Seattle W2s [more]
Val Golding
Sunday, June 2, 2002 4:15 PM
Father of waterfront streetcar line honored
By Gina Kim
Seattle Times staff reporter
When George Benson was a young boy, he told his parents he wanted to be a
streetcar conductor when he grew up. And he planned to spend every night in
the
streetcar barn.
Although Benson never made a car barn his home, he is certified to drive
Seattle's waterfront streetcars. And yesterday to his surprise an entire
streetcar line was named after the 83-year-old former Seattle city
councilman.
As part of the 20th-anniversary celebration of Seattle's waterfront
streetcars,
King County Metro Transit honored the man who was fundamental in bringing the
line into existence.
While a City Council member, Benson organized the effort for the historic
tan-and-green, wood-paneled cars that now shuttle 400,000 riders per year.
After retiring in 1993 after 20 years on the council, his involvement with the
line continued. Benson was known to pick up trash along the tracks and was a
weekly visitor to the repair facility near Myrtle Edwards Park, where he could
be found touching up the paint on the classic Australian cars.
Although he doesn't paint much anymore, he still tries to make a weekly visit
to the car barn. "Now I bring doughnuts," Benson said. "I'm a trolley nut."
To the sound of streetcar whistles, city and county officials at Occidental
Park presented Benson with a blue conductor's hat and read proclamations
honoring his work. But the renaming of the line was kept secret until Benson
was presented with a placard stating, "The George Benson Waterfront Streetcar
Line."
"There are things that become icons in the community and are just part of the
fabric of the community. The streetcar line is one of those things," said Rick
Walsh, Metro Transit general manager. "This is just a fitting tribute to the
man who made it happen."
Seeds of the idea
Benson said the idea for the streetcar came from Seattle butcher Robert
Hively,
a railroad fanatic.
Benson made the dream a reality. He and his wife, Evelyn, even traveled to
Melbourne, Australia, to choose which 1920s trolleys would become Seattle
fixtures. Evelyn Benson, his wife of 57 years, died April 28. Costing $3.3
million, the line began service May 29, 1982, along a 1.6-mile route. It was
extended to its present nine stops in 1990.
"When I look back at the all the work, it was worth it," Benson said. "It's
gratifying to see the line successful."
And while the streetcar line remains one of Benson's most visible
accomplishments, his style of politicking his accessibility and willingness
to walk the streets and talk to the people was the main topic of
conversation
yesterday.
"Before I got into politics, there were people I just idolized. George Benson
was one of those people," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "He's a caring
human being. "
Sims remembers first meeting Benson in 1977, when Sims was a community
activist
lobbying for a stoplight at a Southeast Seattle intersection.
"He was just so easygoing and down to earth. Then he said he wanted to visit
the intersection," recalled Sims. "He came down, saw all these kids walking
across the street and said, 'You need a stoplight.' And he put in a
stoplight."
Surrounded by his children, grandchildren, a great-grandson and many friends,
Benson took a streetcar ride during yesterday's festivities.
"This is all a surprise to me," he said to those gathered at the celebration.
"I hope this won't be the last one of these, but you never can tell."
Gina Kim can be reached at 206-464-2761 or [email protected].
Copyright © 2002 The Seattle Times Company
Caption for attached photo:
ALICIA HANSEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES George Benson, former Seattle city
councilman,
rides the streetcar line newly renamed after him. His great-grandson, Jaylen
Hammock, 2, looks like he might be a streetcar aficionado, too. Yesterday was
the 20th anniversary of the line, which came to fruition largely through
Benson.
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By Gina Kim
Seattle Times staff reporter
When George Benson was a young boy, he told his parents he wanted to be a
streetcar conductor when he grew up. And he planned to spend every night in
the
streetcar barn.
Although Benson never made a car barn his home, he is certified to drive
Seattle's waterfront streetcars. And yesterday to his surprise an entire
streetcar line was named after the 83-year-old former Seattle city
councilman.
As part of the 20th-anniversary celebration of Seattle's waterfront
streetcars,
King County Metro Transit honored the man who was fundamental in bringing the
line into existence.
While a City Council member, Benson organized the effort for the historic
tan-and-green, wood-paneled cars that now shuttle 400,000 riders per year.
After retiring in 1993 after 20 years on the council, his involvement with the
line continued. Benson was known to pick up trash along the tracks and was a
weekly visitor to the repair facility near Myrtle Edwards Park, where he could
be found touching up the paint on the classic Australian cars.
Although he doesn't paint much anymore, he still tries to make a weekly visit
to the car barn. "Now I bring doughnuts," Benson said. "I'm a trolley nut."
To the sound of streetcar whistles, city and county officials at Occidental
Park presented Benson with a blue conductor's hat and read proclamations
honoring his work. But the renaming of the line was kept secret until Benson
was presented with a placard stating, "The George Benson Waterfront Streetcar
Line."
"There are things that become icons in the community and are just part of the
fabric of the community. The streetcar line is one of those things," said Rick
Walsh, Metro Transit general manager. "This is just a fitting tribute to the
man who made it happen."
Seeds of the idea
Benson said the idea for the streetcar came from Seattle butcher Robert
Hively,
a railroad fanatic.
Benson made the dream a reality. He and his wife, Evelyn, even traveled to
Melbourne, Australia, to choose which 1920s trolleys would become Seattle
fixtures. Evelyn Benson, his wife of 57 years, died April 28. Costing $3.3
million, the line began service May 29, 1982, along a 1.6-mile route. It was
extended to its present nine stops in 1990.
"When I look back at the all the work, it was worth it," Benson said. "It's
gratifying to see the line successful."
And while the streetcar line remains one of Benson's most visible
accomplishments, his style of politicking his accessibility and willingness
to walk the streets and talk to the people was the main topic of
conversation
yesterday.
"Before I got into politics, there were people I just idolized. George Benson
was one of those people," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "He's a caring
human being. "
Sims remembers first meeting Benson in 1977, when Sims was a community
activist
lobbying for a stoplight at a Southeast Seattle intersection.
"He was just so easygoing and down to earth. Then he said he wanted to visit
the intersection," recalled Sims. "He came down, saw all these kids walking
across the street and said, 'You need a stoplight.' And he put in a
stoplight."
Surrounded by his children, grandchildren, a great-grandson and many friends,
Benson took a streetcar ride during yesterday's festivities.
"This is all a surprise to me," he said to those gathered at the celebration.
"I hope this won't be the last one of these, but you never can tell."
Gina Kim can be reached at 206-464-2761 or [email protected].
Copyright © 2002 The Seattle Times Company
Caption for attached photo:
ALICIA HANSEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES George Benson, former Seattle city
councilman,
rides the streetcar line newly renamed after him. His great-grandson, Jaylen
Hammock, 2, looks like he might be a streetcar aficionado, too. Yesterday was
the 20th anniversary of the line, which came to fruition largely through
Benson.
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Kwick Pick opens locked car doors,
front doors, drawers, briefcases,
padlocks, and more. On sale now!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/ehaLqB/Fg5DAA/Ey.GAA/DiTxlB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
