What communities still use fire call boxes?

[Box 2565]

This topic was originally started on 08-23-01 by yfdbuff.

Here's a good discussion starter. Which communities or cities still use fire call boxes?

Here are a few that I know of: Jamestown, New York (I was just there about two months ago and I noticed those little red corner boxes immediatly), and Akron, Ohio and Erie, Pennsylvania.

 :arrow:

[Box 2565]

This reply was originally posted by BrandinBow on 08-27-01.
Concord NH still uses them.

Original post by Box2565 on 08-27-01.

Some information that I received earlier today from John Snyder of Arlington, Virginia.

The City of North Tonawanda, NY uses wireless boxes
and has for 10 - 15 years at least. If you have
questions you can call Chief David Rogge at
716-693-2201 (business line).

N. Tonawanda is a city of ~35,000 that replaced the
wired box system with the wireless. They still
maintain alarm cables between stations and there may
be a few wired boxes left on the system but most have
gone wireless.

Doug Hanes
Gratwick Hose Company
********************
I believe that Teaneck NJ uses "radio boxes" in a master box
arrangement.  I'll endeavor to get you the address of the ret'd Deputy Chief who put it together.

Ira
***
You might want to check with the Naval District Washington FD. in Wash. D.C. 202-767-1906
Carl
****
Try Sarasota, Florida.
******************
I believe that Middletown, Connecticut is using wireless pull boxes. Not sure if they are 2-way voice type or just transmit the location.  Sorry, no contact information, I just see them when I drive through the town.
****************
John - We Aberdeen Proving Ground Fire Department has been using wireless Street Boxes since the mid-late 80's. We purchased a whole system to cover all of APG Fire Alarm systems and street boxes.

If you need more information please contact Kevin Farrell 410-306-0577/0572 kevin.farrell@firenet.apg.army.mil

Steve Hinch
**********
Atlanta FD phased out their wired boxes years ago, as far as I know they
still have "radio boxes" for key locations. The ones I knew of are master
boxes, although all of them may not be masters.

Bill Delmar
Atlanta, Georgia
**************
Burlington, Vermont has a wireless system. Transmits location and type of
assistance required, ie: Fire, Police or Ambulance. The street pull boxes,
I believe, get their power from a "wind-up" or clockwork mechanism that is set and then generates juice when the handle is pulled (I could, of course, be wrong on this, but I seem to remember a newspaper article on them). Some of the building alarms are also wireless, as a matter of fact, there's an antenna for our building alarm mounted to the wall right outside of my office.

Captain Harry Fell
Winooski Fire Department
Winooski VT
www.winooskifire.com
******************
From truckie_ladderco_147 of Milan. Illinois comes the following:
Hi love the page you have on the YFD very detailed. My town has one real pull box on the side of the station. It is a lever that is pulled down on an arc that must break a small pane of glass.The box is only about 7" by 10" and is 4" deep.This box when pulled activates our Zetron paging system and sends the tone for a fire alarm (This is different from our normal tone which is morse code followed by two tones,the fire alarm is morse followed by one tone and a warbling tone.) The city of Sterling Illinois has the pull boxes on a few streets left. Not sure the number or how the work(on a bell system or tone).
**********************
Original post by Box2565 on 08-28-01.  Replies via Firehouse.com

My voly department recently (last 2 years) removed all of the Gamewell alarm boxes from the telephone poles, schools, churches etc. They totaled about 65 in all with one or two going to the local museum and a couple will stay in service at the fire houses as nostalgia.

We have raffled them off to the firefighters and their families. I'm not sure what everybody is going to do with them but I'm sure some of the FF will end up selling them.

There are three other departments in my county that STILL use the Gamewell pull box system throughout their town. I would say that each of those departments have at least 30-40 boxes in service at this time. I hear rumors they will be pulling them down the same as we did and will be selling theirs as well.  Stay safe and stay low.

Engine/Rescue Lt. Kevin C. (aka Pokey)
Pearl River, N.Y. FD
****************
From Tom Lafleur of Acushnet, Massachusetts

New Bedford Ma. still has street boxes and they probably have one of the oldest working signal boards in the country.
************************************
firemanw8366 of Arlington, TX wrote:

San Francisco was usimg them when I visited last May. They respond a pump, tiller and chief.
******************
We still use the Gamewell boxes, if you go to the info page on our site I have the box assignments listed. We even have the old wind up tape machine that sounds a bell and punches the tape in our station, going to get a pic of that on the site soon.

