Local residents have heard me say that Old Town Antique Market is located in the original JCPenney building downtown. Although this is true, the dozens of disoriented visitors who eventually found their way to our shop were apparently not old enough to realize that the JCPenney of their childhood, located at 911 Main, was JCPenney’s second Vancouver location. The original store, at 806 Main, now Old Town Antique Market’s location, opened its 
doors in 1922. It moved up the street in 1956. It was with absolute delight that several of our more senior visitors came into the shop and share their memories with us!
In an effort to learn more about our building I contacted Joan Gosnell of the J C Penney Archives Collection of the DeGolyer Library at Southern Methodist University. Thanks to their archive and her assistance I was able to cull an abundance of interesting facts.
JCPenney store #228 opened in Vancouver, Washington, on June 1, 1922. James N. Chambers was the first Manager. Opening prices featured men's suits at $17.50, dress shirts at $3.98, and men's shoes at $1.98. The women enjoyed fine leather gloves at 98¢ a pair, $1.69 hosiery, and dresses for $5.50. Towels cost 20¢ a piece, while fabric was 21¢ per yard. Mr. Chambers remained as Manager for five years until he moved in January 1927. Mr. Chamber's move to Salem, Oregon, in January 1927 brought store #228 a new manager, W. F. Sloan. By that time men's dress shirt prices were down to 98¢, and overalls sold for the low price of $1.15. Ladies' hosiery was bought at $1.49 per pair. Fabric was sold for 10¢ per yard, and the JCPenney towel went for 25¢. Mr. Sloan remained at JCPenney store #228 until he resigned in August 1932. William J. Yunker arrived from Portland, Oregon to fill the manager's shoes.
By 1932 prices had come down considerably. Men’s socks were 39¢ for 6 pairs, and the accompanying shoes were $1.39 a pair. Ladies' hosiery cost 29¢ for one pair, and dresses sold for $2.98. Children did not miss out on the low prices of 1932. Their sweaters were 49¢. On the homeware front, fabric was now 5¢ a yard, and feather pillows only 69¢. A few of our customers remember the air tubes that sucked up with a whoosh! the canisters filled with money to the upper floors. These, alas, disappeared when the store was remodeled sometime in the 1940’s. Mr. Yunker remained as Manager of Store #228 for 21 years, until his retirement. Ralph E. Metz arrived from Oregon City, Oregon in July 1953.
After World War II, economy was a way of life, and JCPenney had become a household word. Inflation had brought costs of living up, as well as clothing prices. Men's dress shirts were $4, and shoes sold for $7.90 a pair. Women bought their hosiery for $1.15 and their dresses for almost six dollars. Even housewares felt the rising inflation, with towels climbing to 44¢.
In February 1956, JCPenney moved to a new 36,432 square foot facility at 911 Main Street. Mr. Metz retired in February 1961. His successor was O.L. Good, who served nine years. K.R. Powell followed Mr. Good October 1970. Sales in 1970 were reported at $3,084,000, and in 1971 they totaled $3,016,000. 39% of the sales were credited to the city of Vancouver, while the remainder came from the surrounding counties of Multnomah, Clackamas, Clark and Washington. The last Manager on record at Store #228 was Michael Quickenden. On January 31, 1981, the downtown store closed.
doors in 1922. It moved up the street in 1956. It was with absolute delight that several of our more senior visitors came into the shop and share their memories with us!
3 comments:
I liked this blog specially because i am passionate about antiques things.
I think every old has an important story to be discovered. i considere we all can learn about it.
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Great post. I think one of the basic things that we should know know is that we must always make sure that you are safe in every transactions you wanted to indulge with.
Hello – I have been looking for photos of the Penney’s store in Vancouver, Washington for quite some time. I remember my mother and I used to go to Onslows for lunch or dinner, depending on what time of day we were done shopping. Back in the 1960’s my mom and I would shop at Penney’s all the time. She Had her JC Penney’s account for decades. In particular I remember the little stair case, go up a step or two hit a little landing, go up 7 or 8 steps and you’re in the ladies coat department. I definitely remember getting lost one day – such relief it was to see my mother’s coat as I turned the corner near the checkout stand. Gosh, I miss those days and my mom….Holley in Houston, TX
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