Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • 65

akt'attb ulrtlnut? Section 'i HOUSE OF THE WEEK FORUM BOOKS ART-MUSIC i HOMES-GARDENS. TRAVEL SCOUTS WEEKEND EDITORIAL PAGE VOL CLXXIII OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, SUNDAY, JULY 24, 1960 NO. 24 Section av i mi ii i i mm N. JL JL tinued as its distinguished head until ft death. It grew rapidly, not only in Great Britain, but in other lands.

By 1890 it had spread to continental Europe, Australia and India. Its beginnings in the States date from its first year, 1880. Once started in America, the Salvation Army was not long In finding its way into Call-" fornia. From The War Cry, its official I i i i 'If mm FOR NEARLY a quarter of a cen-tury Woodward's Gardens in San Francisco combined an array of attractions that gave the spot national renown. Robert.

B. Woodward, merchant, innkeeper, horsecar magnate and philanthropist', opened the gardens 1C1866 and from time on until the advent of the Gay '90s, visitors to San Francisco seldom failed to include this beautiful resort in their rambles about town. Ironic it was that with the advent, of the Gay '90s San Francisco's gayest and most magnificent recreation park should bow out of the scene. In her memoirs of the social and romantic life of San Francisco Amelia Ransome Neville tells us that it was Woodward's interest in the old Masters and their art that brought about popular excitement in the gallery he had installed in his Mission Street home. He decided to open it to the public.

"It was an unusual and interesting benefaction," wrote Mrs. Neville in her book, "The Fantastic City." She explains how Woodward commissioned Virgil Williams, a local artist who had studied abroad, to copy old Masters in European galleries'. More than 100 copies were made. "Williams took a studio in Rome and for several years worked on the curious commission. The results were excellent reproductions of Titians, Tinto-rettos, Leonardos, and Botticellis, among others," she relates.

"Hung in the Mission Street gallery of Woodward's home they doubtless were a cultural influence in the new city." At the time he opened the art gallery, to the public he also opened the private park surrounding his home. "As Woodward's Gardens it became the most famous of San Francisco's old resorts. It covered a sloping hillside, and the little valley with gardens, artificial lakes and fountains, and an added zoo, was the delight of children," wrote Mrs. Neville. Nature's Freaks Moved by the interest In Woodwards created by Mrs.

Neville we turned to Mrs. Hester Robinson, librarian at the Society of California Pioneer headquarters on San Francisco's McAllister Street. She graciously unfolded yellowed newspaper clippings and even multi-colored handbills announcing special attractions at Woodward's Garden tack in the 1870s. Mrs. Robinson also showed us John P.

Young's two-volume history of San Francisco published in 1912 which reports that the popularity of Woodward's Gardens was due to its appeal to the family man. "Papa and mama with their progeny," he records, "thronged the resort on Sundays and holidays, and to some extent divided Saturday afternoon between it and theater matinees. The performances in the pavilion of the, garden, a great barnlike structure, guiltless of any decoration of any kind, with wooden stationary benches, were not neglected by the people, but from the stress laid upon the special attractions of the menagerie, such as the acquisition of a 'Japanese rooster with a tail 26 feet and other astonishing natural history freaks In 1949 a plaque was erected on the site of Woodward's Gardens bearing an inscription that outlines the park: "The block bounded by Mission, Duboce, Valencia and 14th Streets, with a main, entrance on Mission Street," the plaque reads. B. Woodward opened his gardens to the public in 1866 as an amusement park catering to all tastes It was San Francisco's most popular resort until closed in 1890." Earlier Gardens Woodward's was not the first of San Francisco's famed early-day resorts.

In 1853 Russ' Garden was opened, and a few years later The Willows attracted patrons. Music and refreshments caused both to flourish. Russ' Gardens' was on the corner of Sixth and Harrison Streets, and The Willows between Mission and Valencia, 17th and 19th Streets. In 1861 Hayes Park on Laguna "Street, near Hayes Street became another popular resort. All of these gave way in 1866 to Woodward's Gardens after the philanthropist transformed his home into a museum.

A History'' of: San Francisco by Millard says, "In 1870 about the only place where one might go in San Francisco to view a large ioHetion of pictures was in Woodward's Gardens "where painting land statuary might be seen. One flamboyant ad states: V. the i art gallery is filled with statuary and paintings from Italy, Germany, Holland and the United but, his- torian Young insists, as a matter of fact, with exception of a few canvases by organ, I have learned many details. General' Booth selected two young of-'; ficers, Major Alfred Wells and Captain'-Henry Stillwell, to open the work on the Pacific Slope. A letter from Major Wells: to Lt.