David Brooks,
Lieutenant, NRFR
Newmarket Fire & Rescue
Newmarket, New Hampshire
www.NewmarketNH.com/fire
************************
Original post on 08-30-01 by fbachner@aol.com.

The cities of Ithaca and Cortland in central New York still use street boxes.
****************
Originally posted on 09-01-01 by Chuck Berdan.

Here in California, San Francisco FD still has a wire-based Gamewell system. Sacramento FD has approximately 500 boxes still in service, but it does not cover the entire city -- as the city grew, the boxes were not expanded. On a smaller scale, the cities of Grass Valley and Nevada City still have Gamewell systems, with only a handful of boxes each.

I started my career as a firefighter and dispatcher at the Citrus Heights FPD in the Sacramento area. We had about 100 boxes in our district, both wireline and wireless. We removed the system in the late 1970's.

I also worked for the Arcade FPD in Sacramento in the '80s and we removed the wire box system there too.

Chuck Berdan
aguanogota@aol.com
******************
Original post by MetalMedic on 09-05-01.

The City of Wooster, Ohio still has a few Gamewell boxes around but they are phasing them out. From what I know, most of them are "Master" boxes used to transmit alarms from "slave" alarms in nearby buildings. The "Master" boxes still have call functions for Fire/Police/EMS.
**********
Originally posted 09-09-01 by Brufire.

I was the Fire Marshal in Narragansett, RI and retired after 30 + years. I was also responsibility for the Fire Alarm Box system, Gamewell, approximately 150 Master Boxes and 50 street boxes. The system started in the late 40's nd is still in operation.

I am presently working part time for the Town of South Kingstown, RI Communications Department where we operate approx. 300 + master boxes and 150 + street boxes all Gamewell. We also have the University of Rhode Island in our community and they have their own Gamewell system of an estimated 200 to 300 Master boxes.

If properly maintained I it is a very dependable system.
******************
We still use the Gamewell boxes...there are around 75, I believe. No plans to discontinue them.

Lt. Tom Zotti
Fire Prevention Division
Wolfeboro, NH Fire-Rescue
**********************
Original post by Box2565 on 10-06-01.

MCAS El Toro and Tustin even though closed military bases still have their Gamewell systems in place. However I think they were taken out of service when the County Fire Authority took over the area.

From a reply received from Chief Taylor of Eagle Mountain, Utah on Firehouse.com.
************
Originally posted by CTM on 10-16-01.

Manchester CT Still uses the box system and boy the bells are loud at 3:00 am!!! BTW did you know that the Gamewell System was a backup in case of telecommunications failure for Y2K?
******
Original post on 10-25-01 by EFD499.

NJ towns: Elizabeth, Linden, Rahway, Colonia, Newark, Bayonne, Somerville, South Plainfield, Roselle Park.
*********
Posted by linwathill on 12-20-01:

Dont forget about us in south RI! Westerly, Watch Hill, Misquamicut, and Dunns Corner (who has to count the punch holes too) all still have street pull fire boxes. I know in at least Westerly and Watch Hill we used to have Gamewells but I'm not sure if we still do or not, I'll check this weekend when I'm home, ill also see if we have any old ones we could sell.
********
Posted by a guest on 12-26-01.
These cities have active Gamewell alarm systems:
Hanover, PA; West York Boro, PA; Falmouth, MA (cape Cod) with many master boxes particularly in the town of Woods Hole.
***********
Guest post on 12-27-01.
Madison Indiana, retired the Gamewell pullbox system in 1990.  The system was installed in 1887. The pull boxes were sold at auction ranging from $85.-$150. The stations still have the tickertape machines on display along with the bells. The truck Company has a real nice box clock and reads the box number when it was called in. Originally the box was pulled, first person to the station would ring the bell to identify the box location.

