Notes on Menlo Gates

Times-Gazette (2/22/1890)

In 1851 Oliver and McGlynn purchased 640 acres.

Names of partners over the side gates.

Times-Gazette (1/23/1886)

Gate, erected 1884, blown over.

Times-Gazette (2/4/1905)

Gate “erected in August 1854.”

Toppled by storm.

A committee from Menlo Parlor NSGW formed to put gate back in position.

Native Sons trying to raise funds to preserve the Gate—no success.

Redwood City Democrat (3/9/1905)

Johnson estate has given gate to Menlo Parlor NSGW.

Gate built in 1854.

Redwood City Democrat (4/20/1905)

“…the old Johnson barn burned down,” built in 1850.

[This may be the structure that housed the 10 persons at the Menlo Park Ranch in early 1955 – see Dennis Oliver page > Notes from vol. 1; also, if Johnson built the barn in 1850, he must have had some sort of purchase agreement with the widow Arguello for the land; also from 9/19/1855 entry in vol. 1, Oliver indicates he had assumed a mortgage held by Johnson. This was George C. Johnson, a one-time sea captain from Bergen, Norway, who became a real estate speculator and steel importer. He became one of the largest land owners in the area.]

Daily Palo Alto Times (8/20/1917)

Landmark since 1854.

Camp Fremont.

Stands on Johnson property just south of SCA on ECR.

Palo Alto Times (7/7/1922)

Archway struck this morning by 2 automobiles filled with singing passengers.

La Peninsula, vol. VIII, n. 2 (May 1955), “Menlo Park’s Fameous Gate: A Problem in History”

Gate stood about 500’ south of SCA.

County assessments for 1856:

Oliver – 150 acres

McGlynn – 160 acres

Both with improvements

[But when purchased?]

Recorder (6/16/1976)

The "Gates" used to stand where Menlo Ave now intersects ECR

Palo Alto Times (6/14/1988)

Under the foot-high “Menlo Park” was date “August 1854.”

On the 2 small arches were the names Oliver and McGlynn.

Last updated: 2 December 2014