Col. Merriweather gives the follow-? ing details: 'I landed alone in San cisco on July 21, 1883, and started th first Salvation Army meeting the ing evening, July 22, 1883, in a little hall-: at 815 Montgomery Street, seating some-, 80 or more A short time later saw: us in a little larger building, 632 mercial Street, which remained for years: as No. Hall The early days were full of intense interest as our crowds were quite cosmopolitan, both outdoors and in. Converts were from all quarters of the globe. The Salvation Army spirit had caught hold of some loyal folks in land and in San Jose, and it soon fell my lot to divide Sundays between Francisco and Oakland A little over year later two young captains from Loik don arrived in San Francisco It was not long before the new arrivals became Mrs.

Wells and Mrs. Stillwell Their -arrival put new life into everything, and San Francisco soon boasted a brass tt 19 niorpe The mmrarlA vrhn hp came bandsmen were at the head of a proL cession which stirred the city, roused the devil, and gave us a lasting ad Christmas Caldrons "As in other localities," continues Drlj Hunt, "the work of the Salvation spread rapidly. In 1894, a year of deepr financial depression, Capt. Joseph McFee while walking rapidly along the San Fran-cisco waterfront, saw a huge caldron hang' ing in the shop of a ship chandler. With lively imagination the sight gave him an idea.

Why not place a soup kettle in central spot so people could help feed the hungry sailors by tossing coins into the kettle. That thought was the beginning: of the now familiar Christmas kettles that; appear everywhere during the kettles attended by uniformed Salvation-: ists tinkling bells to attract donors. The; activities of the Salvation Army are by no means limited to the street gospel meetings, with the singing of accompanied by the best kind of brass band the members can put together and; with individual testimonials of niemberif There is much more. To mention! some, the Home League bring cheer to! unfortunate shut-ins; the Family Bureau; provides counselling, employment and-frequently medical care to those who need such assistance; Prison Service has its many centers in police courts, jails and.i prisons to help both men and Men's Social Service, a practical workshop program with specif icIucTtQ confirmed alcoholics, dependent veterans and handK capped men. au oi mese ieaiures navs been worked out with care, along economical lines, with the central thought being: human benefit." Developments "It may be said," adds Dr.

Hunt, "that the Salvation Army came into its own by; the service rendered during the Second World War. The Canteen Kitchen in Sak Francisco provided coffee and doughnuts to service men and rendered special serve ices to needy persons. It is but one sample of the' kind of work that Jed J. Edgair; Hoover to declare, 'The work of the Sak vation Army is' a great investment in the future of The brochure previously mentioned is entitled 'Marching Together' and-hasj greetings from the Terr torial Commander of the Western Term torv. Samuel Hepburn, and the Chairman- of the State Advisory Committee, Earl Gilmore.

'The Salvation Army works in problem areas of society which call most pressmgiy lor spiuuun, me urutuiuc aja Since the end) of World War almost 7,000,000 persons have moven into fornia. Human1 problems have multiplied many times oyer. The State Plan wail established five years ago, making impossible for the Army to 'focus' its welfare services on the state as a whole. Voluntary leadership, is the key to the platfi success. A State Advisory Conference jS set up, with strong! personnel for botlf A Behind the gates of "Woodward's Gardens Biestadt and Virgil Williams, the 63 numbers were all Italian potboilers, and the; statues all plaster casts Another description of the locale comes from Zoeth Skinner Eldredge in Volume II of his "Beginnings of San Francisco." Eldredge writes, "In the block between 11th and 12th Streets on the northwestern side of the road was the Grizzly Roadside Inn where a chained bear was kept for entertainment of callers.

A little further on a brook crossed the road where some years later Robert B. Woodward established his Woodward's Gardens Eldredge also tells us that Woodward began his ministrations to the San Francisco publia on Pike. Street (now Waverly Place), a. short street running from, Washington to' Sacramento Streets alrove Dupont (Grant Ave.) where he kept a coffee house. Later he made a fortune in the famous What Cheer House." Death and Desolation Death claimed Robert Blum Woodward on Aug.

22, 1879. The widely known proprietor of Woodward's Gardens died at Oak Knoll, his Napa County estate, after a long illness. He was 55 years of age. Born in Providence, R.I., in February of 1824, he grew up to aid his father, in a general merchandising business in Providence. When the gold fever hit he sailed aboard the Naumkeag around Cape Horn, bringing with him a stock of merchandise.

He arrived in San Francisco on Nov. 19, 1849. By 1855 he was a member of the Society of California Pioneers. Woodward set up a store-, according to the-1879 obituaries, then opened a boarding house in connection with the store. This continued until 1852 when he established the What Cheer House, the inn with a name common in Rhode The big novelty of the What Cheer House was the inclusion of a library (1,500 volumes) and a museum.

In 1862 he built hiTresidence at the site of Woodward's Gardens. A wife -and four children survived him. As an innkeeper he became interested in the City Railroad whose horsecars traversed Market, DuPont and Mission Streets. After, the establishment of the resort he bought Oak Knoll, a few miles from Napa, -and built a magnificent residence, there. Historians say he promoted the building of the Napa Valley Railroad.

