 Youngstown Fire Call Box History
Since the turn of the century, the Gamewell Call Box system has been an important resource for many fire departments throughout the United States. Before telephones became commonplace, corner fire call boxes were the public's main way of summoning the fire department to an emergency. There have been many modifications made to the telegraph system since the first boxes were installed on the streets of Youngstown. Although it is uncertain exactly when Youngstown installed it's first Gamewell call boxes, it was prior to 1914. In the 1914 YFD History it mentions that the Fire Alarm System "under the supervision of Ambrose Perkins, continues to give very efficient service" and that he was responsible for the Gamewell's installation. A Youngstown Vindicator article in 1995 mentioned that the fire alarm network was 85 years old which would put the installation of it in 1910. The city upgraded the boxes periodically. The most recent boxes in use were the Gamewell 1952 Tri-fold Style.
In March of 1995, the city opted to remove all the existing call boxes from street corners. Reasons for the decision included the telephone in the homes, theft of the copper wiring and boxes in the system and general neglect of the system. It was Councilman Jerome McNally, D-5th, who helped bring the fire box problem to light. Councilman McNally held a press conference in which he was taped by the local media in attendance pulling a call box a short distance from a school. He hoped to show it did not work and therefore was unsafe. The box was not connected and therefore did not summon the fire department. In a strange twist, the city's fire chief at the time saw the video and had the councilman arrested on charges of pulling a false alarm. It is unclear whether the charges were dropped or not but the issue died and faded away and the call boxes were removed.
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| Above: Box 1221 is now located in the entrance area of the main fire station. The box was originally located at the corner of Wood and Elm on the north side of downtown. |
Above: Box 4144 was located at the corners of Erie and Lowell Ave on the upper south side. This is an example of a 1928 Herculite box. It can be seen hanging in the main fire station's entranceway. |
Above: Box 5114 was located at South and Fountain just outside of Downtown. This is an example of the 1952 Tri-fold style box. |
The searchable Youngstown Fire Call Box Database is now available online.
Click here to open a pop up window to search.
A printed Youngstown Fire Call Box Directory is in the works and will be available for purchase through youngstownfire.com, keep checking back for details. You can view the box lists in Adobe PDF format below or use the searchable call box database to find a box number or location if you know the box number already.
Youngstown Fire Call Box List. ca 1930's. Adobe PDF Format.
Youngstown Fire Call Box List. ca 1980's. Adobe PDF Format.
1952 Gamewell Call Box Advertisement. Adobe PDF Format.
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Also, you can find instructions on the proper way to wire up your Fire Call Box in this great article by Dave Windel. |
