Original antique divided-back postcard featuring a colorful view of Myrtle Creek Dam in Southern Oregon.
The scene shows water flowing over the dam surrounded by trees and rustic wooden structures. The front caption reads:
“Myrtle Creek Dam, Southern Oregon.”
The reverse is marked “Made in Germany” and contains a lengthy handwritten personal message. The card was mailed from Banks, Oregon, with a strong circular BANKS, OREG. postmark dated NOV 29 / A.M. The year is not clearly legible.
An original green 1-cent Benjamin Franklin stamp remains attached.
Banks is a historic community in Washington County, Oregon. The community developed rapidly after plans for a railroad through the area emerged around 1901. The nearby settlement of Greenville ultimately shifted toward the railroad, and its post office was renamed Banks, after local landowners John and Nancy Banks.
Historical material from the Banks Historical Society indicates the Banks post office was established in the early 1900s, making this an appealing early postal-history usage from the community.
Post Office: Banks, Oregon
County: Washington County
Postmark: BANKS, OREG.
Date: November 29
Time: A.M.
Year: Not clearly legible
DPO: No
Stamp: 1¢ green Benjamin Franklin
Postal Use: Genuine period use
Destination: Norfolk, Nebraska
The Banks town name, OREG. state designation, NOV 29 date and A.M. marking are quite readable, making the reverse attractive for Oregon cancel collectors.
Type: Printed Postcard
Subject: Myrtle Creek Dam
Location: Southern Oregon
State: Oregon
Country: United States
Postmark Location: Banks, Oregon
County: Washington County
Postmark Date: November 29
Stamp: 1¢ Benjamin Franklin
Postage Condition: Posted
Era: Divided Back
Approximate Period: Early 1900s / 1910s
Manufacture: Made in Germany
Original/Licensed Reprint: Original
Theme: Dams, Rivers, Oregon, Scenery, Postal History
Number of Items: 1
Good used antique condition with noticeable but typical age and handling wear.
There is edge and corner wear, surface rubbing, scattered marks/soiling, and light creasing, particularly along the edges and corners. The front retains strong color and the Myrtle Creek Dam image remains clear.
Reverse has extensive period handwriting. The Banks, Oregon postmark is strong and readily identifiable, although the year is unclear. Original 1-cent Franklin stamp remains attached.
Please examine photographs carefully for exact condition.
Banks Oregon, Banks OR, Banks Oregon postmark, Banks OREG cancel, Banks Oregon cancel, Washington County Oregon, Washington County postal history, Oregon postal history, Oregon postmark, Oregon cancel, Myrtle Creek Dam, Myrtle Creek Oregon, Myrtle Creek Dam Oregon, Southern Oregon, Oregon dam postcard, Oregon river postcard, Oregon scenic postcard, antique Oregon postcard, vintage Oregon postcard, Benjamin Franklin stamp, 1 cent Franklin, Franklin postcard, November 29 cancel, Made in Germany postcard, German printed postcard, divided back postcard, Golden Age postcard, posted postcard, postal history postcard, early Oregon postcard, Pacific Northwest postcard, PNW postcard