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Rare real photo postcard (RPPC) captioned“Eastman’s Bungalow Scene of Tragedy.”The sepia-toned image shows men and boys gathered before a damaged wooden bungalow, with visible debris and scaffolding. The handwritten caption identifies the site, offering a rare and locally significant historical record.
The reverse is postmarkedJuly 15, 1909, Bozman, Marylandand addressed to Baltimore. It bears a green one-centBenjamin Franklin stamp (Series of 1902)and is signed simply“Carrie.”
This postcard carries added intrigue: the bungalow belonged toRobert Eastman (alias “Roberts,” also known as “Lame Bob”),a former New York broker and fugitive swindler. In June 1909, Eastman’s bungalow became infamous as the site connected with the shockingmurder of Edith Woodill,a beautiful and accomplished young woman whose body was discovered in nearby waters.
The tragedy was sensationalized nationwide and later recounted inThomas Duke’s1910 volumeCelebrated Criminal Cases of America. Along with the book Death of an Angel: Life and Murder of Socialite Edith May Thompson Woodill by Gary Woodill. The story involved betrayal, hidden identities, and Eastman’s eventual suicide when cornered by law enforcement—making this postcard not only a piece of local Maryland history but also directly tied to one of America’s most notorious early 20th-century crimes.
Publisher/Details:
Type: Real Photo Postcard (RPPC)
Caption: “Eastman’s Bungalow Scene of Tragedy”
Postmark: July 16, 1908, Bozman, Maryland
Stamp: Green one-cent Benjamin Franklin (Series of 1902)
Era: Early 20th century (divided back)
Condition: Very good antique condition; light wear consistent with age; written, stamped, and postmarked
Perfect for collectors of:
Maryland history & genealogy
Real Photo Postcards (RPPC)
True crime & early 20th-century tragedies
Architectural history & bungalow era ephemera
Rare Baltimore/Talbot County historical connections
Astriking and unusual postcard—a tangible artifact tied to the Eastman bungalow and the sensational 1909Woodill murder case. A must-have for collectors of RPPCs, Maryland history, and early American true crime.
