E.A. Bowen Co Dry Goods Store, Long Johns disp. - Upland California - 1909 RPPC For Sale

1909 E.A. Bowen Co Dry Goods Store Upland California RPPC

Original real photo postcard showing the E.A. Bowen Co. dry goods store in downtown Upland, California, mailed in 1909. The image captures the full storefront façade with large display windows, named employees and family members posed outside, and elaborate clothing and textile merchandising visible throughout both windows.

IMAGE / OBJECT DETAILS

Real photo storefront scene showing the E.A. Bowen Co. dry goods business located on the northwest corner of Second Avenue and Ninth Street in Upland, California.

Large plate-glass display windows contain numerous garments, corset or undergarment displays, folded textiles, linens, and decorative merchandise arrangements.

Visible details include:

• Full “E.A. BOWEN CO.” storefront sign above awning
• Scalloped canvas awning extending across storefront
• Seven individuals posed outside the entrance
• Men dressed in suits and ties
• Women wearing long skirts and high-collar blouses
• Elaborate dry goods and clothing window displays
• Early commercial downtown streetscape
• Wood sidewalk frontage and storefront columns

Several individuals are identified in period handwriting directly on the image, including:

• “Samantha”
• “Ma Bowen”
• “Minnie”
• “E.A. Bowen”
• “Pa Oddy”
• “Me Ralph”

Card mailed from Upland, California in 1909 with 1¢ Benjamin Franklin stamp and circular machine cancel.

Addressed to:

Miss Maggie Dunbar
1802 Gay St.
Ft Wayne
Indiana

HISTORICAL & LOCAL CONTEXT

The store was operated by Edward A. Bowen, a prominent early Upland merchant and businessman. Contemporary records place the E.A. Bowen Co. dry goods store at the northwest corner of Second Avenue and Ninth Street in downtown Upland, California during the early 1900s commercial expansion period.

Ralph O. Bowen, identified in the photograph, was Edward Bowen’s son and later became a well-known local businessman himself. The image documents a prosperous family-operated retail establishment during the peak era of independent downtown dry goods stores in Southern California.

The postcard is especially notable for the identified individuals, the unusually clear merchandising displays, and the detailed documentation of an early California commercial streetscape.

Message references family and acquaintances, reading in part:

“Dear friend Maggie received booklet and much thanks…”
“…How are you all and what is Frank doing…”
“…Remember me from Michigan…”
“…Please write often…”

The correspondence reflects ongoing ties between California and Midwestern acquaintances during the period.

POSTAL DETAILS:

• Mailed from Upland, California in 1909
• 1¢ Benjamin Franklin stamp tied by machine cancel
• Addressed to Miss Maggie Deubler, Fort Wayne, Indiana
• Lengthy handwritten personal message on reverse

FORMAT & AUTHENTICITY

• Original period real photo postcard
• Silver gelatin photographic postcard stock
• Not a reproduction

CONDITION: VG

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚 𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐤𝐞-𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬.