J. C. Penney Building, United States historic place
The J. C. Penney Building in Newberg, Oregon is a one-and-a-half-story brick commercial structure built around 1927 that originally served as the town's department store. The building features a straightforward brick exterior with large display windows and period details designed to showcase merchandise and accommodate customers.
The building was constructed in 1927 during a period of economic growth in Newberg and was the town's first department store of its kind. It reflected the expansion of the J. C. Penney chain into small communities during the 1920s and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007 in recognition of its historical significance.
The building once served as a gathering place where townspeople came to shop and connect with their community. Today it reminds locals and visitors of the central role that department stores played in shaping small-town life and identity.
The building is located on East 1st Street in downtown Newberg and stands out as part of a cluster of historic storefronts. Walking through the area provides a clear sense of the town's early retail layout and how the buildings relate to each other along the street.
The building originally featured electric lighting and skylights that were considered modern when it opened in 1927, along with custom oak furniture and display cases made by a Michigan company. These details reflected the store's effort to offer customers a refined shopping experience that matched retail standards of larger cities.
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