Vintage Penticton postcards prove to be popular postings

PENTICTON – A Penticton man is finding lots of interest for his historical hobby of vintage Okanagan postcards.

Alan Warren emigrated with his wife to Penticton from the United Kingdom five years ago. Shortly after, he began collecting digital images of vintage postcards of Okanagan scenes that were selling on internet sites.

“The postcards themselves are quite expensive, between $10 and $15 each. I’ve amassed a collection of about 500 images, front and back,” Warren says.

He searches six or seven internet auction sites where anyone can bid to purchase a postcard. About three years ago, Warren made a power point presentation to the Penticton Newcomers Club, using his postcard images to present a Penticton past and present theme.

“It was very well received, so I thought, let’s start sticking some of these on Facebook. I thought I’d lighten the page up, as most of the time what’s posted is pretty negative. We thought we would stick them in and see if brings back memories for people,” he says, adding he makes the posts to the Penticton Facebook page.

Warren says he’s somewhat surprised at the interest shown, noting by comments made he seems to be achieving his goal of rekindling memories.

“I originally thought I would post a few and move on, but people began asking for the posts even while I was away on holidays, so I thought I’d better keep going,” he says.

Warren has run through many of the images, and has since expanded his search to include Summerland, Peachland, Okanagan Falls and other communities, saying that has also proved to be a positive step.

“Many people viewing the Penticton Facebook page are from outlying communities as well,” he says.

This past summer Warren posted a series of postcard images of Penticton motels, noting several of the images depicted big changes to the motels or surrounding landscape.

“I posted an image of Apple Grove Auto Court recently. I was told it was on the site now occupied by Burger King,” he says.

Posting an average of two images daily, Warren says he hopes to continue for a while yet. He says he's only interested in posting vintage postcard images and has between 70 to 80 unpublished images left.

"There are a number of archival images of the area out there as well, but I'll leave those for someone else," he says.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

?We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.