Thousands upon thousands of children have passed through the gates of Funderland, Land Park’s small-scale, old-fashioned amusement park for young children.

And despite its longtime identity issue, as it is often overshadowed by or confused with its neighboring Fairytale Town, Funderland actually predates Fairytale Town by more than a decade.

Another aspect regarding Funderland, which is located at 1350 17th Ave. in William Land Park, is that despite the fact that there are many people who are aware of Fairytale Town, but not Funderland, the ownership of Funderland actually contributes a portion of its annual gross revenue to the city of Sacramento for the support of Fairytale Town, the Sacramento Zoo and William Land Park. In 2010, for instance, Funderland contributed $178,606 to the city.

But certainly, there are plenty of people who are very aware of Funderland, which was originally known as Kiddie Land.

This is an obvious point, when considering that Kiddie Land/Funderland’s history dates back to 1946.

For more than 30 years, Kiddie Land was owned and operated by its founder Ray Silva (1910-1996).

A Sacramento native, Ray was the son of the Portuguese immigrant Charles Silva (1867-1944), who founded Charles Station, the area that later became known as South Land Park Hills.

In having such a self-motivated, hardworking and business-minded father (read the Charles Silva story at www.valcomnews.com/?s=charles+silva), Ray was led by example, as he developed his own successful life.

In addition to operating Kiddie Land, Ray, who was one of 11 children, also refereed collegiate and American Basketball League (a forerunner to the NBA) games, and later, from 1944 to 1955, he was a referee for the Harlem Globetrotters.

During his last year with the world-famous “Trotters,” Ray did his own globe trotting with the team, as he refereed games in Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines and many parts of Asia.

Two years following his decade with the Globetrotters, Ray, along with local businessmen, John Silva (not related to Ray) and Edwin A. Beers, founded the Miller Park boat harbor on the Sacramento River.

Ray was also on the planning committee for Fairytale Town, which opened in 1959, and he donated the complex’s pirate ship “in memory of the Charles F. Silva family.”

In his earlier years of life, Ray worked for the city’s recreation department as a supervisor of playgrounds, and in 1928, he founded the Southside Athletic Club, which was an organization dedicated to promoting sports for youth.

Ray, who was a member of the Dante Club soccer team that won the Northern California championship in the 1930s, also played an important role at the California State Fair, as an assistant manager in charge of racing, tickets and rentals from 1931 to 1942.

About a month prior to his 26th birthday on Aug. 16, 1936, Ray married Rosalind Fraser, who had been crowned the first Miss Sacramento a year earlier.

Ray and Rosalind’s only child, Raelyn (Silva) Paige, who was born in 1941 and owned Kiddie Land from 1978 to 1983, said that her father opened Kiddie Land with only a merry-go-round.

Ray later added about eight other rides that furthered the amusement park’s reputation as a favorite destination for many Sacramento children.

Sacramento native Don Conner said that he may have visited Kiddie Land as early as 1949, considering that he was born in 1947 and that some of his earliest memories in life are of visiting Kiddie Land.

“I remember going (to Kiddie Land) with my father (Elmer) and on some occasions my mother (Jessie) and my sister (Marcia) would also go,” Conner said. “They had a set of railroad tracks with a miniature train and a conductor with one of those striped, railroad hats and it just went around and around a loop. I also went on the merry-go-round, which was right near the front entrance. It was always delightful with lots of things to distract one’s attention.”

Conner also recalls the other attractions in the area, which included Eddie Fernandes’ pony rides, fishing in the park’s lake and the William Land Park Zoo, as the Sacramento Zoo was then known.

Stan Bento, a 1970 graduate of Christian Brothers High School, worked at Kiddie Land during summers while he was still in high school.

Bento, who noted that Ray emphasized safety and cleanliness at his amusement park, said that rides during this era included the merry-go-round, the railroad, the fish ride, a boat ride and the Tubs of Fun.

The Tubs of Fun were manufactured by Hampton Rides of Portage Des Sioux, Mo. and the carousel was built in 1948 in Buffalo, N.Y. by Allan Hershell.

Remembering these rides is no problem for Bento since he spent time working at each ride.

“We (the workers) would have rotations and we would stand by each ride and I think every hour or every 45 minutes we would rotate to different rides,” Bento recalled.

Among the other Kiddie Land workers during this time were Christian Brothers High School students Kevin Fleming, Mike Fleming and Dennis Bertacchi.

In 1984, carnival operator Sam Johnston purchased Kiddie Land through an auction and after operating the park in its original state, he replaced most of the old rides with completely new rides, which led to a re-grand opening of the amusement park in 1990.

Newer rides at the park include the Flying Dragon roller coaster, the Log Run water log ride and the Crazy Cups ride.

Funderland also includes miniature buildings, which Johnston added throughout the amusement park’s grounds.

Johnston’s history with Ray dates back to 1958, when he helped his father – also Sam Johnston – and Ray put in an amusement facility in Micke Grove Park in Lodi.

In recent years, Johnston’s son-in-law John Dedds has managed Funderland with his wife, Ashley.

Prior to this time and for about three years, Johnston’s other daughter, Spring, managed the amusement park with her husband.

Johnston, who is known for his easy going demeanor and infectious smile, which are both good qualities for a man who operates a place called Funderland, said that he has enjoyed his years at Funderland.

“I’ve got a lot of enjoyment out of providing a safe recreational amusement facility for the children of Sacramento and I want to continue carrying on the tradition that Ray Silva started,” Johnston said. “I don’t feel like I’ve ever worked a day in my life. I love it here.”

Funderland’s summer hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.

For additional information regarding Funderland, call (916) 456-0131 or visit the Web site, www.funderlandpark.com.

lance@valcomnews.com

Born in the Azores

Born on Dec. 14, 1867 in Faial in the Azores Islands of Portugal, Charles arrived in Boston at the age of 11 in 1878 and then proceeded to the Sutterville area in today’s South Land Park area of Sacramento.

With only $2.50 in his pocket, Charles used $1 of his money to reach the town of Vernon in Sutter County, where he became employed as a milker on a dairy ranch for 50 cents per day.

Teen cheese entrepreneur

Using earnings from this job, Charles, when he was 13, paid a cheese maker $50 to teach him how to make cheese, after which he went into business for himself.

Charles eventually rented a ranch in Yolo County, bought cows and established a dairy and cheese plant.

Charles’ next venture was his purchase of the 160-acre Ramsey Ranch, which was located six miles above Vernon on the Feather River. He also rented the Hoover Ranch and the Clark and Cave ranches near the Sacramento River.

While conducting business along the Sacramento River, Charles entered the boating business, as he bought a gasoline-powered boat and a barge.

Meanwhile, Charles purchased the Point Ranch, where he cut wood, which he transported down the river to Sacramento.

In 1900, Charles returned to the capital city, as he purchased and resided at the Meadows place on Front Street, between O and P streets. It was there that he also established a wood, hay and grain business.

Shipping businesses

In addition to this business, Charles purchased the steamers “Neponset” and “Neptune,” the trading boats “Jersey” and “Inder” and the barges, “Columbia,” “Sutter” and “Vernon.”

In becoming engaged in the transportation business, Charles formed a partnership with a Capt. Jones. This partnership continued for many years and their route included towns on the Sacramento River, between Sacramento and Butte City.

Rancher

During this time, Charles was also involved in the cattle and sheep business.

Eventually, Charles sold his interests in the boats to devote his full attention to his livestock business.

Charles experienced much success in this endeavor, as he enlarged his interests on an annual basis and also established retail businesses – four local meat markets and a large wholesale business in Sacramento.

Additionally, Charles bred Hereford stock and was renowned throughout the state as a breeder of these fine cattle.

So large was Charles’ livestock business operation that he became known as the largest individual cattle dealer in California, shipping thousands of head of cattle from Mexico, in addition to his large shipments from throughout the state.

Charles’ wealth was great, as he purchased various Northern California ranches and later sold the ranches for twice the amount that he had paid for them.

Land dealer

Along with his real estate transactions, Charles was actively associated with various reclamation projects and served as the organizer and director of the Sutter Basin Co. and the Natomas Land Co.

Following his time with his previous cattle business endeavors, Charles invested in many Sacramento properties, including business blocks, warehouses and residences, and purchased a 21,000-acre cattle ranch in Modoc County.

Charles additionally accumulated other properties such as 243 acres dedicated to fruit growing in Yuba County and 670 acres on the Feather River in Butte County, with one half of this acreage being devoted to fruit.

Another major part of Charles’ life was his interest in horses and for many years he was involved in breeding standard-bred animals. 

This horseracing track in Woodland was owned by Charles F. Silva from 1916 to 1921. To the right forefront of the photograph is Silva and his record-breaking horse, Teddy Bear. / Photo courtesy of PHCS

Breeder of race horses

 Charles, who eventually had the finest standard-bred stock in the state, raised the well-known pacer, Teddy Bear, who broke a 6-year-old record at the California State Fair on Aug. 29, 1911. The horse set the mile mark of two minutes and five seconds.

With his continued interest in horses, Charles purchased a racetrack in Woodland in 1916.

It can be speculated that Charles, who continued to own the track until 1921, purchased the track in order to run Teddy Bear on his own schedule during fair weather days throughout the year.

In the early 1920s, Charles traded a 21,000-acre parcel of land in Alturas (Modoc County) for the old Weinstock-Lubin and Co. department store building at 4th and K streets. The building had been vacated and the company had reopened in its new location at 12th and K streets.

Meat marketer

Charles also owned other business operations in Sacramento, including the Fulton Meat Market at 4th and M (now Capitol Mall) streets, California Market on J Street, between 7th and 8th streets, and meat markets on 10th and M (now Capitol Mall) streets, 16th and M (now Capitol Avenue) streets and in Folsom and Knights Landing.

He also owned a slaughterhouse on Y Street (present day Broadway), between 5th and 6th streets.

Charles established a rich connection to the Land Park community with his founding of Charles Station, which later became known as South Land Park Hills.

Charles F. Silva is shown at the age of about 55, around the time he acquired the old Weinstock-Lubin and Co. department store building at 4th and K streets. / Photo courtesy

Charles’ property was located off the present day Del Rio Road in the area of today’s Kennedy Lane and Pleasant Drive.

On this property, Charles owned and operated a second slaughterhouse, which had a thick concrete floor that later posed difficulties in building the foundations of some of the area’s high quality homes.

Family manDuring his life, Charles was married twice, with the first of his marriages occurring when he married Theresa Kennedy in Sacramento on Aug. 15, 1899. Together the couple had nine children.

Following Theresa’s death, Charles married Lois Blackwell and this marriage added two more children to his family.

The most prominent of Charles’ children was former Land Park area resident Ray Silva. Ray, who passed away in 1996, was a referee for the Harlem Globetrotters and the founder and operator of Kiddie Land, Land Park’s small-scale children’s amusement park, which is today known as Funderland.

Undoubtedly, Charles, who passed away on July 14, 1944, was a man who achieved many great things in his life.

And considering his many accomplishments and the fact that he once had practically pennies in his pocket and no assets to his name, Charles Silva should be remembered for many years as a self-motivated man whose drive to excel led to a life of success.

lance@valcomnews.com