Nine months after their shootout in Dexfield Park, Bonnie and Clyde returned to the area and robbed the Stuart bank, just five miles to the west of Dexter, Iowa.
From the Stuart website: “On April 16, 1934, the First National Bank in Stuart fell victim to infamous outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. The bank lost about $1,500 (approximately $30,000 today). Bonnie & Clyde were chased out of Stuart by a local posse and killed in a police ambush in Louisiana approximately one month later. Although there were fortunately no fatalities in the Stuart robbery, the Barrow gang is believed to have murdered at least nine police officers and four civilians during their crime sprees. First National Bank in Stuart ceased operations in 1944, and the building now houses a hair salon. It is located at the intersection of North 2nd Street and Division Street in the heart of downtown Stuart. Historical markers have been erected at this popular tourist attraction.”
Today, an upstairs apartment of the bank building is being converted into an Airbnb, called the Bonnie & Clyde Hideout.
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There was an attempt to rob that same bank during the night of March 29/30, 1921, resulting in no money lost but the death of the Stuart night watchman, John Kerr Meyers.
My grandfather, Clabe Wilson, became part of Stuart’s history when he became their next nightwatchman. Here is the story of the robbery attempt, the loss of Mr. Meyers, and the new man the town hired.
Neat story, Joy!
History that area of Iowa has lived with for several decades.
Fascinating history. Thanks for sharing it.
Thank you, Darlene.
Interesting piece of history, Joy!
Guess we’re stuck with it!
Ironically, that bank must have been designed by the same architect who built the old bank building on our old downtown square here in Carrollton, Tx. It looks identical, although larger than ours. Also, B&C also rubbed ours, too.
What year? I wonder if it’s on the big map in the Dexter Museum of their miles of mayhem after the 1933 shootout in Dexfield Park.
I’m uncertain of the hold-up. Just tried to look it up, but can’t verify. Bank itself was built in 1903. It’s been many things since it was a bank, but mainly retail. I’ll try to send you a picture.
Got it, thanks, Alan! That corner door. . . .
It’s amazing that there is still so much fascination with Bonnie and Clyde (my own included).
Rod Stanley, our local expert, gets calls from all over to see displays in the museum, but also to visit the old Dexfield Park area and the Stuart bank. He’s giving a program about B&C this weekend.
Case in point!
Wow, interesting stuff!
Ha, thanks, Andrew!
There’s a lot more history in Iowa than I ever expected, Joy. Thank you.
When the current publisher of Iowa History Journal took over years ago, someone asked whether Iowa had enough history to keep it going. I thought of a dozen more topics I’d like to see him cover!
Interesting bit of history. It’s good they keep it alive there.
Folks are still fascinated with bank robbers. . . .
That’s good, because I included a story in my coming book about Kansas robbers who killed a Colorado deputy in the 1930s. Their execution was a bit of unusual state history, too.