Piedmont in Alameda County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
The Japanese Teahouse
Cultural Connection Since 1907
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 7, 2014
1. The Japanese Teahouse Marker
Captions: 1543 – Japanese Tea Garden, Piedmont Park, Oakland, California (postcard, top right); The first teahouse was once the largest one in the United States (center right); The present teahouse was move from the Leander Redmon estate to the park in 1976. (bottom right).
Inscription.
The Japanese Teahouse. Cultural Connection Since 1907. Look carefully. Comparing today’s Japanese Tea House with early pictures, you will notice many differences. The first tea house in Piedmont Park was built by Frank C. Havens and opened on June 30, 1907. It was a replica of the late-fifteenth century Silver Pavilion in Kyoto, Japan and was the largest of its kind in the United States. To the rear of the tea house were a koi pond, moon bridge and Japanese style garden. , When the City of Piedmont acquired the park in the 1920s, it tore down the tea house and many other park features to make room for a new master plan for civic center. , In 1976 the City of Piedmont received the gift of a new tea house through the efforts of the Piedmont Beautification Foundation. When the Leander Redmon estate on Magnolia Avenue was razed to build a new Piedmont Middle School, the foundation provided funds to move the estate’s tea house to Piedmont Park. The new tea house was place near the site of the original. It continues to be used today for both public and private events.
Look carefully. Comparing today’s Japanese Tea House with early pictures, you will notice many differences. The first tea house in Piedmont Park was built by Frank C. Havens and opened on June 30, 1907. It was a replica of the late-fifteenth century Silver Pavilion in Kyoto, Japan and was the largest of its kind in the United States. To the rear of the tea house were a koi pond, moon bridge and Japanese style garden.
When the City of Piedmont acquired the park in the 1920s, it tore down the tea house and many other park features to make room for a new master plan for civic center.
In 1976 the City of Piedmont received the gift of a new tea house through the efforts of the Piedmont Beautification Foundation. When the Leander Redmon estate on Magnolia Avenue was razed to build a new Piedmont Middle School, the foundation provided funds to move the estate’s tea house to Piedmont Park. The new tea house was place near the site of the original. It continues to be used today for both public and private events.
Erected by Piedmont Beautification Foundation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Asian Americans • Notable Buildings. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1898.
Location. 37° 49.422′ N, 122° 13.812′
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W. Marker is in Piedmont, California, in Alameda County. Marker can be reached from Highland Avenue, on the right. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 711 Highland Avenue, Oakland CA 94611, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. The Japanese Teahouse is located in Piedmont Park.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 7, 2014
2. The Japanese Teahouse Marker
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 7, 2014
3. The Japanese Teahouse
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 7, 2014
4. The Japanese Teahouse
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on March 15, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,163 times since then and 117 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 15, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.