STREETS NAMED FOR PIONEER AND DEVELOPERS' FAMILIES

By Norris Chambers

White Settlement is blessed with many streets bearing names of people. Some of them are listed here. The oldest street in White Settlement is, of course, White Settlement Road. This original trail led from the fort to the "white settlement" about eight miles west into Indian territory. The area was called "white" because it was a settlement of "white" homesteaders, as opposed to other settlements in the vicinity that were composed of both white and Indian residents. As the Indian problems subsided and the settlement moved westward, the road followed. This was the only public road in White Settlement's early history.

As the need arose, other short roads were !aid out, usually between property lines, so that settlers could have access to a public road. These were called 'lanes" and usually were named for the family they gave access to. For instance, the Grant family had large farms in the northern part of the area, and the lane running from the Old Weatherford Road, about where 1-30 is now located, to their homestead was called Grant's Lane. It crossed White Settlement Road and eventually became a needed access road.

There was also a lane running north from the Old Weatherford Road that led to the Cherry home. They referred to it as the "Cherry Lane." This road was later connected to White Settlement Road and became a public road. The Cherry family came to White Settlement after the turn of the century, but before World War I. One other road connected White Settlement with Tannahill Station (the Verna Stubbs place, where the White Settlement Historical Society placed a historical marker) and the community north of there. That community was located on a stream known as Silver Creek. Because of its destination, this road was called Silver Creek Road and it still serves a useful purpose. The first planned development in White Settlement came in the early '20s when Tom Mirike, a merchant in Fort Worth, laid out the Sunset Addition on the north side of White Settlement Road and sold one and two acre lots for $400 to $600 each. Many Fort Worth residents bought the country lots and moved out of town. The streets in this area were named for family members and acquaintances.

Beginning at Cherry Lane and going west, there was Roe, Ralph, Waynell and Russell. The next thoroughfare was Silver Creek Road. The name of Silver Creek was changed by the city to Saddle, and the road leading to General Dynamics was renamed Silver Creek. The two other streets in the addition were named Raymond and Clifford.

Following World War II, there were many developments. Curby Mirike, a son of Tom, developed Meadow Park addition, an area extending from Liberator Village to Pemberton Drive on the west and, almost to the present I-30 on the south. White Settlement Road was the north boundary. In 1947, this addition had unpaved roads and a sign on each lot advertising the selling price. These lots sold from $15 to about $100, with those on White Settlement Road going for approximately $500. Ten dollars down would buy a lot with payments of $10 a month. Most of the streets were named for family members, friends and acquaintances.

When mail delivery was started in the late '40s, many streets required name changes to prevent conflict with Fort Worth street names. Sherwood Drive was renamed Hanson Drive, but the post office department left the "s" out and it became Hanon. The Old Hanson homestead is across the street from the fire department, A.M. Hanson was an officer in the volunteer fire department and was a relative of the Mirikes. Tulane was renamed Pemberton in honor of the Pembertons, who established the Silver Wheel Skating Rink and were related to the Mirikes. Another Mirike, Don Carlos (an older brother of Curby) has his street, Carlos, in the southern part of the addition. Mirike Drive is a north/south thoroughfare. Other name streets are Albert, Richard and Downe. Downe Drive was named for the Downe family that came to White Settlement in the 1890s.

Kender Lane was named for June Kinder, wife of Tommy Mirike. The Kinder name was also spelled wrong in the official post office name. This street was originally named Franklin Street for the second mayor of White Settlement, Clifford Franklin. Tinsley Lane was named for the Tinsley family. That family came to White Settlement prior to 1900. Another short street is named Max.

The McDonnell addition, built on most of the Liberator Village site west of Cherry Lane in the 1950s, also had many streets named for various individuals--Odie, Perry, Sandell (an old Village street name), Kimbrough, June, Ala, Wyatt Drive (also a Village street), Whitney, Mary K and Herbert. Tumbleweed and Chaparral streets were named for the weeds and birds present at the time they were developed. Gibbs was a village street name.

Normandale was named for the Norman family (C.K. Norman was a son-in-law of Jud Rowland). Jay and Ronnie Streets were named for grandsons and Judd Street was named for Jud Rowland. The name was entered as Judd by the post office. Myers Court and Lanham Street were part of this addition. North Redford, an extension of Redford Drive in Farmers Addition and named for the pioneer Redford family, was included.

Bolliger Boulevard was named for the developer and Martha Jean was named for his daughter and Wagnon for his son. Smith Street was evidently named for a relation or friend. Farmers Addition was developed in 1947 and included many family names of the Rowland and Farmer families and friends: Farmer Road, (Oels, Rowland, Judd, Moran, Redford, Joy, Dale Lane, Dodson, Sands Court, Hayes Court, McEntire Court and Grant's Circle. Between Pemberton and Las Vegas were George and Michael Streets. Mr. Woolsey, the developer, named Adell Street. Allencrest Drive was named for the pioneer Allen family. James Court, in that addition, was named for James K. Allen and his son, James K. Allen II. Walter Drive was named for Dr. Walter Allen, the son of James Allen Ill. He was the father of Frances and Sheila Allen, both of whom were active members of the White Settlement Historical Society. John Dearing, in developing his addition east of Cherry Lane came up with Tacoma, Corina, Colton and Terry.

Las Vegas Trail was formerly Keyridge Terrace, and the name was changed when Las Vegas was extended from Fort Worth through White. Settlement. On the north side, there are Bennett, Clyde, Renfro, Ronald, McCully, Bourland, Ingram, Wilbur, Kate and Crosby Streets.

Newer additions have continued with the naming tradition - Sunview has Jill, Doreen, Judy, Marilyn, Jason, Nathan, Alyssa, Rhea, Lisa, Marie, Heidi, Mark, Barbara, Arlene, Diane, Etta, Hunters, Gabriella and Franseri . Apartment complexes on Las Vegas have LaPlaza, Sherry, Miller, Melissa, Robbins and Westlake.

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