In the 1940's a gamewell air-horn was put in service and it would blast the box number in series of three. It was supplied by a 1 inch air line with a 100 gallon surge tank, and a 1000 gallon main supply tank. The town called the horn Ferdinand the Bull. Then pagers started to be used in the 1970's and the Bull was retired, but the horn is still on the hose tower. Out in good time, do good service, first water...
***********
Guest post on 12-30-01.
The town of Northbridge, MA still used Gamewell Fire alarm boxes. We have appox 200 in service and we just replaced a 1922 Fire Alarm board. Several major cities in the Boston area also use Gamewell.
************
Posted by a guest on 12-31-01.
Chicago has several hundred boxes in service. These are mostly in schools, hospitals and in front of many theatres. The city had removed about two thousand street corner boxes, back in the 1970's and 80's. Many of the boxes which had been in front of schools and hospitals, have been relocated to inside locations, such as main entrances, boiler room, or admin office.  School and hospital boxes still on the street are painted green, with locked doors. All are master boxes for local internal systems in the buildings.
*************
From 51Truck_K on 01-04-02:

The City of Poughkeepsie, NY uses Gamewell street boxes as well.
*******
Posted by a guest on 01-04-02:

The City of Pottsville (PA) still uses Gamewell telegraph alarm boxes. They were all recently serviced and repainted by the local Fire Historical Society. In addition to the boxes on the street, our County Communications Center transmits appropriate box corresponding to the address of fire to each of the eight city stations.

Some target hazards also house individual alarm boxes. Each station is equipped with a Gamewell gong and tape register. One or two stations still have Gamewell indicators as well. This is in addition to the "tones," enhanced 911, and other more modern emergency communications methods.  The first alarm transmitted over the system was for Box 41 on Saturday, June 7, 1890 at 3:30PM. Slight damage to a single family dwelling.
*******
Posted by a guest on 01-05-02:

I am a paid on call firefighter for Emmaus Pa. The fire department still keeps most of the fire boxes working. There three zones, I do not know off hand how many boxes. There are about 10 master building boxes. Two in each of the Midrise apartment buildings one box for the apartments and one for the common areas. There is a tape in the fire station and one at alarm co in town. When a box alarm comes in the three person duty crew responds. The alarm co calls the box into the county dispatch center who then will page out the rest of the firefighters. The last street box that was pulled for a building fire was back in the early 1990's, fire thru the roof on arrival. We had the same box (State and Harrison) pulled this summer to report a mulch fire at a house by a passer by. I will have to admit it is so cool to be on duty and have the bells go for a call, ta-ding ta-ding. Also we got the new guy the other shift, he fell asleep in the day room and we called the alarm co that we were going to test the box at the fire station, he had all of his bunkers on before he realized something was up.
*********
Posted by a guest on 01-08-02:

Keene and Peterborough NH and Brattleboro Vt are using a Gamewell system. Keene and Brattleboro use a Digitize Receiver in the dispatch center. I believe Peterborough still uses the old ticker tape.
******
Posted by a guest on 01-26-02:
I live in Shelton, Ct, and there is still an active Gamewell system here in town. Also, all through the Housatonic river valley, the small cities of Derby, Ansonia, and I beleive Seymour as well, there are still active Gamewell systems. Derby, Ansonia and Shelton, are all hooked to Griffin hospital, and all roll when box 9 hits. The occaisional job still comes via street pull.
*********
Laconia, NH still uses fire alarm boxes. They are wired to both the Central Fire station and the regional dispatch/communications center.  Also, I believe Plymouth and Franklin, NH still use a Gamewell street/master box system.
*******
We still have street boxes in Allenstown, NH along with other towns and cities around us (Concord, Manchester, Pembroke, Pittsfield).  

Lt. Scott Eaton
Allenstown, NH fire- Rescue
Div. of Fire Prevention  02-06-02
******
Don't know if they still have them, but the last time I was in Vicksburg, Mississippi (Oct 2000) there were still several Gamewell boxes all over the city...... most were mounted on telephone poles, occasionally you would see one on a pedestal though! It was good to see not all of the old boxes had gone away!  The guys at Station 1 were amazed that someone would not expect boxes to still be in service.
Guest on 02-09-02
*****
Guest - 03-19-02

Beaver Falls, Pa. still has alarm boxes on every corner along the main street plus various other locations around the city.
*****

[CaptainJimE]

I agree with Jim Evans (reply #21) with additional comments as follows: Radio Call Boxes are used at O'Hare International Airport with one (1) of them used off of the airport property; not even in the City of Chicago? Anyone know with it is located?

P.S. (SR) probably doesn't even know...Jim-"E"

[SFD_Fred]

The city of Springfield Mass is still using a wire based Gamewell alarm system with 500+ street and master boxes. We recently began to install wireless radio boxes in new facilities. We have a crew of Fire Alarm repairmen who install and maintain all cable regardless of whether it's underground or on utility poles. We have no plans to do away with the system.

