Main Street, Looking South, Poplar Bluff, Mo.
February 15, 1910
About this postcard
Monochrome postcard view looking south along Main Street in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, postmarked February 15, 1910. Multi-story brick commercial buildings line both sides of the unpaved dirt street, with a prominently displayed 'HOTEL' sign visible on the right side. Horse-drawn wagons and pedestrians are visible in the street and on the sidewalks. Utility poles with overhead wires run along the left side of the street. The sender, Mrs. H.I. Ruth (Effie Ruth, wife of lumber entrepreneur Harvey I. Ruth), wrote from 332 N. Main Street requesting a 'red catalogue' from B. Shackman & Co. of New York — likely a mail-order catalog. The return address matches the 1909-1910 city directory listing for the Ruth family, who maintained rooms at 332 N. Main while their primary residence was at 128 Vine Street.
Message
Please send me one of your red catalogues.. and oblige Mrs H.I. Ruth 332 N main St. Poplar Bluff Mo.
Transcribed from what is legible on the original postcard.
Physical Description
Related History
Wright-Dalton-Bell Anchor Department Store (Four-Story Building)
Four-story department store at Main & Poplar, expanded from earlier Wright-Dalton partnership.
Bank of Poplar Bluff (Old)
Early downtown banking establishment, replaced in 1914 by the Neo-Classical Bank of Poplar Bluff building at the same Main Street location.
Hargrove & Ruth Lumber Company Office
Office of one of Butler County's early lumber enterprises, operating during the region's timber boom with connections to large spoke, handle, and logging operations along the Black River.
Harvey Ruth
Effie Ruth