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We are celebrating Women’s History Month!
We begin the celebrations with a look into the life of Miss Susan E. Gale (1887-1969), who was Menlo Parks official historian. Miss Gale was a pioneer business woman, working in banking more than 30 years and then becoming a devoted historian for Menlo Park during her retirement
Miss Gale was born in Menlo Park in 1887. Her father, Aaron Gale, was a master carpenter who moved to Menlo Park from Ohio, to work on the Flood mansion, Linden Towers. Her mother, Margaret Jane Brophy, was a California native who moved to Menlo Park on her wedding day, August 1, 1886. Susan was born the following July, the oldest of the Gales seven children. Her father completed the family home at 417 Glenwood Avenue in about 1890, and Susan Gale lived there for the rest of her life. Her family home remains to this day, a tangible reminder of Menlo Parks engaging past.
The family took in 26 refugees of the 1906 earthquake to live in their Glenwood home. Susan herself had been in SF staying with relatives when the quake and fire hit. Her father traveled to SF by bicycle to see if she was okay, because the trains were not working. She personally began a large collection of "Menlo Parkiana" building the collection now under the MPHAs care and open to the public in our offices in the Menlo Park Library.
Miss Gale willed to Menlo Park a number of water color paintings by another famous Menlo Park lady, Rachel Bentley. Susan helped Rachel make her paintings of old Menlo Park historically accurate. We thank Susan Gale for paving the way with grace and gusto, as we continue Menlo Park historical research and appreciation! Enjoy the attached articles for more gems about Miss Gales historical work and life.