At any rate he retired to Oak Knoll for the last days of his life, handicapped: by asthma and Woodward is described as a "tall, lean awkward man; of the Abe Lin- coin type." His estate was estimated at $2,000,000 His brought flags at Woodward's Gardens and on the What Cheert IJquse to half staff. The gardens were closed 'til after the funeral. By 1890 his descendants were unable to agree on disposition of the property. Some wanted to sell and. divide the proceeds, others tor A Vet wre boats, zoo, seal pond, aquatic merry continue the gardens.

In March of 1891 the courts ordered Woodward's Gardens to be broken up. "The gardens will soon be only a memory," said the San Francisco ExaminerT In March of 1894 the Chronicle reported demolition under way. "Tomorrow evening (St. Patrick's Day) is the last event at the historic pavilion in Woodward's Gardens," reported the Chronicle. "It will be a masked ball." Top Billing The same Chronicle issue reporting the masked St.

Patrick's Day ball also revealed that neighbors were carting away material and firewood, from the pairksite. "The high picket ience is already wrecked," the paper said. Two months' later The Examiner had a story saying the place was "a wreck and ruin. Boys are rafting in the old seal pond." One year before (on April 6, 1893) 75,000 items from the Woodward Gardens were sold at auction. Many can be seen today at Sutro's Museum out on Geary Street in San Francisco.

But not until September of 1932 did the auctioneer's hammer sound at Oak Knoll where Woodward's mansion sat amid the ranch he bought from General Vallejo. Before closing we'll give you a glimpse at an 1879 handbill advertising special attractions at Woodward's. Top billing went to the Merrill Brothers: Fred, George and infant Arthur, in their champion velocipede and English bicycle performance. A look into the past reveals the first demonstration of the trio was in the court of the old Palace Hotel on the Saturday night pre-1 ceding the Woodward Gardens exhibtion. The Buislays also won bold type on the handbill.

They were Mons. A. Buislay and Mile. Louise. Buislay was later killed when his hot air balloon descended on Bernal Heights.

Leon Samwells was the featured clown pantomimist. Leon's daughter married Bob Fitzsimmons, who was defeated by Jim Corbett for the heavyweight championship of the world. Another feature! The Edison phonograph! "It talks every day," the 'handbill proclaimed. And from what we can learn this was one of the very early exhibitions of the Edison Lola Montez The, Knave: One strange and exotic character of the Gold Days in California was the beautiful Lola Montez. Born in Limerick, Ireland, in 1816, she was christened, Marie Dolores Eliza Rosanna Gilbert and grew up to become a London music hall dancer under the name Lola Montez.

Her slender, graceful figure, black hair and flashing, blue eyes captured the marked intelligence, charm and grace she gained fame in England ahTbn7the Continentrmaking friends of George. Sand, Alexander Dumas, Victor i 1 1 i go round and the charm of outdoor music. IJugo, Lamartine and Liszt, and becoming a favorite of kings and queens. Lud-wig of Bavaria became infatuated with her and established her in his court as the Countess of Landsfeldt. The situation created a revolution in Ludwig's kingdom and Lola retreated to London.

Soon she won the affections of a young Lord and married him, a second English wedding for her. The young Lord's family took the matter, to court, but nothing came of the trial but a vast sensation and publicity, This furor brought Lola to the attention of New York City residents. When she came to America vast throngs filled thea-ters to see her famous "Spider Dance." She toured the eastern states with a play called "Lola Montez in Bavaria." This was in 1851. All the while she heard of the wonderful land of gold in California. As her success faltered in the East she sailed in 1853 for San Francisco.

Here she was received with tumultuous acclaim. Among her admirers in the city was a man-about-town and politician named Patrick Purdy Hull, who became infatuated with her. Lola married Patrick because, she said, he could tell a story better than anyone she had ever known. She toured to Sacramento, Marysville and Grass Valley, then back to Marysville where she quarreled with Hull and they separated. Lola then settled, in Grass Valley, buying and fur- nishing a home that became the center of attraction.

Her parties were a huge success though it is said a minister and an editor criticized her. The minister was rebuffed and the editor whipped. Many doubt both tales. For two years Lola pros- pered in Grass Valley; then other lands attracted her. In 1855 she sailed for Australia and a return to the stage.

The Australian tour was a failure, and the following year she returned to Grass Valley where she sold her home and possessions. She gave her last performance in San Francisco and then sailed back to New York. After a year or so she visited Paris but was no longer the attractive figure of earlier times. Back in America she lectured with only fair success. At length her health failed.

She died penniless and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery, New York. One of her real achievements was the discovery and training of a greater actress, Lotta Crabtree; which is another story. John W. Winkley. Salvation Army A brochure issued by the Salvation Army sends Dr.

Rockwell D- Hunt into a recitation of its history in California. "More than 80 years ago there was a religious organization in England known as tne East London Revival Society," he recalls. "In ,1880 this society adopted a military type of regimentation under-the leadership of 'General William Booth, who con ana ooumern wiuurum. .1 1 -THE I.