Named after Excelsior Union High School – even though the school was a few blocks south. Excelsior High was established elsewhere in 1903; its “new” campus opened at the corner of Pioneer and Alondra in 1924 and operated until 1981, when it was closed due to a funding crisis. Excelsior Drive was laid out on a 1925 tract that hoped to build homes near the new school, but a planning commission froze its development as it lacked alleyways and it lay fallow until the County stepped in to open its streets in 1934. Nearly all of those streets were then renamed, presumably because they sounded too similar to others in the area. In some cases the new names closely resembled the old ones: Alberto Street became Alburtis Avenue; Fernwood Drive, Ferina Street; Rosewood Street, Roseton Avenue. Others retained just the first letter or two: Brentwood Street became Barnwall Street; Concha Street, Corby Avenue; Francisco Street, Flallon Avenue; Glenwood Street, Gard Avenue; Jefferson Street, Jersey Avenue; Monroe Street, Maidstone Avenue. Excelsior Drive got to keep its original 1925 name, as did Sylvanwood Street (although it was upgraded to “Avenue”). Not sure why McRae Avenue was chosen as Oakwood Street’s new identity.
Find it on the map:
