April 18 marked the hundredth anniversary of the greatest reduction of San Francisco cable car service. Because of the great earthquake and fire of 1906, April 17 proved to be the last day of full cable car service on the United Railroads' heavily traveled Sutter Street, Polk & Larkin Cross-town line (except Pacific Avenue), Market & McAllister, Market & Haight, Market & Hayes, Market & Castro (except between 18th and 26th Streets), Market & Valencia, Jackson Street via Sacramento-Clay, Sacramento-Clay west of Fillmore, and Powell-Jackson west of Steiner Street lines. Also, it was last day for the Presidio & Ferries (Union Street line). When the city-owned Powell Street cable cars were threatened in 1947, Friedel Klussmann "the Cable Car Lady" evolved a contest centering on the unfinished question: "San Francisco without cable cars would be like ...?" Answers tended to be short and to the point. For example, "Just another city; what a pity!" 2006 Contest: Entrants were asked to complete the same question: "San Francisco without cable cars would be like ...?" Thanks to the seven people who submitted twelve entries (In the order in which they were
submitted):
Thanks to the three judges: Emiliano Echevarria, Val Lupiz, and Gordon Miller for devoting thought and effort to making a good choice. Winners:
Grand Prize: "...a city without its soul " - Terry N Taylor Terry will receive one copy each of San Francisco's California Street Cable Car; Celebrating a Century and a Quarter of Service, by Walter Rice and Emiliano Echeverria, Harold E. Cox Publisher and a copy of When Steam Ran on the Streets of San Francisco, by the same authors, Harold E. Cox Publisher. First Place: "...Paris without the Eiffel Tower. " - Jeff Trimble Jeff will receive San Francisco's California Street Cable Car; Celebrating a Century and a Quarter of Service. Second Place: "..."Chicopee Falls, MA" " - Jay Desroches Jay will receive When Steam Ran on the Streets of San Francisco See the original contest page. Go to top of page. |
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Copyright 2006 by Joe Thompson. All rights reserved.
Last updated 01-June-2006