The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-08
The Father of His Country Looks Down
DisconsoIately on the Wreck of
Woodwardss Gardens.
[Sketched By "Cag" Grtist.l


''Father of his country" seems to have
been left as a thing of little worth. To-
day he stands there on vacant lot like
ghost Of the past which can have no share
or part in the active present or the IN
known future. Yesterday George Wash
ington OF Woodward Gardens was last in
peace, last in war and last in the minds Of
the bidders who bought the surface OF the
earth round and about him.
The auctioneer's hammer fell with ring
ing blows IN the Office of Shainwald IL
Buckbee in the Mills building-ringing
blows that foretold the strokes Of the car
penter's hammer, the stonecutter's sledge
and the mason's trowel that are to come.
Not quite alone is George Washington as
neglected and worthless curio on the
grounds OF the once-famous pleasure re-
sort. About 100 feet to the southwest,
under the shadow Of board fence and
yew tree, lies PROSTATE on Its face the
sCuiptured figure of Columbia. Side by
side with her, on his back, and graspin z
with his paws the pole he never climbed,
lies the sculptured figure of a ma
tive son of CALIFORNIA; big wooden
bear, who for many years stood
"silent guard in the western
part of the gardens. Within a few feet Of
these ever silent figures that have been
viewed by millions of men stands the old
ticket office whose Swiss-cottage style OF
architecture is familiar TO the minds Of
hundreds of thousands of men, women
and children. These things are all that
remain to call to mind the attractions
which for many years were dear to the
hearts Of picnickers from all parts OF San
g Francisco and the bay region.
And yesterday nearly one-haf of the
ground that once was Woodward s
Gardens was sold under the auctioneer S
hammer.
There are three particular places in Cali
fornia that have acquired worldwide
fame. and these are the Yosemite Valley,
the old Cliff House and Woodward S
Gardens. Possibly the latter is more gen.
eralIv known than either of the other two.
The auction sale of lots was lively as to
bidding and entirely satisfactory as to the
sellers. The prices paid were very good,
considering the times and present condl-
tons of the real estate market: A decided
favoritism was shown to the lots trontlng
on Valencia street. The highest prlce pald
for any one lot was called by the corner OF
Valencia and Fourteenth streets, 100 feet
on Fourteenth and So feet on Valencia,
which brought SO, go, and was bought by
George Ives. O.. D. Baldwin bought sew
eral lots, among them being two fronting
% feet each on Valencia street. One OF
these lots brought $5975 and the otner
$500. Two lots lying between inoSe
bought by Mr.. Baldwin were bid IN by j.
w. Jellett, one for $5725 and the other for
$500. The buyers of the lots fronting on
Stevenson street were: Mrs. y. Costello
Eugene Wall, I. B. Schmid, William
Hayden, Mrs. NJ. Mccormick and MISS
Emma Williams. The prices ranged from
$1I40 to $685.. The lots fronting on jessie
street brought prices ranging from Slzto "
S1475. Lot 81, corner OF Fourteenth ana
Stevenson streets, brought $4325. Expert
real estate brokers say it was a good anu
healthy sale.