Names of streets and places in Petaluma

Bailey Avenue — Named after John Bailey, who came here from Ohio in 1860 and established an apple and pear orchard where the street is today.

Bassett Street — Henry Bassett operated an early hotel, the Petaluma House, between 1853 and 1855, where the present Odd Fellows Hall is located.

Casa Grande Road, High School — Named after General Vallejo’s Adobe at the east end of the street.

Caulfield Lane — Honors Tom Caulfield, a Petaluma pioneer.

Cherry Street, Valley — The area was once home to cherry orchards.

Cinnabar School — In 1858, the Petaluma Journal reported a discovery of cinnabar near town.

Corona Road — The road leads to a ridge or crown (corona) which divides two watersheds, one leading to the Russian River, one to Petaluma Creek.

Crinella Drive — Marino Crinella was an eastside real estate developer.

Denman Road, Flats — Ezekiel Denman came to Petaluma from New York in 1852 and became one of the biggest property owners in the county.

Fair Street — When this was the west edge of town, this was the site of the Sonoma and Marin Agricultural Park, site of the annual fair.

Filippini Way — Named for a pioneer family.

Hayes Lane — Honors President Rutherford B. Hayes, former law partner of prominent Petaluman E.S. Lippitt, and the only president to visit Petaluma.

Keller Street — Named for early settler Garrett Keller, who arrived in 1851 and laid claim to 40 acres and had the land surveyed in 1852.

Kenilworth Junior High — Kenilworth was a famous thoroughbred racehorse owned by Petaluma’s Harry Stover.

Kent Street — W.D. Kent ran a country store in a warehouse on the east side of Main Street in 1852.

Kentucky Street — Named by Garrett Keller.

Keokuk Street — The name of a famous Indian chief and a town in Iowa, where two prominent early Petalumans, Harrison Mecham and Isaac Wickersham, had previously lived.

Lakeville Street, Highway — Lake Tolay, now dry, once existed south of Stage Gulch Road.

Liberty Road, School, Valley — May come from the Denman family, who evidently came from Liberty, Sullivan County, N.Y.

Lucchesi Park — Moch Lucchesi, a popular semi-pro baseball player, helped organize the first Petaluma Little League.

Madison Street — Several of the cross streets on Lakeville are named for presidents: Madison, Washington, Jefferson and Adams (now called east D Street).

Martha and Mary streets — Named after two daughters of pioneer Charles Blackburn, the city’s first undertaker. Or they are named for Martha and Mary Douglas, daughters of pioneer William Douglas, who arrived here in 1851.

McDowell Boulevard, School — The William McDowell family had a large ranch where Petaluma Valley Hospital now is.

McNear School, Park, Avenue, Hill — Named for the city’s most prominent early family.

Payran Street — Stephen Payran lived in east Petaluma and served for many years as justice of the peace.

Pepper Road, Kindergarten — Honors William Howard Pepper, a nurseryman who founded Pepper Free Kindergarten in 1893.

Prospect Street — Before 1860, the street was known as Potato Street, honoring the “Bodega Fruit,” a major source of revenue. Prospect was thought to be a “more euphonious” name.

Shollenberger Park — Honors the late Parks and Recreation Department Director Dick Shollenberger.

Skillman Lane — Apprentice baker Theodore Skillman sailed around Cape Horn in 1849. He opened a hotel on Skillman Lane and was one of the area’s first importers of fine horses.

Spring Street — The Cavanagh Spring was located here, at the corner of Douglas Street.

Washington, East Washington Street — Several streets are named for presidents including Adams (now East D), Madison, Jefferson and Monroe.

Wickersham Park — Donated to the city by Mrs. Thomas Maclay in honor of her father, pioneer banker Isaac Wickersham.

Wilson Street — This name was changed during World War I. It was formerly Bremen Street, but anti-German sentiment forced the switch.