STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

In 1877 the townspeople of Malad hauled a safe into what is now the Evans Co-operative Department Store, providing the first centralized safekeeping for the homesteaders of that southeastern Idaho town.

None other than Butch Cassidy and his Hole in the Wall Gang tested that one night in 1880 when they knocked the night watchman over the head and drilled into the safe.

The safe in Idaho’s oldest continuous department store was renamed “the Butch Cassidy safe.” And, on Sept. 15, 1904, D.L. (David Lloyd) Evans and a handful of southern Idaho businessmen opened Cassia County’s first bank to provide even better safekeeping for clients’ money.

The former state senator’s bank survived the Great Recession, which closed most of the banks in Idaho.

And today it is the largest bank headquartered in Idaho, with $1.4 billion in assets, 373 employees and 30 branches, with a new one opening this month in Rexburg.

The Evans family pledged to continue that legacy Thursday morning as they presided over a Topping Off Celebration of their new Hailey branch under construction at 609 S. Main St.

About 80 people, including government officials from Sun Valley, Hailey and Blaine County, watched as a crane lowered the last beam atop the building, which Conrad Brothers hopes to complete by mid-December 2017.

The beam was festooned with balloons and the American flag, as well as the autographed well wishes of  those who took part in the 90-minute celebration.

“Is that a beautiful bank, or is that a beautiful bank!” marveled John V. Evans Jr., great-grandson of D.L. Evans and president and chief executive officer of the bank, which is headquartered in Burley. “We have 30 branches and I think this is the finest we’ve built yet.”

The new wood and brick bank on the site of a former preschool will be 6,100 square feet—four times the size of the current 1,600-square foot bank on Bullion Street, said Jessica Aguilar, vice president of Corporate Real Estate.

Though one-story, the building designed by Erstad Architects has a high ceiling to accommodate mechanical equipment.

It will feature a community room that can hold at least 20 people. The bank will offer nonprofit groups the opportunity to use it for day and evening meetings.

“Normally we have a groundbreaking. This time we decided to have a festive topping off,” said John Evans III. “It s the first we’ve ever had.”

Don S. Evans Jr., chairman of the board, reminded onlookers of Robert F. Kennedy’s famous quote, “There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?”

Hailey’s namesake John Hailey had that kind of vision as he imagined Hailey to be more than miner’s tents lining Main Street, Don Evans said.

“And we looked at Hailey and said, ‘Why can’t we be in Hailey?’ he said, noting that “Idaho’s Hometown Community Bank” had opened its Hailey branch 13 years ago.

Hailey Mayor Fritz Haemmerle noted that most banks come to Hailey from places like Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles.

“But you came to us from Albion—the wonderful town of Albion,” he laughed. “You wouldn’t have had success you do if you had provided unsatisfactory service.”

He turned to branch manager Kelli Young, whom he went to high school with.

“I’m so glad you’ll have a palace to match the stature you’ve had so long in the city.”

Young noted that D.L. Evans does $50 million worth of business in Hailey each year, in addition to another $50 million at its branch in Ketchum.

“That’s a lot of money!” she said. “Thanks to the Evans family for running a great community bank and for having faith in the Wood River Valley.”

D.L. Evans’ family came from Wales, John Evans III said. They converted to Mormonism in exchange for free land and passage on a ship named the Joseph Badger in 1850.

A 7-year-old D.L. Evans herded sheep for a penny a day near Brigham City, Utah. His bank didn’t forget his agricultural beginnings, as it provided loans to homesteaders settling the land, while grubstaking farmer’s provisions in its early days.

The original Albion bank started with four employees and six directors, noted John V. Evans Jr., whose father John V. Evans Sr. held public office for more than 35 years, including that of Idaho’s governorship.

“We used to be 100 percent agriculture. Now agriculture is 15 percent of our business,” he added.

Michelle Kreczkowski, consumer lending specialist at the Hailey branch, says employees are looking forward to increased elbow room.

“We’re so excited,” she said. “The new one will have more parking space and a drive through, in addition to the conference room so we can give back to the community.”