While it sounds generically pastoral, Silverwood Drive refers to a man: Francis Beatty Silverwood (1863-1924), who once owned thirty acres here. Generations of Angelenos shopped at Silverwoods clothing stores – and it was our subject who founded the chain. “Daddy” Silverwood, as he was known, was born in Ontario, Canada. It appears he resided in Iowa and South Dakota before settling in Eureka, CA in 1888 and running the menswear department at a dry goods store. In 1894, Silverwood struck out on his own, heading down to Los Angeles and opening F.B. Silverwood on Spring Street. The shop was a resounding success and led to a mini-empire that lasted all the way to 1992, yet Daddy’s two marriages produced no offspring to run the company after his untimely death. Marie Funk was the first Mrs. Silverwood. Frank married her in 1897 but divorced her in 1915 on grounds of desertion. His impulsive second marriage, in 1920, was dead within nine months. Wife #2 was a mysterious young divorcée whose name was Cora but went by “Happie”, and so the couple’s short-lived Eagle Rock love nest was called “Happyland”. After the unhappy split, Silverwood subdivided his property and this street was christened in 1923. P.S. Silverwood was also a songsmith and he wrote the lyrics to the 1913 ditty “I Love You, California”, now CA’s official state song.
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