The "Brick Block" on the corner of Sheridan and Virginia was constructed in 1909 at a cost of $20,000. Simple, handsome and functional, the structure remains an important part of the commercial life of North Bend. The First National Bank had a ½ interest in the building and located there in late 1909 or early 1910. Organizers of the First National Bank were Fred Hollister, J.H. Greves, Abe Van Zile and Henery Kern.
Louis Simpson was Proud of this structure. This substantial edifice, close to the dock, demonstrated to traveler and settler alike that North Bend had "put up" and that it was time for "sucker bait town" critics to shut up. Simpson gloried in these triumphs for North Bend. His energy, money and oratorical skills were constantly devoted to promoting North Bend as a first class town. The "Brick Block" helped fulfill Mayor Simpson's many promises in his standard sale campaign speeches.
The Coos Bay Harbor, on February 6^th 1908, reported a typical speech. Simpson gave "glimpses of a city-to-be that made the most pessimistic knocker go and bury his hammer." When re-elected Mayor in 1909, Simpson said that he would rather be Mayor of North Bend than President of the United States. In April, 1913, with harder times evident, Louis Simpson strove to keep faith with his view of North Bends future. Returning from San Francisco, he told a City Council meeting: "North Bend looked better to me than it ever did in my life as I rounded the bend at Old Town. The sight of our waterfront and the excellent view of the business district was a pleasure to me never to be duplicated or forgotten. I now realize that Coos Bay is the one best spot on the Earth and I am sure that all that live here will soon learn to think of North Bend as I do."
Despite the defection of some citizens and business to other areas, the Brick Block" generally flourished. In addition to the First National Bank, in 1913, Hazer Hardware moved in. Their slogan was "Hazer Haz It." In 1916, George Hazer, hardware store owner, became president of the North Bend Chamber of Commerce. That year, when city council created street numbers for North Bend, beginning on the east and north boundaries, Hazer and Son Hardware offered aluminum house numerals for 5 cents each, six for 25 cents.
Visitors can still find evidence of the building's early use. The Beauty and the Beast Antiques has the original bank vault and vault door on its main floor. Outside, embedded in the curb, two hitching rings for the horses of the Bank Customers can still be seen.

From the book,
Louis Simpson's North Bend
By Dick Wagner