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Monday, October 17, 2011

D10 Street names

Ever wonder, as I was this afternoon, why your street is named as it is and what the correct pronunciation is?  Who was Robblee, or Quesada?  Locals say "ROH-blee", but everything I've found says it should be "RAW-blee".  Similarly, locals say "cue-SAY-dah", but the correct Spanish pronunciation has to be "kay-SAH-dah."  Just like The Portola should be pronounced "pore-TOLL-ah" and not "PORE-to-lah" like the locals say it.  Ahhh!!

I found a pretty good listing of street names and their origins here, but nothing comprehensive, and still haven't found anything that helps with oddball "locals only" pronunciations.

Below I've listed the names I recognized as being in D10, but if I've missed one or more from the source material, or you know of another street names and their origins, or even know of a comprehensive list or book, please add it in the comments!  As for books on the subject, does anyone know if this book is any good for this?


"San Francisco street names: Sketches of the lives of pioneers for whom San Francisco streets are named," by Henry C. Carlisle, 1954.


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Armstrong Avenue was named for General Samuel Strong Armstrong, who was the founder of the Hampton Institute.

Arthur Avenue was named for Chester A. Arthur, the twenty-first President of the United States. 

Cameron Way is named for Miss Donaldina Cameron, who was called "The Angel of Chinatown". She ran the Chinese Presbyterian Mission and rescued several thousand Chinese girls from the brothels of San Francisco.

Carroll Avenue was named for Charles Carroll who was a signatory to The Declaration of Independence.

Custer Avenue was named for General George Armstrong Custer. He was killed in a battle with Sioux Indians under Sitting Bull on Little Big Horn River, Montana, June 25, 1876.

Davidson Avenue is named for George B. Davidson, who is sometimes called the "California's most remarkable man". He worked at The University of California for more than 35 years, published several books and received many honorary degrees. Not only is a street named for him, but so is a large mountain in the heart of The City (which is still the cause of much controversy).

De Haro Street was named for Francisco de Haro who was the first Acalde of the Pueblo of Yerba Buena (what we now call San Francisco) He is also remembered as a shrewd real estate trader. He purchased Rancho de la Merced,  what is now the greater part of San Francisco and San Mateo counties,  from Jose Antonio Galindo for 10 cows and merchandise to the value of $25.00 in 1837.

Evans Avenue was named for Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans, known as "Fighting Bob Evans". He is credited with an important part in modernizing the U.S. Navy and building steel ships. In command of the Atlantic fleet, he led a world tour of his vessels in 1907, putting into San Francisco Bay for a visit.

Fairfax Avenue was named for Thomas Fairfax, sixth Baron Fairfax, who became an American colonist: a friend of Washington. He died near Winchester, Virginia on March 12, 1782.

Galvez Avenue was named for Don Jose de Galvez, Vistador-General of Spain and a member of the Council of the Indies. He organized an exploring expedition led by Don Gaspar de Portola in 1768.

Gilman Avenue was named for Daniel Coit Gilman, president of the University of California from 1872 to 1875. A native of Connecticut, he did graduate work at Yale; served as an attaché of the American Embassy at Saint Petersburg; returned to Yale as a faculty member; finally accepted a call to U.C. where he distinguished himself by developing the campus. He advocated changes in educational policies with less attention to classical subjects.

Griffith Street was named for Millen Griffith, a well known pioneer.

Jennings Street was named for Thomas Jennings, Sr. a San Fransisco pioneer active in civic affairs. His son, Thomas Jr., was a member of the Board of Supervisors from 1900 to 1901, and again in 1908 to 1909, and once served as acting mayor.

Jerrold Avenue was named for Douglas William Jerrold, an English dramatist and humorist.

Key Avenue was named for Francis Scott Key, the composer of "The Star Spangled Banner".

Kirkwood Avenue was named for Samuel J. Kirkwood, a governor of Idaho.

La Salle Avenue was named for Robert Cavailer de la Salle, the French explorer; discoverer of the Ohio River.

