Historic Cochran bank building anchor of opportunity

The thriving coke industry in Dawson during the 1880s led to the construction of several commercial and residential properties by one of the most prominent families of the era, including a Victorian style brick bank.
Situated at the corner of 200 Main St., the Cochran bank building continues to serve as an anchor of the borough’s historic district and is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
It is for sale at $160,000 by Eric Martin, who also owns Wilderness Voyageurs, a white water rafting company in Ohiopyle.
The three-story corner structure is defined by its rustic stone foundation, stone sills, painted brick walls, a slate roof and several dormers with arched windows.
Rent is also an option with one office space and two shop spaces ranging in price from $350 to $1,000 a month.
The 15,000-square-foot building was built in 1897 by the late George Cochran and features original details from its industrial past such as original woodwork, a tin ceiling and two operating vaults.
It is easily accessible to the Youghiogheny River and the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) bike trail that connects Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C.
The building originally housed the First National Bank and served as the headquarters for the Washington Coal and Coke Company under industry moguls Cochran and William Brown.
According to Martin, the third floor has remained untouched and contains beautiful original beams and brick work. “It is begging to be transformed into a really cool loft,” he said.
Martin purchased the property in the early 1990’s with the intent to use it as the base of operation for the company’s Historical Float trips.
“We are interested in selling the building because of changes to our business strategy,” said Martin.
Martin said the company had planned to use the building as its visitor’s center and gift shop, and to transform the upstairs into a bed and breakfast.
The remainder of the building was going to be leased to outside entities.
While the building has four shop spaces on the ground floor, Martin said one is currently occupied by a pizza shop.
The remaining spaces include a large room that used to be the bank area, a private bathroom and full access to a vault.
Another two large rooms on the same level used to house a gallery, doctor’s office and antique shop.
Each of the ground level spaces can also be connected to the second floor office space via an interior stair case or combined with a third space.
Martin said the building is in need of someone who is going to be personally involved in restoring it, and has a zeal for managing businesses.
“At this moment that does not fit in with our business’s growth,” said Martin.
The building is one of several commercial properties or private residences for sale on the trailtowns.org website that may be converted to commercial use in the trail towns along the GAP.
Financing is available for qualified businesses from the Progress Fund.