FIRE ALARM BELL AND SPRINKLER VALVE

SPRING STREET, DOWNTOWN LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS

Located near Spring and Seventh streets, the bell is one of many like it (but all are different) to be found while exploring the alleys of most downtowns. Probably unused, it is quite beautifully designed. It was made by the Globe Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

 

On the boulevard between the sidewalk and street curb sits this thing. I assume (please correct me if I'm wrong) that it is a valve to turn said sprinkler on, though if there is an alarm, you'd think the sprinkler would be automatic. But the date on the thing is 1928, so it may predate automatic sprinklers entirely. There is an embossed set of letters reading "SV" so I lean the way of it being a sprinkler valve. It was made by the Columbian Ironworks of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and has a glass window with the word "OPEN" barely readable inside. It is unlikely that it is active. The handle, once unlocked, could be fit onto the nut at the top to turn it on. I hope the fire chief had the key.

BAPTIST CHURCH SCHOOL DOOHICKEY

OSCEOLA, ARKANSAS

 

This piece of unidentifiable ironmongery hangs next to a window on the 1940s school addition of the 1915 First Baptist Church in Osceola, Arkansas. I spent a day crawling all over the church and its attached school buildings to determine just what it will take to restore it, and this thing made me arch my eyebrows. There are three separate clips with moveable gates similar to a climbing carabiner or 'd-ring,' but for the life of me (and I hope it doesn't come to that) I cant figure out what the thing is for.

Anyone know?

                                                                Baptist Church Sanctuary

                      Doohickey to the right of the third ground floor window from the left

WHAT THE HELL IS THIS THING?

 

 

Located in Fort Smith, Arkansas, it apparently led up to a doorway long since gone. The building, too. I especially like the spiderweb cracks with white caulking at the right side of the stairway. My guess is that a small church used to be there. It seems too utilitarian for this fine neighborhood just northeast of the commecial district.

A LITTLE SNOW



I had planned to catch this blog up over Christmas, but this happened the day after. Fifteen inches. Then the power went off fo four days and I froze. They just now thawed me out. Back to the blog, which is already in progress...

In actuality, it is now February Fourth 2013, and my ability to post pictures, lost in the bowels of the Google Gods, has returned. Long live inserts!