Very interesting!Saw your name in several places.
The web sites didn't work for me.
We just got back from dinner out.
Earlier a walk about at our favorite state park.
Love,Bob
On Sat, Apr 13, 2019, 5:33 PM Jim Lewis wrote:
> Honorable Mayor Mueller and Council Members:
One of the historic icons within the City of Menlo Park is the beautiful CLOCK TOWER located at the end of Santa Cruz Avenue,
adjacent to the train station. Daily, it is seen by 1,000's of persons traveling on Caltrain, driving in the area, going to lunch
at the British Bankers Club (BBC) and others. As prominent as it is, what do we know about it? Questions such as
1- When was it built?
2- Who was the architect?
3- Who was the contractor?
4- Who donated the funding for it?
And more, come to mind. If you are curious about the answers, allow us to share some historic nuggets for your reading pleasure,
as follows:
1 - The Clock Tower was completed on June 19, 1987, over 30 years ago. Much of the credit for the idea originated with former
Mayor Peg Gunn. At the time, the train station was being converted to a Transportation Center, designed to accommodate trains,
cars, buses, bicycles, taxi's and others. Many government agencies participated in the process.
2- The architect of record was Albert Hoover of the firm Hoover and Associates. He loved this community having chosen it for his
home in Menlo Park and volunteered for years on the Planning Commission.
3- The general contractor was none other than Allan Brown of Vance M. Brown and Sons, of Palo Alto. They are best known for large,
quality projects around the Bay Area.
4- The funding for the Clock Tower was a labor of love from Tom Ford of the Ford Land Company. His firm built several of the
office buldings on Sand Hill Road, famous for their Venture Capital and other occupants.
In year 2012, a twenty-five (25) year celebration occurred, with Mayor Kirsten Keith as the Master of Ceremonies. The entire event
was video taped and was covered by the local press. Representatives from Caltrain, local government and others were present,
including music by local musicians Martan Mann and Gail Dobson. It was a day to long remember.
For more information, we invite you to view our website and Facebook page.
Respectfully,
Jim Lewis, PresidentMenlo Park Historical Association (MPHA)800 Alma Street, Lower LevelMenlo Park, CA 94025Tel. (650) 330-2529
Website: www.sites.google.com/site/mphistorical [http://www.sites.google.com/site/mphistorical]Website:
www.sites.google.com/twomenlosisters [http://www.sites.google.com/twomenlosisters]Facebook: www.facebook.com/menloparkhistorical
[http://www.facebook.com/menloparkhistorical]
Encl.: Clock Tower Booklet, 2 pages
