Evening star., 1955-01-02
b Froncis ?. DouqIas

- = S-eeB 7AttS ISbAH 014 sAAN44S
February Is. the Boston Dry
Goods House opened its doors
ct 70s Market space.
woodward q Lothrop is cele-
bfating that event in the coln-
ing year, for the Boston House
was the enterprise Of Samuel
Walter Woodward and Alvin
Mason Lothrop.
sTne two young merchants
opened the store IN 1880 III q
house they had refitted and re-
furnished. The firm name had
been Woodward ~ Lothrop In
Massachusetts. For q brief period
4 In Washington, 1t was woodward,
Lothrop Il Cochral1e. but Charles
+. Cochrane, who was the third
partner withdrew after q few
months. It has been woodward
81, Lothrop ever since. with
descendants Of the original part
ners still directing the company's
destiries.
It may have been destiny. I'll
may have been chance. that the
Boston House was opened In
Washington instead Of Omaha
or another Western City. Young
Woodward he was called wall
ter rather than Samuel--started
to Onlaha because he and his
partner decided their store In
Chelsea. Mass, could grow no
larger there. They decided to
90 West and grow up with the
country.
Headed for Omaha.
Walter woodward set out Tor
Omaha BY way Of New York.
There he called ut Al, Il. SteW-
arts store. a friend ct Stewatt,s1
advised him. Go South, Walter,
IL you want 3 good opening.
Baltimore and Washington are
both waiting for 3 good store. E
So Walter Woodward went tcI
Baltimore. He was attracted BY
some features Of the city, dis
couraged by others. He came on
20 washington.
There was : personal reason,
also, for his visit here. AT CheI-
sea, he and Miss Mary Catherine |
Wade had been married. Mrs.
Woodward's sister, Emma J.
Wade. was married To Shepard |
s. Everett. Mr.. Everett held d |
Government position. and the
Everetts lived n Falls Church. |
va.
The visitor from Chelsea was |
delighted with the Capitals |
broad streets and green trees.
He was impressed by the busi-
ness houses. He looked the scene |
over and wired his partner.
ALVIN. this is the place for US. z
Couldn't Beat washington.
But since he had started West,
Walter Woodward went West. /
He visited Kansas City, Omaha
and other promising and bust
ling communities. He saw ,i1oth-
ing to change his mind. The up
shot was the opening Of the
store at 705 Market space.
An arlnounc cement card said
1t would be s'Ofie-priceH house.
somewhat al innovation in I,aer-
chai1dising at \ time when the
purchaser counted on bargaining
and trying to reach B figure
lower than the first one asked. 4
The card also raid II would
carry q ful Hile Of Black silks L
and Satin de Lyon, French Nov-
elites, Housekeepixlg Linens. " etc. I
The young merchants were no I
amateurs. The firm Of Woodward |
q Lothrop had been first or
ganized In Chelsea, near Boston. L
IN 1878, The two members had
been toEether before that.
As 2 youth. Walter Woodward
had had some merchandising T
experience IN Danaariscotta. Me,
where ne was born In lB48. He |
went 70 Boston and got . job
at shepard Brothers on Hanover
street. A few years later, he left
Tor the flrnl Of Cushing " Arnes, q
also on Hanover street. Il
~ r.....,,S.. -.
.
4vunE LO.nIop Wa 9 native
y 0OlM Aceohs Mass near
COnCoau. nis ancestors were
a.no.G sne ns.e pand VINO OPP
pOs.u tns nlltlsn as tne rude
Draoee 49,. tnas y, spanned tne mood.
the void. Aftsr ! ioh - s
country store ct South Acton.
Alvin Lothrop, too, went to Bos-
ton and got q Job ct Cushing
= Ames. e
At the store In Boston, walter
woodward became head clerk
Tor drees goods and silks: ALVIN
LOthrOp was head Of the cloaks
and shawls section. E
The two young clerks finally
quit the Cushing q Ames en-
ploy and the story is that their
departure followed d disagree