Vintage Owensboro Postcards Reveal a City That’s Changed

Although eBay had been around for eight years by the time my dad passed away in 2005, he did not know of it, but I wish he had. He would have had a field day searching through all the vintage items one can find about Owensboro. He was born and raised here, and I can tell you that his collections alone could have been an entire eBay category.

Vintage Owensboro Postcards on eBay

I ran across some cool postcards on eBay, and they illustrate an Owensboro that no longer exists. That actually sounds darker than I meant, but you'll see what I mean when you take a look at them. Also, below each postcard, you'll see what that location looks like today.

The Imperial Motel was right around the corner from where I grew up. We used to sneak over and swim in the pool at night. I don't know what the year is on that one, but I do know this view of the Glover Cary Bridge is from 1960.

I don't know how old this one is, but Our Lady of Mercy Hospital on Ford Avenue and Robin Road closed in 1996, so it's at least 30 years old. This looks way older than that, though.

If you head east on Ford Avenue, you'll get to Frederica Street. And, immediately to your left, there's Owensboro High School. The main building doesn't look much different from whenever this old postcard was created.

Now, if you head north on Frederica, you'll arrive at the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer building at the 14th Street intersection. That used to be the location of Owensboro Technical High School, which later merged with Owensboro Community College.

Keep going north on Frederica, and you'll eventually see the Federal Building on your right, across from the Empress Theater. Well, it used to be the Owensboro Post Office.

As a matter of fact, the old post office was next door to the swank Owensboro Motor Inn, at 4th and Frederica. Back in the day, if travelers were looking for luxurious accommodations, it was either this hotel or Gabe's Tower.

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If you're ever looking to kill time on a rainy day off, search "Owensboro vintage" on eBay. Whether you buy anything or not, you'll have a field day.