Menlo Park, California city, survived until 1922, when the original arch was destroyed in an automobile accident. The origin of the name of "Menlo Park, California" ("ca" 1850) pre-dates any work done by Thomas Edison ("ca" 1876) in Menlo Park, New Jersey; Menlo Park, New Jersey was named after Menlo Park, California. In 1917/1918 a large portion of Menlo Park was the site of Camp Fremont, a training camp for, at its height, 27,000 men being sent to fight in World War I. It didn't last long (the camp was dismantled after the war), but army engineers paved the first streets in Menlo
Menlo College called Brawner Hall, holds most of the business courses at Menlo. That same year, Menlo completed construction of its largest college dormitory, holding 150 students. President William E. Kratt retired in 1970, and in 1971 the dormitory was dedicated to him. William E. Kratt Hall currently serves as the primary housing facility for freshman students. Richard F. O'Brien succeeded Kratt as President of Menlo. In the fall of 1971, Menlo became a co-educational institution and admitted its first female students. The institution initiated its first major fund-raising campaign in 1976. The “Campaign for Menlo” set a $5 million goal to