In 2009, the former Homer City National Bank building at the corner of Main Street and Miller Avenue in Homer City, quietly celebrated its 100th anniversary.

At the time of its completion, there were no paved streets, no electric lights, the town's first high school building was recently completed, heck there wasn't even a streetcar, a filling station, or a single automobile within borough limits.

Now, 101 years later the building faces the wrecking ball, per the desire of its current owner, S&T Bancorp.

We are about to lose a community treasure.

From what I've inferred from HC Councilwomen Bernice Harris' comment we are about to witness the destruction of a building thats stood as a silent sentinel to the evolution of Homer City a one-of-a-kind structure to a non-descript cookie-cutter building to which none of us have even the slightest connection.

We've bought war bonds there; we've opened our first savings accounts there; we've used it as a landmark to give directions. We like our bank, please let it live.

Despite S&T Bank's wish to be portrayed as a community bank, it is about to deprive a proud community of its most recognizable and oldest commercial building. It is iconic on the streetscape of Homer City - a landmark among residents and former residents, alike.

Our message to S&T Bank is that you do not have to destroy this landmark that many of us have grown to love; you are opting to.

Please, let the building stand and build elsewhere or "buck up" and respect our town with the renovation that this historic building deserves.