Putnam Fire Departments


Palatka

map2  Fire Districts
Back before cell phones and most probably before many had CB's, town's needed a way to alert the firemen who were for the most part volunteers at the time that a fire was raging and where to find it.  Palatka use a bell and siren combination.  The siren would blow, then the bell would be rung the number of the area of town the firemen should respond to.  It worked very well.  There was a map on the wall and we could count the number of bells. It was repeated several times so those who either didn't hear it the first time or didn't count correctly could make sure where to go.  

I don't know the years this was done but I was aware of it during the early 1950's.  I don't think it was as early as this picture.  I don't see any power lines in this photo.

Fire Brigade

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Last updated November 2, 2010
©2010 Fran Smith
FLGenWeb Project, Inc.



This page created July 16, 2010
©2010 Fran Smith
FLGenWeb Project, Inc.