Menlo Park hides a Spanish Colonial Revival complex of tiled buildings and gardens. Allied Arts Guild is home to nearly 20 artisans, a lunch cafe and a long tradition of supporting sick children.
How it started
In 1928, art lovers Delight and Garfield D. Merner of Hillsborough bought 3.5 acres at the edge of Menlo Park. They had been inspired by craft guilds they saw in Europe and wanted to build a place for craft production. Working with architect Gardner Dailey and artist Pedro Joseph de Lemos, they created the complex, reusing some of the property's old farm buildings. The guild's website says it has offered a place for working artists since 1929.
Some of the decorative tiles came from Spain, Tunis and Morocco. Ansel Adams was the guild's photographer of record and took its first photographs shortly after the buildings were finished.
The hospital connection
In 1932, the Merners invited an auxiliary of the Stanford Home for Convalescent Children, now Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, to serve lunch at the guild to benefit the home. The Merners stepped back in 1935 and leased the complex to the auxiliary. Today the Allied Arts Guild Auxiliary owns and operates the guild in support of Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford.
The complex was renovated in 2004 for $8.5 million to meet earthquake standards and fix structural problems. Broken roof tiles were replaced with handmade matches.
Visiting
- Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Sundays and national holidays.
- Cafe Wisteria: Serves Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The guild recommends reservations.
- Events: The guild hosts seasonal events, including holiday events and a Mother's Day Tea, and rents its gardens for weddings and meetings.