Some Western Masschusetts Sirens

[3t22]

Again Massfiretrucks.com comes through with a good picture of the main station in Lee, Mass showing what appears to be a Thunderbeam in the bell tower!!!




Photo Credit to: http://www.massfiretrucks.com

Thanks for finding the pic Dave. Makes me feel so much better that I didn't mistake a central AC unit for a T-beam. If gas wasn't so damn expensive up here (it hit $4.00 a gallon this morning) I'd drive up there today to get some pics. I'll keep it on my list for future siren hunts. That would explain kb1hwh saying

I went to Lee Central elementary school for first grade just up the hill across from the fire station, and when the whistle would blow, man it was loud!

. I wonder if it sounds for a noon blast?
Also at the Hancock VFD near the NY border, there's the only single head Little Giant I've ever seen

[CABLEVision]

Also at the Hancock VFD near the NY border, there's the only single head Little Giant I've ever seen

Hmm a mini 500at? (Just kidding)


I would like to see a video of it if it is still active.

Also, Does it rotate?

[Daniel]

I notice that on the Mobil Directo photo, the neck of the horn has a seam that appears to be separable. I remember seeing one of these many years ago in a small town in Iowa where the horn was facing the opposite direction from the intake. That Iowa siren must have been a Mobil Directo, because I don't think the Allertors could be turned from the vertical portion of the horn.

[kb1hwh]

today to get some pics. I'll keep it on my list for future siren hunts. That would explain kb1hwh saying

I went to Lee Central elementary school for first grade just up the hill across from the fire station, and when the whistle would blow, man it was loud!

. I wonder if it sounds for a noon blast?

But the Thunderbeam is a "standard" siren, correct? (Versus like a diaphone horn or something).If so, I never recall it ever going off. The Fire Whistle they had used to be what sounded, back when they had the old Gamewell system.

[3t22]

today to get some pics. I'll keep it on my list for future siren hunts. That would explain kb1hwh saying

I went to Lee Central elementary school for first grade just up the hill across from the fire station, and when the whistle would blow, man it was loud!

. I wonder if it sounds for a noon blast?

But the Thunderbeam is a "standard" siren, correct? (Versus like a diaphone horn or something).If so, I never recall it ever going off. The Fire Whistle they had used to be what sounded, back when they had the old Gamewell system.

Yes a T-beam is a "standard" siren. It's basicly the rotational verson of the STH-10. It probably replaced the "whistle" when the Gamewell system was abandoned. I saw a ton of various Leslie tyfoon, Gamewell type F and Federal/Cunningham horns in that area while driving through. Diaphones are also common around MA and could of been what they had before they got the T-beam sense they were common with Gamewell street box systems. A lot of MA stations seem prefer to use horns over sirens.

[kb1hwh]

Great Barrington, Lee, and Lenox all had real whistles. (Versus the Diaphones you heard everywhere else...) I worked on the one in Great Barrington. The mechanisim was on this 12' platform in the attic of the fire station, with these big heavy chain driven weights hanging below it. There was a steel cable which went through two pulleys to the roof of the firehouse to the whistle on the chimney in front. Great Barrington removed their alarm box system in 2001, after the town decided the cost was more than it was worth when the police station which also dispatches fire moved to the old 4H building downtown (Next to Searles Castle). The police station USED to be in the fire station. When Great Barrington removed their alarm system, it left North Adams as the only city/town in the county with a working Gamewell System. (At one time, there were Gamewell Systems in Lee, Pittsfield, Williamstown, Adams, and I believe Dalton). Great Barrington's "chimney" where the whistle sat also had a old Fed. siren which was controlled by this light switch next to the old police station door. One night we kept on "growling" it to startle the police dispatcher while standing by in the station for a call. =)

Lee removed their gamewell system in the late 80's-early 90's. I believe there are still one or two boxes left on the system (At the mills and at the nursing home) but the rest of it is gone. It is very possible the siren was put in after the fact or like Great Barrington they both existed for some time.

Lenox's fire whistle would sound the noon blast only. IIRC Lenox never had a gamewell system.

I got a picture of these air horns in Greenfield , that look like standard truck horns versus Diaphone horns. I can remember hearing the Diaphones sound in Athol for their box system during the box alarm.. man those were loud!

[BerkshireCountySirens]

I just discovered this thread. This is right up my alley!

