Issue date: April 07, 1999
Menlo Park's first permanent settlers arrived in 1853 from Menlough on the outskirts of Galway, Ireland. Dennis J. Oliver and his brother-in-law, D.C. McGlynn, purchased a 1,700-acre tract at the southern end of the Pulgas Grant along El Camino Real, which was known at the time as County Road.
More information about old Menlo Park is available at the Menlo Park Historical Association, open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Tuesday and Wednesday except holidays. A comprehensive brochure describing the following sites is available at the Menlo Park Library and the Menlo Chamber of Commerce.
1. 1100 Merrill St.: Railroad Station (built 1863)
2. 1090 El Camino Real: British Bankers Club (built as American Trust Bank,1926)
3. 558 Santa Cruz Ave.: Wessex Books (formerly Menlo French Laundry; built 1893) 4. 1145 Merrill Street: McEvoy/Sullivan House (built as home to San Mateo County Supervisor P.T. McEvoy, 1905; now Lisa's Tea Treasures)
5. 1249 Mills St. (built 1898) Residences of builder/politician "Honest John" McBain 1257 Mills St. (built 1904; addition, 1930)
6. 1320 Mills St.: McLoughlin House (built 1904 as private residence)
7. Site of former Chinatown (1880s-turn of century)
8. 417 Glenwood Ave.: Aaron Gale House (built 1897 by carpenter Aaron Gale)
9. 1250 Laurel St.: Nativity School Hall (purchased 1946 from Dibble General Hospital)
10. 424 Oak Grove Ave.: Bruce/Fredrick House (built 1895)
11. 250 Oak Grove Ave.: Hopkins Estate (built 1880; remodeled 1920s)
12. 210 Oak Grove Ave.: Church of the Nativity (built 1872; relocated 1878)
13. 215 Oak Grove Ave.: Corpus Christi Monastery (built 1928)
14. 1340 Noel Dr.: Bright Eagle Mansion (built 1870)
15. corner of Laurel St. and Ravenswood Ave.: Holy Trinity Rectory, Parish Hall, and Church (1914; original church now site of Holy Virgin Russian Orthodox Church, 1220 Crane St. (16))
17. 555 Ravenswood Ave.: Latham/Hopkins Gatehouse (built 1864)
18. Civic Center (Belangie Fountain, installed 1870s)
© 1999 The Almanac. All Rights Reserved.