in currency and meet promptly all demands
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (3)

Article from Evening Star, May 9, 1861

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Article Text

THE NEWS HERE. ALEXANDRIAMisfortunes, they say, never singly. Our neighbors of Alexandria are just now realizing the truthful force of this venerable adage, most essentially. A day or two since we mentioned some of the disabilities that secesson has already brought on them. Subsequently we learn that the Alexandria banking house of Burke & Herbert (as well as that of Corse & Bro.) have suspended, and that the State revenue (from the county) has fallen off one half from the declension of Alexandria merchants to renew their licenses; and still further, that nearly all the secessionists there who could manage to get their families away, have already abandoned their homes for the time being. Thus, with the current blockade of the mouth of the Potomac, rendered necessary by the attitude of Virginia towards the United States, these occurrences, the natural result of secession, have already destroyed Alexandria's business almost as completely as If the town had been burned to the ground for the time being. Three-fourtbs of its citizens are staunch Unionists at heart. By this time they must all realize that Virginia's secession was brought about by fraud and unauthorized and 11legal violence. By an usurpation as flagrant and palpable as ever marked the history of the progressive destruction of the liberties of any people under the sun.


Article from Alexandria Gazette, September 29, 1873

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Article Text

CON Night-The Conservatives of the various wards of the city are to meet at 8 o'clock toat the in the Gazette, for the purpose of delegates to county conto meet ou to night. vention elsewhere leeting places the designated attend 11th proximo the in the notice nominate caudidates for the House of Delegates. THE FINANCIAL SITUATION IN ALEXANDRIA. -The week which closed with Saturday was fullest of trial to the business community, the which, perhaps, has ever occurred in our local history, and it is to be hoped will ever occur again. and it is but justice to say that both on the part of the merchantile and manufacturing community, and the banks, was met in a manwhich must command the public respect, past net sul issure this city confidence have, during in the the future. week, The banks paid currency out 01 more than all the banks in Balti- man the same every money on for currency, to carplied or more firm during having has been period, deposit, paid and enough who has apon ordinary business operations, pay off all and support no has an instance IY his hands banks establishment showed his family. ballance, whose In credit failed single acat the a to get. count on demand, either all that he had in bank, that was to pay statement to the contrary or Any of course an shadow all foundation. needed Of bank off is could all without his employer hands. draw the who had no money iu the not anyout. It is said with perfect truth that DO man went home last Saturday night because of any on part of Alexandria banks. any it is not just to The prospects for the present laboring unpaid, left it. the unpaid stringency If blame the employee week banks the may was for be stated as follows: The First National Bank will coutinue to pay in currency all checks of small amountsdesigned to be used for business purposes or the needful operations of life, and will cash all checks of depositors given to laboring meo for wages actually due them. All other deposites will be represented, if desired, by certified checks upon Alexandria, New York, Philadelphia or Baltimore. The Citizens' National Bank says that it is stronger to-day than when the panic begun, and is amply able to pay every cent due depositors and leave a large surplus. It will not, however, pay large checks designed to draw currency away from the town, or for the pur pose speculation, but will cash, at call, the checks of all depositors drawn for legitimate business purposes, and here, as at the first National Bank, if any depositor will give any employe a check on the bank for wages actualIs due, it will be paid at once, The Farmers' and Mechanics Savings Bank is based upon the following agreement, which all the regular depositors have signed : Pepositors shall have the right to withdraw their deposits at any time by giving thirty days' notice, in writing, of their intention; but this notice may be dispensed with, in the discretion of the President or Cashier, and the same be aid o demand but no less sum than five dolhas of the capital of any depositor shall be wildrawn, unless the whole sum deposited be less than that amount. The notice required by this rule is not now dispensed with. all cases where special agreements in writing have been made checks for the payment of laborers will be paid on presentation. Burke & Herbert coutinue, as last week, to pay a all depositors in currency and meet promptly all demands. Corse & Co. are paying small checks for business purposes. City Treasurer Corse is paying the July interest on the Corporation bonds, and all large demands on Corporation account in certified checks. The teachers of the public schools, junitors, police, laborers, &c., of the Corporation will be paid in currency. This statement is based upon the statements f the leading gentlemen connected with the various banks and banking houses, and may be viewed as a fair exposition of the financial situation.


Article from Alexandria Gazette, October 31, 1899

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Article Text

BURKE & HERBERT, BANKERS.-The withdrawal of Colonel Arthur Herbert, of the old banking house of Burke & Herbert, which started its career on the 20th day of July, 1852, and continued to today, Oct. 31, 1899, calls for something more than an ordinary notice. There is dountless not another instance in the records of business houses, banking or otherwise, where for 47 years two men have lived through such a long period of years as partners. There are houses that date back farther, but wa know of no instance where the founders have lived 80 long together in active business relations. The only suspension was upon the occupation of this city by the federal troops on the 24th et May, 1861, the senior partner relusing to take the oath aad the junior partner being an officer in the Confede rate army. After the close of the war their office was-sgain opened for business and began from the day business was dropped, in 1861, and never closed by any financial pauic or other cause. Indeed during the last two panics when all the national banks here and elsewhere settled with depositors with certified checks, this firm met all demind of their customers in currency. Their record has been one of promptness in meeting engagements, strict at. tention to the business of their clients and 8 true courtesy to all. Their many friends hope the success of the past may attend the new firm ad infi itum. The firm name will remain intact. Colonel Herbert, as heretofore stated. will retire from active business pursuits to enjoy 21 long earned rest at his beautiful country home in Fairfax county, near this city, Mr. John W. Burke and his three sons (the latter having inherited the practical ideas of financiering and grown up in the busi ness) will continue the operations of the banking house. The head of the tirm as well as the junior partners are well known in the banking circles of the State and country.