Beginning in 1974 and culminating in 2011, two major projects have made the Japanese Tea House a beloved part of Piedmont Park, serving as a focal point for weddings and other celebrations.
Notably, the Tea House is located on the same site where Frank C. Havens originally built another tea house in 1907. Piedmont Historical Society President Gail Lombardi describes the first chapter in the story succinctly: “The construction of the new Junior High School called for the demolition of the Leander Redman estate next door. The estate was built in 1906 and had a Japanese tea house in the garden. The Board of Education offered the tea house to the city, and in 1974 the tea house was pulled onto a trailer, (and) moved to Piedmont Park.”
PBF’S early Tea House endeavor
The idea to acquire, relocate, and restore the tea house came from the Piedmont Beautification Foundation and the Piedmont Garden Club. Both organizations made it their Bicentennial Project. Community leaders Jean Brown Wolfe, Marnie Winsor and Norma Wells helped make the idea a reality. Wolfe, president of the Garden Club and who had already served as chair of the park commission and president of PBF, convinced the City Council to accept the school district’s offer of the tea house.
Through PBF, funds were raised to cover the cost of moving the Tea House, preparing the site to receive it, and restoring it to its original condition. To complete the first project, in 1976 a Japanese architect was engaged to design the circular dry rock pond, construct the first decking and complete the landscaping. Installation of the dry rock pond was almost as difficult logistically as moving the building but was ultimately accomplished by Rigging International thanks to Piedmont resident and Rigging President Denny McLeod. On June 27, 1976, city leaders were invited to a Japanese-style tea ceremony hosted by Wells and Wolfe to celebrate the completion of Piedmont’s own Japanese Tea House and garden.
PBF’s continued support
By 2011 the Tea House was showing signs of wear and tear. Both the decking and the Tea House needed repair, and some of the landscaping had deteriorated. At that time, former Mayor Valerie Matzger was President of PBF, and she launched a campaign to restore the Tea House and replace the decking and surrounding garden. In addition to the current decking that anchors the Tea House, several lovely benches were offered as tributary opportunities, providing a significant portion of the funding for the project. Contributions from many Piedmont families were recognized with a brass plaque near the entrance to the garden. At the impetus of Mayor Matzger, and following a unanimous vote of the City Council, the name “Jean Brown Wolfe Tea Garden” is inscribed at the top of the plaque to honor her more than 50 years of service to the City. Wolfe had passed away in February of 2010. On September 27, 2011, the newly restored Tea House and the Jean Brown Wolfe Tea Garden were formally dedicated. PBF President Valerie Matzger emceed the celebration, with a diverse crowd in attendance, including Vice Mayor John Chang, Councilmember Margaret Fujioka, Public Works Director Chester Nakahara and Japanese Consul General Hiroshi Inomata and his wife Midori. Consul Inomata spoke to the crowd and congratulated the City on the authenticity of the Tea House and Garden. Many members of Wolfe’s family were in attendance, including her son Cameron who stated that “the volunteerism of its citizens is the key to the wonderful character of Piedmont.” Matzger and Wolfe continue to be valued advisors to PBF to this day.
PBF further enhances Piedmont Park
The Tea House and Tea Garden are not the only PBF projects near the Community Hall. The circular planting bed and Magnolia Tree are among PBF’s earliest projects having been completed in 1967. Landscaping and planting along Cherry Tree Walk soon followed in 1971. PBF recently finished fundraising for the Highland – Guilford Steps and Handrails at Cherry Tree Walk, a project made possible by a generous gift in memory of Denny McLeod made by his wife Ruthie McLeod and their family. McLeod was a past President of the Piedmont Garden Club and served as an Advisor to PBF.
Perhaps PBF’s most beloved and long-standing gift to the City is the annual Holiday Tree Lighting, which was first established in 1969 and has since become a cherished tradition in Piedmont. This celebration has recently been expanded to include other winter holidays as “Lights Up Piedmont.”
Special thanks to Sharon Hom and Gail Lombardi, whose historical research was instrumental in the creation of this article.
Try your hand at PBF’s Anniversary Game #2
