Central Florida & Surrounding Siren Dicussion

[Stevan Z]

Found an article from November 1980 which says that "air raid sirens will sound in St. Petersburg for one minute signaling a parade and a moment of silence" for Veteran's Day.

So, must have been more than one. What's weird is you can't see the T-Bolt on Bird's Eye view, but you can see the horn on Streetview.

Ironically I just stumbled upon that very same newspaper article while digging around for information last night. A while back I actually read a much more recent article that talked about some kind of siren going off in the downtown area of either St. Petersburg or Tampa (I can't remember which one it was for sure), but I can't find it now. I doubt that the Thunderbolt is active anymore, however about six years ago when I recorded the one atop the Pinellas County Jail, I could have sworn I faintly heard another siren off to the south winding down once the jail siren shut off. As I said, I really doubt it was the downtown Thunderbolt that I heard but it's entirely possible since that siren appears to be pointing due north and has been for quite some time.

On another note, the Port of Tampa has a siren system in place for warning both the port workers and any nearby residents of a hazardous situation at the port. The original system was comprised of a couple or so Whelen omnis, but they were replaced fairly recently with a new larger system of Modulators both at the port itself and in areas immediately surrounding the port.

As for the current status of that Thunderbolt on the municipal building in downtown St. Petersburg, I'm planning to take a drive over there and hopefully get some decent pictures of it while we're down there next week for our annual family vacation over in Treasure Island. If I have the time to do so, I may also try to squeeze in a trip to the Port of Tampa area and see if maybe I can grab an ambiance recording of their sirens being tested, provided that they do still test them daily like they used to.

Didn't you say that other siren you heard was an STH-10 at a local school that got taken down not too long after?

[Fletch]

There was an article done by the St. Pete Times from 10/21/85 about air raid sirens, but of course that edition isn't available on Google news search.

The article has a picture of a T-Bolt on an unknown building, definitely not the Municipal Services Building.

[murrfarms]

While I was in the St. Pete area on our annual vacation last week, I was able to go into downtown and snap a few good photos of the old Thunderbolt on the Municipal Services Building from two different angles. I wish I had gotten the chance earlier on into the trip to get in touch with the city to arrange a visit to see the whole siren up close on the roof, but hopefully I'll have more time by next year when we go back down there again (given it's still there, which it should be).




(click on any of the photos above for full resolution)

[Thundercode]

We have a breakthrough! I have found a Model 2 VERY NEAR Ocala, I never knew about this fire department or the siren! https://www.google.com/maps/search/fire ... 1664?hl=en

EDIT: Better angle! https://www.google.com/maps/@28.9818432 ... 6656?hl=en

[Thundercode]

And minutes later........I find a VERY poor Screamer in Inverness. https://www.google.com/maps/@28.8494753 ... !1e1?hl=en


EDIT: Model X Very Very Near the Screamer. https://www.google.com/maps/@28.8342312 ... 6656?hl=en

[Thundercode]

I'm quite upset, I just did a massive post on a TON of sirens across Central Florida, and when I went to post, the site logged me out, so the entire post was deleted basically. ;( So about an hour of hunting, with many sirens, is now lost, if you want to do it yourself, just hover over Ocala zoomed out a bit, and search into the map: "Fire Department", I found a ton of things, hidden Fedelcodes, a Sentry, and a Mystery Siren, the only thing I can quickly Recover is this Darely In Hawthorne, I will try to make a new post hopefully! https://www.google.com/maps/@29.5921493 ... !1e1?hl=en EDIT: Id like to post as a disclaimer, Ocala has no (known) sirens, only a XT22 supposedly that was removed in the 80-90s. I will try to quickly get the post redone, but I don't feel re-making an hour's worth of fun google siren hunting again.

[Thundercode]

Google Siren Hunt Post 2.0.........yippie. But anywyas here is the "deleted" post redone, Tried to get as many of the original pics as possible! Palatka Siren 1: https://www.google.com/maps/@29.648512, ... !1e1?hl=en Not sure what is, almost looks like a ROTATING Model A, but its massive, https://www.google.com/maps/@29.6489916 ... !1e1?hl=en This angle shows. Also in Palatka, A tarped, not wired, Mystery Siren, very strange: https://www.google.com/maps/@29.6521942 ... 6656?hl=en . Brooker Model 2: https://www.google.com/maps/search/Fire ... 6656?hl=en . Rainbow Lakes FD Mystery Siren: https://www.google.com/maps/@29.1497359 ... 1664?hl=en . Sneaky Fedelcode Model 5 in Trenton: Angle 1: https://www.google.com/maps/@29.6140481 ... 6656?hl=en Angle 2: https://www.google.com/maps/@29.6133708 ... 6656?hl=en Angle 3: https://www.google.com/maps/@29.6134292 ... 6656?hl=en . Waldo Model X with Missing Top Housing: https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7906166 ... 6656?hl=en . Thats enough for now, I will save the others that were supposed to go into original post for a rainy day HOWEVER, I am deciding to share something, I looked on the massive civil defense siren fund list someone made another topic about, Ocala had purchased one siren, and going by my dad's hazy memory and the list, it is an XT22 most likely, It was at a fire station that is now demolished(supposedly that is where) for a massive area re-working with roads and layout in general. Sadly there is NO sign of the XT22 and its status is unknown, but very grim. But It was clearly heard from his childhood home (My Gran's house), and My house is not all that far away either, meaning If on a perfect day, where I sit now typing this, I could've possibly heard it faintly at least! But Like I said, the siren's whereabouts are unknown entirely. But that model X very near to my house I never knew about(is a 30 minute trek) has high promise, will hopefully find info on if it is still active.

[Stormsetter4]

The large ''Model A'' in Palataka is actually a Mobil-Directo without it's top horn.

[Thundercode]

The large ''Model A'' in Palataka is actually a Mobil-Directo without it's top horn.

I had almost figured that too.....But felt it too crazy, Guess my gut was right! But it is truly interesting finding tons of fire sirens now, all over Central Florida area, like coming finally out of the woodwork. Guess not that bad for the "Anti Siren State".

[Thundercode]

Also any ideas to what the tarped-over siren is? :\