Established in 1907, the Bank of Wauchula opened as Wauchula’s second bank. This building was constructed in 1913 with the bank and store rooms on the ground floor and professional offices and the Seminole Theater above. The bank featured fixtures of beautiful Vermont marble. After Hardee County was established, the second floor was temporarily leased to the county for its offices. In 1929, Wauchula State Bank opened and was the only bank in Hardee County to survive the Great Depression. Its owner, J.W. Crews, purchased the building and in 1952 installed the iconic clock on the west side.