Evening journal., 1919-10-25
SHUTS UP STORE
AFTER MOTHER dies
Death Reveals Strange Story
of Mourning Like Tale
of Dickens
STOCK LEFT ON
SHELVES NINE YEARS

INDIANAPOLIS, Oct 9J-The story
Of Charles Dickens Miss Habersham.
who after her lovers death closed her
home and lived in it in her yellowing
bridal nnery while dust grew thick
on the floors and furniture, spiders
spun their webs over mirrors and lamps
and her wedding cake decayed where
il stood on the table, silll holds its
fascination for all who read it; but for
nine years, in one OF the busiest streets
in Detroit, locked building has shell
tered the moldering stock OF merchan-
disc OF little store that was closed
up forever and kept untouched because
son would not let another handle
what had been his mothers
With the death recently OF George
+. Park, 81 years old the story which
is as strange as Dickens tale. became
known, and the mystery which had
puzzled many who wondered at The
sealed and poster-covered door and
windows Of the small brick building
In Grand River avenue was explained.
Mr. Park and his mother, Mrs. Mar
garet Park, built the store more than
30 years ago and for more than twenty
years conducted a small drygoods busi-
ness there, living in the three rooms
above. Mr.. Park is said 10 have been
the son OF an English sea captain. who
died before the boy was born lie and
his mother were never separated. About
II years ago he built two apartment
houses in one Of which ne and his
mother lived and from which they
walked together TO the store each
morning Two years later Mrs. Park
was suddenly taken IN, and it soon
became evident that she would never
be well again. Then the store was
closed up.
For six years the son nursed the
mother, and then she died Her death
was a shock from which he never re-
covered. He was IN for a long time.
Afterward he lived alone in the apart
ment they had occupied together The
curtains were never raised. lie refused
TO allow his tenants 10 help him with
his domestic work. Also he refused
angrily TO answer questions as TO why
he did not open and rent or sell the
store and the rooms above 10.
Business men in the neighborhood
say he returned TO the store nearly
every day and sometimes several times
day. always closing and locking the
door behind him. What he did in the
musty building, with its upper floor
vacant, the piles Of merchandise on
shelves aud counter covered an inch
thick with dust, the plaster falling
from the ceiling and the light Of day
excluded by the curtain OF posters over
the windows, no ene knew, but one
who once peeped through a tear IN
The layer OF papers said he could be
seen sitting behind the rusty stove mo-
tionless in the darkness.
Some months ago he was taken IN
and removed to Grace Hospital where
/ he died
The story OF his strange mourning
was told by f. C. Mcdonnell. chief
operator Of The Detroit Western Union
office who was probably his closest
friend.
MIR. Park was devoted 10 his mother
and did not want the store they had
built mp together altered during his
lifetime said Mr.. Mcconnell "lle
was not a hermit in the usual sense Of
the word however. lie had many
friends and was a member of Ashlar
Lodge OF NlasQns. by whom he was
buried with Masonic honors lie was
a kindly man and very liberal with his
money In any good cause The prop
erly he left probably is worth $4,000
or $4,000