A.M. Simon, Divided Back Postcard, Erie Street, Missouri Valley, 1909

This divided back postcard, published by A.M. Simon, features a vibrant street scene of Erie Street, east of 4th Street in Missouri Valley, Iowa. The image captures a bustling early 20th-century commercial district, with horse-drawn carriages and pedestrians lining the street. The architecture showcases classic brick facades, with awnings shading the storefronts, including a drugstore and clothing store. The postcard is postmarked from Missouri Valley, Iowa, dated September 6, 1909, and bears a green one-cent stamp featuring Benjamin Franklin.

The back of the card reads: "Hello Will, I suppose you think I had forgotten all about you but I haven't. How are you getting along and how was the crops up there this year. Send me an answer. From all."

This postcard documents the commercial vibrancy of small-town America in the early 1900s, highlighting the architectural style and social interactions of the era. Surviving examples like this provide valuable insights into regional history and communication patterns of the time.