For many years, I lived practically right under the Richmond green 2T22 (about 1/2 mile away, actually), and this was before I started listening to Sheriff's control. That thing would frequently go off in the middle of the night, and it was usually late Saturday night/early Sunday morning! To this day, that thing still haunts my nightmares...

Where I live now, depending on the wind direction, I can quietly hear Richmond, West Stockbridge, or Canaan and East Chatham, NY. I am putting together an alphabetical list of sirens in Berkshire County and Columbia County, NY, from what I have gathered on my occasional adventures around the area. I will post that on here when it is done.

Also, for some reason, my comp. doesn't want to display the pictures at the beginning of the thread. Could someone please PM or email them to me? I would appreciate that. Thanks!

[3t22]

sorry to stray off topic, but oddly enough I can hear the Berkshire sheriff's control on my scanner, in eastern CT, loud and clear.They happens to share the same frequency as Hartford fire dispatch's 154.310 repeater (and usually Hartford over powers them when a call goes out).

EDIT: corrected the frequency.

[Crazywarriorman]

I notice that on the Mobil Directo photo, the neck of the horn has a seam that appears to be separable. I remember seeing one of these many years ago in a small town in Iowa where the horn was facing the opposite direction from the intake. That Iowa siren must have been a Mobil Directo, because I don't think the Allertors could be turned from the vertical portion of the horn.

Where in Iowa did you see it? I only know that Anamosa and Mason city had allertors that were both taken down just a couple years back.

[BerkshireCountySirens]

This is a current list (to my knowledge) of most of the sirens in Berkshire County, MA, and Columbia County, NY. The Berkshire County Sirens are controlled by Sheriff's Control on 154.31.

Some characteristics of the Berkshire sirens are that some are green, and most sound three blasts. Anyone know why this is almost always the signal used?

Berkshire County, MA Sirens:
Alford ? Pole and yellow boxes still remain. I believe there used to have been a yellow 2/3T22, but I was told from a reliable source (one of their volunteers) that the siren was struck by lightning, and they took it down.

Becket ? Center of town, green Fedelcode 5/7

Glendale ? Tiny Model 2

Hancock ? In earlier photo, there used to be a Little Giant. I always wondered what that was. Sadly, I drove by the other day to discover that it was missing.

Hinsdale ? Red STH-10

Housatonic ? As posted in another thread, silver 5/7, 8-port low tone

Interlaken ? Tiny Model 2

Lanesborough ? Silver Fedelcode dual-tone? My friend lives in north Pittsfield and can hear this siren from his house, says it?s dual tone and Lanesborough gets tons of calls.

Lee ? Famous RSH-10 T-beam in bellhouse, as well as Cunnningham (?) airhorns

Lenox Center ? Cunningham air horns?

Lenox Dale ? Sounds like an STH-10, but it is hidden in a cupola!

New Lenox ? On Rte. 7 next to Arizona Pizza, what appears to be two Leslie Tyfon airhorns.

Pittsfield ? Various scattered older green Federals and Fedelcodes, which I am told are tested Saturdays at noon, and are used by the Emergency Management Agency for tornadoes, etc. but not for fire or EMS calls. Many of them are quite ratty looking, and a few appear to be disconnected.

Richmond ? Center, famous green 2T22 I grew up with. There is also a green Model 5T/7T at Carey?s Corner between Swamp and Summit Rd. There is what appears to be a small red light on one of the control boxes. Anyone know what that is?

South Lee ? Silver Model 5/7T

Stockbridge ? Older silver Fedelcode Model 5/7

West Stockbridge ? Didn?t know that ?mystery siren? to the south of my place was actually WS. By the sound, it must be an older Fedelcode single-low tone Model 5 or 7 hidden in that cupola. I always wondered if they were hiding one in there.

Columbia County, NY, Fire Sirens:

Austerlitz ? Tiny Model 2

Canaan ? This one?s tough. I believe to have seen what appears to be the top of a red or rust-colored Model 5/7 around back from Rte. 22. However, I know that right outside the town hall, there is a decrepit-looking red Sentry. I thought this one was inactive, until I heard a distant noon testing, and it sounded a little more like a Sentry than an 8 port low tone Federal. (Though they are known to sound similar, Sentry?s have a somewhat faster wind-up/down)

Chatham ? I believe is full time.

East Chatham ? Big proud STH-10, visible from Rte 295.

Ghent ? EDIT red 2t22

New Lebanon ? Tiny Model 2

Comments and/or questions are welcome!
Regards,
BerkshireCountySirens