The first Cambridge Valley Bank opened its doors on Monday 3-Sep-1855. It was located on the south side of East Main Street in the brick building at what is today 12 East Main Street across the street from Hubbard Hall.
It was continually broken into, though most times the robbers were unsuccessful in getting any money.
In October 1865 the safe held over $70,000, quite a sum for a small community in those days. Burglars broke in, drilled the safe door and packed it with black powder. Fortunately they were spooked and left before blowing the door.
Around the same time the Porter and Higgins dry goods store was broken into. This 1855 building is one of the older business structures in the village. Today it houses Ace Hardware.
The community was so lawless that Thomas Comstock had $50 stolen from his pants pocket … while they hung on his bedpost one evening as he slept. His house was where Grove Street is today.
