Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-09-17

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bellhanger; James Newall, shoe
maker, and in the 40s, j. K. Boyd,
upholsterer, and P. McArdie, watch
makers; Pusley w. Simpson followed
the grocery business near the corner
of Eleventh street, where he was
succeeded by William Orme.'
The northwest corner of Tenth
and D streets is an old auctioneer's
stand, being occupied as such by
James C. Mcclure for Is years from
1912. And at one time he had asso-
ciated with him his son, Fred B.
Mcclure, and Thomas j. Fisher.
The older Mr.. MCGUIRE was born
in Westmoreland County: Pa, in
1872 and came to this city as a
young man and found employment
at bookbinding with Jacob Gideon
and his brother, George S. Gideon,
proprietors of large printing office
and bookbindery on Ninth street
above Pennsylvania avenue. Leaving
this firm, he started in business for
himself, and his business grew until
it was the largest bookbinding es-
tablishment in the city. However,
he had other ideas, and so, in 1852,
he retired from this business and
became commission merchant and
auctioneer.
Walter B. Williams, auctioneer
and others also occupied this build
ing for extended periods.
1t may be interesting to note here
that on the opposite, or northeast
corner of this intersection, was once
the home of Peter Force, and those
who are not familiar with early
Washington may be surprised te
know that it was quite an estate.
Back in 1898 Mrs. Jennie Tree
Rives-who was then getting along
in years, but who recalled this
neighborhood from childhood days
gave an account of this corner be-
fore the Columbia Historical So
ciety, in which she said, in part:
II have been specially requested
to speak Of the old Peter Force gar
den, situated on the north side OF
D street between Ninth and Tenth
streets. 1t extended nearly as far
as Frank Wards dairy, on the D
street side, and to the gas office on
the east side of Tenth street. AS a
child, 1 played in the quaint old
garden with my little cousin
George Force. 1t contained some
stately old trees; beds of wild straw
berries grew at their roots. The
garden was intersected by gravel
walks, bordered with box. Tall white
lilacs nodded their graceful heads
and threw out sweet perfume. Great
beds of gay tiger lilies famed in the
sun. The spicy Glove pink, the moss
rose, marigolds, great beds of lilies
of the valley, with their tiny bells
and sweet perfume; llacs, larkspur
lady's slipper and four o'clocks all
grew in this dear old-fashioned gar
den. Here Mr.. Force, dressed in
variably in q dark-blue coat, with
brass buttons and a white RULED
shirt, walked daily, pacing the gravel
walk, his old dog by his side, a
beautiful St. Bernard. We children
left the garden as he entered. NO
one was allowed to intrude upon or
disturb grandfather 1t was the
household rule. The house was
low, two-story brick structure, rather
rambling in character, having two
entrances. It always seemed gloomy
and shutup. OF the four sons OF Mr..
Force, Gen. Manning Force is the
only one still living, I believe. His
only daughter married and died.
Mr.. Force was very strong, fancy,
in his attachments. I remember that
my cousin told me her grand
mothers room was closed after her
death. It remained so until after
Mr.. Force died. When 1t was
opened, on her sewing table rested
the little work basket, the dainty
work still in it, the needle all rusted
from disuse. Her clothes hung in
their accustomed places in the
wardrobes, and all the little trifles
q woman loves to collect were in
and around the room. No foot but
his had crossed the threshold since
the light Of the room had passed
away"
Owned Excursion Boat.
On the corner where The Stars
parking plaza is to be erected was
in 1880 the Bayard House, then
being conducted by Capt. Ephraim
S. Randall and Charles G. Godfrey.
Many will recall Capt. Randall, who,
as an excursion steamboat owner
on the Potomac River, probably az
forded the Washington public more
real pleasure than any other cap
tain on the river.
This well-known steamboat pro-
prietor was a Northern man and
came to Washington some time dur
ing the early 70s. In 1873, prior to
entering the steamboat business, he
conducted provision store at 1919
F street NV. and resided across