Mechanics Savings Bank
File:212 - 214 East Clay Street (6029584647).jpg]]
File:Mechanics Savings Bank Board.jpg is fourth from the left in the front row]]
Founded in 1902 by John Mitchell, Jr., Mechanics Savings Bank was a bank near the Jackson Ward neighborhood of Richmond, Virginia. Mitchell, who was an African American, also owned and edited the Richmond Planet. The bank was originally located at 511 N 3rd St., which was also the address of the Office of the Grand Lodge, Knights of Pythias of VA[https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84025841/1902-01-04/ed-1/seq-8/ "The Mechanics Savings Bank Opens Its Doors." Richmond Planet, January 4, 1902, page 8, Image 8, Chronicling America, Library of Congress][https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84025841/1902-05-03/ed-1/seq-1/ "Attention Pythians" Richmond Planet, Richmond, VA, Image 1, May 3, 1902, Chronicling America, Library of Congress] In 1905 the bank bought a three-story brick building at No. 310 East Broad Street.{{cite web|url=http://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1115|title=Mechanics Savings Bank Buys More Broad Street Property · Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909|website=Blackvirginia.richmond.edu|access-date=14 January 2018}} The bank's 3rd and last location was at the northwest corner of Third and Clay Street. The building was designed by architect Carl Ruehrmund[https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84025841/1910-07-02/ed-1/seq-1/#date1=1909&index=15&rows=20&words=Bank+Mechanics+Savings&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=Virginia&date2=1910&proxtext=Mechanics+Savings+Bank&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 "Mechanics' Savings Bank Opens its Doors." Richmond Planet, Richmond, VA, July 2, 1910, Image 1, Chronicling America, Library of Congress]{{cite web |url=https://www.nps.gov/mawa/learn/photosmultimedia/upload/Jackson-Ward-Podcast-transcription.pdf |title=Jackson Ward Podcast |website=National Park Service |access-date=2022-10-08 |format=PDF}} and constructed in 1910.{{cite web|url=http://www.lva.virginia.gov/exhibits/mitchell/bank.htm|title=Mechanics Savings Bank|website=Lva.virginia.gov|access-date=14 January 2018}} The bank was the chief depository of the Knights of Pythias. At the time of its failure in 1922, the bank had deposits totaling approximately $500,000.{{cite book |last=Hoffman |first=Steven |date=2017 |title=Race, Class and Power in the Building of Richmond, 1870-1920 |page=156}} In 1930, the Clay Street Building was purchased by the Southern Aid and Insurance Company.