Frieda Klussman
"The Cable Car Lady"
On the morning of January 28, 1947, San Franciscans read the news that
a fleet of busses would replace the cable cars operating on Powell Street.
In this almost casual manner, San Franciscans-who have a feeling and
an affection for their cable cars-were informed that the most colorful
transportation line in their city was to perish. Indeed, the Powell
Street line, starting at a turntable at Market Street, slipping past Union
Square and creasing Nob and Russian Hills on its meandering way to the
bay, might well be the most colorful street railway in the world.
Now that it was announced the cable cars would be scrapped and
their tracks torn up, a rumble of indignation was heard through San
Francisco. At first this anger remained directionless for want of a leader
with energy, sentiment, dedication and an intelligent sense of history.
It was not long, however, before the embodiment of these qualities came
forward in the person of Frieda Klussman. San Franciscans had found their
General. Mrs. Klussman organized the "Citizen's Committee to Save the Cable
Cars", and the campaign against indifference and short-sightedness was on.
Mrs. Klussman and her forces maintained that a life and death
decision about cable cars should be made by the people and not by
administrative order.
Against odds and disappointments which would have discouraged a less
determined person, Mrs. Klussman's efforts secured a place for the Powell
Street line on the ballot and while the nation, fascinated by this sentimental
and nostalgic struggle looked on. San Francisco went to the
polls and by an overwhelming majority said: "Save the Cable Cars".
This and future generations are in the debt of "The Cable Car Lady"
as Mrs. Klussman is affectionately known and in the timely forces
which she organized. She not only preserved a way of transportation that
continued to serve and delight, but also saved the city's "Trade Mark".
The Citizens Commitee to Save the Cable Cars
1961
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