Name/Title
Gamewell Fire Alarm BoxEntry/Object ID
2024.4.01Description
Gamewell telegraphic fire alarm box. It had been installed at the Wilbur Cross Apartments (a public housing complex owned by the Willimantic Housing Authority) in Willimantic, CT, 28 August 1968. It was removed c. 1993, when the WHA converted to digital fire alarms. It was held by Michael Westerfield, the former Director of the WHA, until donated to the Mill Museum. It was mounted on the outside of the building next to the main entrance. When the lever was pulled, it would have sent a signal to the Willimantic Fire Department via a dedicated telegraph line, which would have sounded a unique signal on the fire horn at the fire station. The signal sent by this particular box would have been 7 shorts bursts, followed by two long bursts. Because it was telegraphic, it functioned even if the electricity was down. At the time the alarm was installed, all of Willimantic's fire alarm boxes were Gamewell telegraphic fire alarm boxes.
"The first practical fire alarm system was developed in Massachusetts during the late 1840’s by Dr. William F. Channing and Moses G. Farmer, a telegraph operator. Their experimental system was installed in Boston in 1851, being the first urban fire alarm system in the country. Before this, people would have to run and notify fire stations of a fire, who then rang a bell, to rally the citizens and firefighters. John Gamewell, realizing the potential of such a system, purchased the patents and continued to improve the system. While the headquarters for the business was in New York, the units were manufactured in Newton, Massachusetts. By 1886, Gamewell systems were installed in 250 cities across America and Canada. Four years later in 1890, Gamewell systems were installed in 500 cities. To meet the growing company’s needs for space, it relocated from Newton Highlands to Upper Falls and built a new factory, a wood frame structure. As the company continued to grow, it built a brick addition in 1904 and another on the other end in 1912. The system has been used all over North America, visible by the large red boxes on street poles and buildings with the lightening bolt logo. The business remained in Upper Falls until 1970, when it became a division of Gulf and Western. The company moved out and the buildings have been restored, with many small and local businesses located inside." (https://buildingsofnewengland.com/2020/07/27/gamewell-fire-alarm-and-telegraphic-company-1889/.) The Gamewell Company manufactured 95% of the telegraphic fire alarm boxes used in the United States.
Gamewell telegraphic fire alarm boxes were installed in Willimantic c. 1888 and taken down only a few years ago. Some of the Willimantic mills had there own "private" alarm boxes. The American Thread Company had four private boxes, in Mills #1, 2, 4, and 6. There was also a public box on Main Street near ATCO's office building (now the Mill Museum). In addition, the Roselin Ribbon Company, the Eyeley Specialty Company, Akims Eng. Company, and the Vanderman Foundry had private alarm boxes. Willimantic's fire alarm box system was "modernized" in the 1960s. There were 50-some boxes in Willimantic at the system's height. (Information in this paragraph comes from various posts in the FaceBook group page, "You Know You Are From Willimantic If....")Use
Fire alarm boxes were activated manually to notify fire departments of the location of fires. Because the boxes sent telegraphic signals that sounded alarm bells or horns that could be heard for considerable distances, the community was notified as well.Collection
General CollectionMade/Created
Manufacturer
Gamewell Fire Alarm and Telegraphic CompanyDate made
circa 1968Time Period
20th CenturyPlace
City
Newton, MAState/Province
MassachusettsRegion
NortheastContinent
North AmericaInscription/Signature/Marks
Type
InscriptionLocation
Inside front panelTranscription
Installed ... 3/28/69 ....Language
EnglishMaterial/Technique
PencilLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Tertiary Object Term
Box, Fire AlarmNomenclature Secondary Object Term
Alarm, FireNomenclature Primary Object Term
AlarmNomenclature Sub-Class
Protective DevicesNomenclature Class
Regulative & Protective T&ENomenclature Category
Category 05: Tools & Equipment for Science & TechnologyDimensions
Height
9-1/2 inWidth
9 inDepth
4 inLocation
Location
Exhibit Room
Thread Mill Square* Untyped Location
Main Museum BuildingCategory
ExhibitDate
April 20, 2024Provenance
Provenance Detail
Installed on exterior wall of Wilbur Cross Apartments (Willimantic public housing building) just outside front entrance, 8/28/1968. Removed by donor Michael Westerfield (who was also the Director of the Willimantic Housing Authority) c. 1993. Stored in donor's home until donated to the Mill Museum.Created By
historian@millmuseum.orgCreate Date
April 20, 2024Updated By
historian@millmuseum.orgUpdate Date
November 23, 2024
