Mrs. Willard M. Griffin stands on the large rocks that now highlight the main entrance to the Foothill College Campus. Behind Mrs. Griffin is a pagoda style structure. The Griffins became enamored of Japanese culture and architecture and used this style of structure on many areas of their land.
The Griffin family built a second home on their land and the elder Griffin, Willard M., is reputed to have flipped a coin to determine which of the two sons would get which house. This prairie style home was designed by the same architects that designed the first, larger home, Wolfe and McKenzie. This structure, located near the present day tennis courts, was demolished in 1970 to make way for a new Foothill athletics building.
Willard M. Griffin takes his dog for a ride in his rowboat on the fish pond that surrounds an island upon which the tea house sits. Note the gushing water feature in the pond, not seen in other photos. Date of photo unknown, but estimated to be between 1906 and 1913.
The Griffin family fish pond and tea house provided a serene spot for recreation or meditation. Note the half moon bridge and stone lantern, both traditional items found in Japanese tea gardens.
The Griffin fish pond and tea house were a favorite spot for family relaxation. The man and woman in the boat are not identified but are believed to be Willard C. Griffin, grandson of Willard M., and his wife. Photo likely taken in the late 1930s or early 1940s.
This carriage house, built by the Griffin family in 1901, was used as the Los Altos Hills Fire Department station for many years. Today is houses the district's archives. Photo taken in the 1970's.
A map of the property prior to the purchase by Foothill College, showing the land owned by the Lohman family, the Cusack family and other smaller partitions.
Griffin-Skelley was a dried fruit packer and canner, founded in 1881 and merged into Del Monte during its formation in 1916. Griffin and Skelley started packing oranges in Riverside, California, pioneered the dried fruit industry, and eventually moved into canning.