[Anonymous]

Meriden, Connecticut still has street boxes...probably around 100 of them, plus an additional 40 Master boxes.  They are Gamewell and when activated they sound in all (5) stations.
Visit my web site of Fire Related Antiques and Collectibles at http://www.firetiques.com.
Joe

[yfdgricker]

From my good friend Ed Conricote, the following communities in the Erie PA area still use call boxes...

Laurel Park has 6 boxes
Wesleyville -45 boxes
Corry -42 boxes
and Erie has approx 360-370 boxes in the city.

[Anonymous]

well i am a providence firefighter and our city still uses street boxes , hell we still have hundreds  of the original  pedestal boxes up all over the city from 1870 and every new building stillhas to have a gamewell box installed right next to there system. i didnt know cities could go without fire alarm boxes??? or any new buildings for that matter.
Andre Ferro

[Anonymous]

I just returned this afternnon from Orlando Fla. I seen at Disney MGM almost every building had a newer cottage style Gamewell box on the front of it. All where number pretty much consecutivley numbered, I dont know if they where "props" or not. They looked to be of the 1960's vintage. All numbers where above box number 2550. No other parks seemed to have had them. Does anybody know what the hell they are?? Lt John Reiter YFD Eng 7

[CaptainJimE]

I agree with Jim Evans (reply #21) with additional comments as follows: Radio Call Boxes are used at O'Hare International Airport with one (1) of them used off of the airport property; not even in the City of Chicago? Anyone know where it is located?

P.S. (SR) probably doesn't even know...Jim-"E"

Between my brother ' I, we know every street box location in the City of Chicago by box#, just ask me one...?

[Box 2565]

FDNY still uses thousands of street boxes.  They have been converted to voice type, but many of them still use the old style pedestals.
 
Shown below is a pedestal at Fulton ' Church streets.

[JJ_JAMMER]

Jamestown Fire Dept. Jamestown NY still uses the gamewells. We still use the ticker tape and the gongs in the station. I believe there are @50-60 alarm boxes in different buildings and on streets.Supposedly are going to change over to wireles someday unknown when

[yfdgricker]

From the Firehouse.com message board. Posted by old one
(Location: Pennsylvania)...

The town which I live still uses the Gamewell system along with a county dispatched paging system. Each of the towns 5 fire stations have the wind-up punch tape readout. The system was installed in the early 1900's and is still functional. As a matter of fact, our department is planning to have the Gamewell system tied into the county system for dispatch.

The Schuylkill County Historical Fire Society has set as one of their goals the preservation of these systems throughout the county. Each year, they choose a borough in the county and for a donation, they renovate and inspect these boxes.

The Gamewell systems may be considered old technology, but they have proven themselves time and time again. Should there be a lapse in phone service, the Gamewell with the battery back up still performs.

[Anonymous]

We still have about 450 Master and street fire alarm boxes in Buffalo, NY. At our peak in the late 1950's their were over 1300 boxes in service. Most are feed by underground cable. The BFD also has a modern "Dept. Phone System",  Voice  Alarm System and house Printers in all firehouses these also operate on city owned cables.

The Villages of Lancaster and Depew (both suburbs of Buffalo) also have well maintained box systems in service.

The Village of LeRoy and City of Dunkirk NY still have box systems.

The City of Rochester, NY has Radio boxes.

The City of Lackawanna, NY pulled their box system about 2 months ago.

[Erie_Gamewell]

Erie Pa still has hundreds of old and new style boxes hanging on poles and buildings.

[Anonymous]

Hello! Good site and discussion! I am originally from Boston, which is the capital of the Gamewell system. Boston currently has the largest alarm box system that has continually been in use longest in the US (150 years old!)  (NYC and San Fran are 2nd..NYC may actually be bigger in terms of numbers of boxes, but many have been deactivated). Most other cities, sadly to say, have either deactivated their alarm systems and/or removed the boxes all together. Massachusetts is one of the few places where the majority of cities and towns have working systems. I currently live in Columbus, OH and will be going to Youngstown soon to check out the system and any remnants there. I was told Toledo had a system still in use, but I drove through the city and found none. Akron used to have an extensive system at one time but when I was last there I only saw one box (outside a YMCA building near downtown). I am currently working on learning more about the history of the Columbus system.

PED