Columbus, OH's Old CD/Tornado Siren System

[Tuba]

Dublin used to have 2 fedelcodes, 1 of which was a fire siren (and still standing). Not much is known about the other one besides the fact it was on Avery Road/Shirt Rings Rd. somewhere

[Fletch]

[/quote]Where in Columbus was that picture taken? Very neat to hear at least one is saved too.[/quote]

The photo was likely taken on top of the Neil House hotel, which was demolished in 1981 and replaced by the Huntington Center across the street from the statehouse. It was the first T-Bolt installed. Many of the sirens were roof mounted. One T-Bolt I remember was on top of Fire Station 19 on High Street (long since removed).

I started to make a map several years ago of the original T-Bolt/STL-10 system as I have about 20 locations I know of but not nearly the whole system.

Some of the T-Bolts were located where the Whelens are today, but many are in different locations.

The system was strictly a civil defense siren system from 1952 until 1973, which was a significant tornado year-I think the most tornadoes in a year nationwide IIRC. Mayor Tom Moody requested the use of the sirens for tornado warnings.

[fire_freak_57]

Not even close. Columbus purchased nine gridfaced "Bumblebolts" in June of 1952, only one of which is known to still exist in private possession. I've no idea where you got this info from, but they were not purchased from the city of Cleveland.

Interesting you mention this.
Obviously the source from NEO who told me that wasn’t a reliable source...I do recall seeing it mentioned somewhere that one may have come from Cleveland, evidently not. I might’ve misread that or something...oops. I feel like an idiot now...lol

[Fletch]

I believe the STL-10's in Plain City and Unionville Center are also formerly Franklin County CD sirens. I found a reference a few years ago in either the Marysville or Plain City newspapers.

[carexpertandy]

Apparently, Hamilton County purchased five Thunderbolts and possibly an STL-10 from Franklin County back in the early 90s. One Thunderbolt was replaced with a 2001-SRN in the early 2000s, and all others were replaced with T-128s around 2012.

[SirokatM1]

So it sounds like Columbus mainly had Thunderbolts and STL-10s. I wonder if that one Model 5 was part of the system too. I doubt that though. Probably a fire siren.

[Fletch]

I suppose they could have have used a Model 5 to fill in some gaps.

I'm hoping maybe a map of the system will surface. I did some research in the Dispatch archive but couldn't come up with anything.

In 1974, one of the STL-10's apparently caught fire the day of the Xenia tornado. It was located south of OSU's campus and was replaced with a T-Bolt, which still stands.

[carexpertandy]

So it sounds like Columbus mainly had Thunderbolts and STL-10s. I wonder if that one Model 5 was part of the system too. I doubt that though. Probably a fire siren.

That Model 5 is located in the heart of Columbus, near downtown. Go back as early as the 1950s, it is very unlikely that a major city (especially a state capital) would have a volunteer fire department.

[fire_freak_57]

Not sure if this has already been mentioned, but the STL (or both of them) in Montpelier are also ex-Franklin County.

[Jake_7367]

In 1974, one of the STL-10's apparently caught fire the day of the Xenia tornado.

How would that even happen? The whole siren is made of metal.