Lane Street was named for L.C. Lane, a prominent physician.

Le Conte Avenue was named for Doctor John Le Conte, a physician, who became the third president of the University of California after extensive teaching in eastern colleges. Earlier he served the Confederate forces during the Civil War. Before heading the Berkeley institution, he served there as a professor of physics and is credited with the establishment of scientific courses and setting new entrance requirements. He died at his Berkeley home on April 29, 1891.

McKinnon Avenue was named for Father McKinnon, the chaplain of the First California Volunteers in the Spanish-American War. He died in the Philippines.

McLaren Avenue and park were named for John McLaren the man who was Superintendent of Golden Gate Park. His vision made this wasteland in to the paradise that it is today.

Mendell Street was named for Colonel George H. Mendell, a West Point graduate who was active in the Army Corps of Engineers until his retirement in 1852. Many Pacific Coast defenses were established under his direction. In San Fransisco he served from 1900- 1903 as president of the Board of Public Works.

Newcomb Avenue was named for Simon Newcomb (1835-1909), a distinguished astronomer.

Newhall Street was named for Henry M. Newhall, a native of Massachusetts who came to California in 1849 after a business career in Tennessee. In San Francisco he became a leading auctioneer, later a large buyer of real estate. He also founded the town of Newhall in Southern California.

Palou Avenue was named for Fray Francisco Palou, a companion of Father Junipero Serra, and his historian. Formerly with the Anza party, he took an active part in establishing Mission Dolores and the San Francisco Presidio.

Phelps Street is named for Timothy Guy Phelps, A New Yorker arriving in San Francisco in 1849. He prospered in real estate. He was elected to the California Legislature in 1856 on the state's first Republican ticket. In 1869 he was appointed collector of customs for San Francisco.

Quesada Avenue was named fro Gonzales Ximinez de Quesada, a Spanish explorer and conqueror of New Granada.

Quint Street was named fro Leander Quint, a native of New Hampshire, who came to California in 1849 with a law degree. After working the mines, he opened a law office in Sonora. He was later elected to a judgeship in Tuolumne County. He came to San Francisco in 1856, practicing law until his death in 1890.

Rankin Street was named for Ira P. Rankin, a well known pioneer.

Selby Street was named for Thomas H. Selby, a New York merchant who came to San Francisco in 1849 hoping to earn enough to pay his creditors after the Eastern firm had failed. Establishing the firm of Thomas H. Selby & Co., metal importers, he became successful and met all of his former obligations. In 1851 he was elected a member of the Board of Alderman, led an effort to reorganize the Police Department, and rendered various other civic services.

Shafter Avenue was named for General William R. Shafter, commander of U.S. forces in Cuba.

Starr King Way is named for the Reverend Thomas Starr King who was a Unitarian Minister in early San Francisco. He was instrumental in keeping California in The Union at the start of The Civil War. 

Thomas Avenue was named for General George H. Thomas who was known as "The Rock of Chickamauga".

Toland Street was named for Doctor Hugh Toland, a noted surgeon who pioneered correction of club feet. He reached San Francisco in 1853. He was called "The Great Surgeon of the Pacific Coast:. He died in 1880.

Underwood Avenue was named for General Franklin Underwood, U.S. Army.

Van Dyke Avenue was named for Walter Van Dyke a native of New York State and a lawyer who came overland to California soon after the gold discovery, served in both houses of the state legislature. He was elected as the first District Attorney of Trinity County. In 1873 he was appointed United States District Attorney with headquarters in San Francisco. He was elected to the Superior Court of Los Angeles in 1888, six years later he was elected to the State Supreme Court. He died in Oakland on December 25, 1905.

Wallace Avenue was named for William Thompson Wallace, a Kentuckian who came West in 1852, and first practiced law in San Jose and became District Attorney of Santa Clara County. In 1869 he was elected a justice of the State Supreme Court and later became Chief Justice. He also served as a regent of the University of California.

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