Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Gamewell Locations

[Box 2565]

Per the trusty 1941 Gamewell listing.

Kansas:
Parsons
Topeka
Wichita

Kentucky:
Covington
Catlettsburg
Frankfort
Georgetown
Henderson
Lexington
Louisville
Ludlow
Maysville
Newport
Owensboro
Paducah
Paris
Shelbyville
Winchester

Louisiana:
Alexandria
Bastrop
Baton Rouge
Bogulusa
Bossier City
Crowley
Donaldsonville
Gretna
Haynesville
Homer
Houma
LaFayette
Lake Charles
Minden
Monroe
Morgan City
New Iberia
New Orleans
Opelousas
Plaquemine
Shreveport
Thibodaux

[Box 2565]

I received this reply from Chief Willis Carter of the S.F.D. concerning their alarm system.

Our city discontinued use of the Gamewell system sometime in the 60's.  It was replaced with a newer system of "voice boxes" which was also removed in the late 70's.  The boxes from both systems have been scattered to the four winds!  I have two of the older boxes which were manufactured by Shreveport Switch and Signal, here in Shreveport, and our local fire buff group has a few as well.  The original "gong" still hangs in our Central Fire Station which is slated to become our Fire Museum sometime during the next couple of years.  I have a friend who is selling some of the boxes that he has collected on e-bay but they are sort of hard to come by these days....Hope this helps...have a great holiday....best to all...Willis

[Box 2565]

I'm not aware of department in this part of the state that has any alarm equipment in service.  Here's what I can say about the disposition of the equipment in a few of the towns.

Covington: Their system was removed in the 1960's.  I have Covington Box 96 from 16th ' Jefferson Sts. in my collection.

Georgetown:  Until the 1980's the Gamewell indicator gong was still hanging in the former fire station in Georgetown, which was, and is City Hall.  The building was remodeled and the gong removed and given to one of the towns firefighters.  The information I was given is that after he passed away, the gong was sold at a yard sale!

Ludlow: All of the boxes have been removed and sold.

Maysville: All boxes have been removed and sold.

Newport: The system was removed years ago.  I've been told that there is still a gong in the chief's office.

Paris: The system is gone, but there is still a gong on display in Station 1.

[Box 2565]

Her are some alarm related items from the History page of the Louisville F.D. web site.

1864: The first telegraphic fire alarm system installed. Prior to its installation, the city was alerted of fires by a chain reaction of bells.

1882: A new electric communications system called a "Joker System" was installed. The fire alarm activated when a box on a corner was "pulled".  The system was in use until 1977.

1899: The City installed the telephone into the fire stations to complement the Joker System in dispatching fire alarms.

1961: On June 7 when a new alarm system was put into service. This system was operated by eight 6-volt batteries as opposed to the eight-hundred 2-volt batteries which had controlled the fire alarm boxes around the City previously.

1983: Manual Fire Alarm Boxes removed from service.

[Box 2565]

Frankfort: System has been removed.

Shelbyville: System has been removed.

Winchester: System has been removed.

Each of these towns has apparently had their systems out of service for 20+ years.

[Box 2565]

Gamewell register and take up reel and a slant fist style alarm box on dispaly at Paris, Kentucky Station #1.
 

[Box 2565]

Paris also had this Gamewell manual transmitter and a 6" gong.  Both are in excellent condition.
 :|

[Box 2565]

Here is the indicator gong that is still maintained at Paris. Steve Hagy photo.

[Box 2565]

This Gamewell bell striker was previously mounted on the roof of Station #1 in Paris, Kentucky.  When the building was having a new roof installed, the striker was unbolted and pushed over the side!  One leg was damaged but otherwise the piece survived it's trip intact.  Steve Hagy photo.

[Box 2565]

This Gamewell slant fist box is still mounted on the outsdie of the Bromley, Kentucky fire station.  The internal mechanism has been removed and buttons installed for alerting the department.
 

[Box 2565]

This may be the last alarm box left on the streets of Lexington, Kentucky.  Box 38 is mounted on a wall of the former U. S. Courthouse on South Limestone Street.  If anyone is aware of other surviving boxes in Kentucky, let me know!  Steve Hagy photos.

[Box 2565]

Opelousas, Louisiana has removed their system.  This photo shows a box location list that is on display at the Opelousas Fire Museum.  If you visit the fire museum link: Opelousas Fire Museum you can see a picture of an unusual 8" Gamewell gong that is displayed.

[Box 2565]

This postcard shows the business district in Paris, Kentucky around 1900 - 1910.  Check out the utility pole on the corner and you will notice a familiar shape mounted on the back side....

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New Orleans, Louisiana
Fire alarm office sometime in the 1970's.

[Box 2565]

Radio type street box in Louisville, Kentucky, 1992.
Image from eBay.