by Tom Morrow

So, what does that name mean?

From time-to-time, readers ask about the history of landmarks around North County, especially the origin of street signs. Kristi Hawthorne, author and president for the Oceanside Historical Society, came up with a few explanations in one of her periodic newsletters. If you’ve ever wondered how some streets got their names, here are a few answers:
Horne Street —- named for Col. Daniel H. Horne, a Civil War veteran, who came to Oceanside around 1886. He built a large home on his property, which today is the Mission Square Shopping Center at Horne and Mission. Somewhere underneath all that concrete is his grave. He was Oceanside’s first mayor (president of the city trustees), and, before arriving here, he had help found the state capital in Topeka, Kans., which is how Topeka Street got its name.
Myers Street —- named for the founder of Oceanside, Andrew Jackson Myers. He first settled in the San Luis Rey Valley before applying for a 160-acre land grant along the proposed coastal rail route. With the Help of Cave Couts, Jr., and Judge J. Chauncey Hayes, Oceanside was born.
Tait Street —- named for Magnus Tait, an early pioneer and manager of the Oceanside Water Works in 1888. His home still stands at 511 N. Tremont St.
Freeman Street —- named for the pioneer Freeman family of the San Luis Rey Valley, who came here from Texas in the 1870s.
Foussat Street —- named for the Foussat (pronounced “Foo-sot”) family headed by Hubert Foussat, a native of France who moved to San Diego County in 1871.
Crouch Street —- named for Herbert Crouch, an Australian sheep rancher who settled the San Luis Rey Valley in 1869.
Glaser Drive —- named for Elmer Glaser, long-time Oceanside business and civic leader, who owned Elm’s Clothing Store and developed the Mission Square Shopping Center on Colonel Horne’s property (as described above).
Wisconsin Street —- was originally named Couts Street for Cave Couts, Jr., who surveyed the original town site for A.J. Myers.
Oceanside Boulevard —- was originally named Short Street for an early attorney, Montgomery Short, who arrived in Oceanside in 1886. This is contrary to a myth that Short Street was so called because it was relatively short before being extended down the bluff and across what is today Interstate 5.
USELESS TRIVIA — Pythagorean theorem has just 24 words. The Lord’s prayer has 66 words, while Archimedes’ Principle has 67 words. The 10 Commandments is only 179 words, and Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address has 286 words. The Declaration of Independence has 1,300 words, and the federal regulations for the sale of cabbage has 26,911 words.

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E-mail Tom Morrow at: quotetaker1939@gmail.com