It's common for a developer to name streets for family members.
It's more unusual to name it after a person's appearance.
That, however, is the family lore describing how Ada Way in River Park got its name.
It's a short, curved street, named for a short, curvy woman, according to Pam Slater, whose great-uncle Louis Carlson named many of River Park's streets for family members.
Carlson and his partner John Sandburg were developers who also developed the Del Dayo area of Carmichael and Strawberry Manor in Sacramento.
Both men stuck their last names on major streets in River Park, and named lesser streets for their kin.
Carlson family legend also has it that Sandburg named the biggest street for himself when Carlson was out of town.
It backfired, though. Carlson ended up being the main entry into River Park, and its most prominent street.
Sandburg owned the first home in River Park and also named streets after his daughters, Wanda and Lovella. Shepard Avenue is also for the married name of one of the girls.
Sandburg's wife of 62 years was known as Minnie, but the Whys Guy suspects that Minerva Avenue was named for her.
Carlson, too, got in the act. Aside from Ada Way, named for his wife, and Betty for his sister, there is Roger for nephew Hugh Roger Peters.
Jerome is named for Jerry Carlson, who now lives in Atherton. Carlson said he was told Peters, his cousin, got a longer street because he was older.
And Slater's mom, Ruth, "got a cul-de-sac next to the railroad tracks," Slater said. "(They) must have been on the outs or something."
Call The Bee's Carlos Alcalá, (916) 321-1987.
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