The Siren Board

Today, while I was helping one officer out at the CPD station, I brought to his attention that I was going to try and find out some info about Cumberland's old CD siren system. And here's the info I got from him:

- Cumberland's system was made up of model 2s and possibly a few T-bolts. Cumberland lies in an area where several valleys meet so CD probably took advantage of using the Mountains to spread the sound of the siren.

- Cumberland tested their sirens at 4PM on the first Saturday of each month (Weather permitting)

- I have found a location of where one Model 2 used to sit (and it was a prime location at that)

- Cumberland's system possibly ran on Telephone connections.


When I explained to him that a thunderbolt was nothing more than a long horn that rotated, he said they had some of those, though he was not sure they spun.

Now I have not only gotten some useful info on the Cumberland CD system, I also sparked his curiosity about the system. So he said when he goes to EMO center (A modern CD building), he was going to ask about it. But he also gave me a referance to another guy who could help me. Who knows, I might actually get a siren out of this hunt and be able to restore it.

sounds like you got some great info. excuse me if i sound ignorant but where is Cumberland?

Allegany County, in the Western end of Maryland

I know I'm bringing up an old post, but relax... it won't hurt anyone.

I've been deer hunting in Cumberland (near Spring Gap) these past five or six weeks, and I have noticed that on Saturdays, around 8 AM, I can distinctly hear a Westminster chime rolling in from the distance as I sit in the woods. My question is, would someone know of any electronic sirens producing this sound? My first impression was that it probably came from a church PA, but I remembered seeing this post awhile back and figured someone here might know of any speaker sirens hiding in the valley.

Also for anyone interested and familiar with MD, there is a fellow in Kemptown who sounds his Model 2 at midnight on New Year's. It's only wired to a cord and plug, but he plugs and pulls it to replicate an Attack signal.

Yes most modern electronic sirens can do west minister chimes. Such as a Whelen 3016 and ATI's. (Church bells also do west minister chimes)

I understand that much, what I meant is if anyone familiar with the area would know if there is in fact a siren producing that sound rather than a church. It wouldn't surprise me if it is the latter, however if there is in fact an electronic siren located in the valley I'd be interested in finding out.

There are no Electronic sirens in Cumberland. Cumberland dismantled it's CD system 10 years ago, and there are no known electronic sirens in the Allegany area. What you might have heard was a Church with electronic "Bells" (Basically bells that have speakers hidden up inside them)

The Church on Fredrick St. near Bopp Ave. has electronic bells and sits in a valley (Which might have helped amplify the sound)

Thank you, that's all I wanted to know! Regardless of its origin, it does sound interesting rolling across the fields early in the morning.