Ventura County Landmark No. 32: Hueneme Bank Building (aka Historical Museum)

The Bank of Hueneme was organized in 1889 with Thomas R. Bard as president and Achille Levy as vice-president, while E. P. Foster served on the Board of Directors. The bank was first housed in a brick building on Main Street in Hueneme at the entrance to the Wharf area. In 1925, the building at 220 North Market Street was built in the neo-classical architectural tradition (rectilinear in design and stone-like exterior) at a cost of $18,000. The Hueneme Bank dissolved in 1952, having sold its interests and the building to Security First National Bank. From 1959 to 1973, the building was Port Hueneme’s City Hall; subsequently, the building was the location of the Chamber of Commerce and is now a historical museum. The building was designed by Myron Hunt.

Thomas R. Bard was the pioneer who developed the oil industry in Ventura County, engaged in agriculture and shipping, and became a U.S. Senator. Thomas Bard was a key figure during the reformation of California in the early 1900s (Ventura Weekly, 2007). Since the Civil War, Southern Pacific Railroad became powerful enough to virtually run the entire state of California (Ventura Weekly, 2007). Bard was the key figure to revolt against Southern Pacific. At that time, Southern Pacific was pushing Colonel Daniel M. Burns to become a Senator. Thomas Bard, with enough support, took the seat at the United States Senate. He campaigned to expand the city of Port Hueneme. Afterwards, Bard’s children would put his plan to work. Because of Thomas Bard, Port Hueneme has the only deep-water port in this area. Bard died in his home in Berylwood, Hueneme on March 5, 1915 (Ventura Weekly, 2007). Other Bard family related landmarks include the following: No. 19, 24, 31, 32, 49, 50, 88, and 153.