Gamewell in Halifax
October 7th, 1867
A meeting of the Board of Fire Wardens Has been called for this evening, to take into consideration proposals submitted by an American gentleman now in this city, for the erection of an electric fire alarm Telegraph in Halifax. We understand that the insurance agents view the contrivance with favor, and are disposed to assist largely in defraying its expense, if adopted. It will cost probably $6000. It is proposed to establish a number of alarm stations throughout the city, communicating with the engine houses, so that the mere pulling of a nob at any one of the stations will give simultaneous notice all over the city of the exact locality of the fire. Some system of alarm is indisputably necessary, and we trust if the plans submitted is at all feasible, the fire wardens will not fail to urge its adoption.
October 30th, 1867
As the contractors are about to commence operations on the above work immediately and as it is necessary that every facility should be shown to the workmen employed in the carrying out this great public improvement, the following section of the act passed at the last session of the provincial legislature is published for the information of the citizens.
Be it enacted by the governor, council and assembly, as follows,
- The city of Halifax is hereby authorized to construct, erect and maintain a fire alarm Telegraph within the limits of such city, and to attach the wires of such fire alarm Telegraph two such erections Ann buildings, public and private within the city, as may be convenient, doing no more damage to such erections or buildings than may be necessary, and also to attach strikers to such church bells or other bells in the city as may be deemed expedient, without being liable to any suit or action, unless such damage is occasioned by acts done irrespective of the operations before mentioned, or by the negligence or UN skillfulness of their servants or employees. The committee have selected, subject to any alterations that may be found necessary during the progress of the work, the following places as the location of the fire alarm boxes.
Location of Fire Alarm Boxes (proposed)
Box No Location
3 Brunswick street engine house
4 #3 Artillery Place
5 #23 Southeast corner of Carlton St. and Spring Garden Rd.
6 #107 Southwest corner Queen and Morris Sts
7 Southeast corner Park St and Victoria Rd
8 #85 Freshwater Bridge
12 House on Pleasant St next to Southeast corner Pleasant and Morris Sts
13 #2 Southwest corner Water and Salter Sts
14 #133 Southwest corner Hollis and Sackville Sts (Harrington Bros)
15 Southwest corner Grafton and Sackville Sts
16 Police Station, City Court House
17 House, Southeast corner Granville and Duke Sts
18 Northeast corner Brunswick Sts
21 #23 Northeast corner Cogswell and Creighton Sts
23 Northwest corner Cornwallis and Gottingen Sts
24 Engine House, Head of Gerrish St
25 House, Northeast corner Robie and Cunard Sts
26 Wellington Barrack Gate, Gottingen St
27 House, corner Campbell Rd and Duffus St, Richmond Depot
28 Southwest corner Campbell Rd and Russell St
31 Southwest corner North and Lockman Sts
32 Northwest corner Gerrish and Lockman Sts
34 Southeast corner Cornwallis and North Barrington Sts, (Thomas O’Malley’s)
35 Southeast corner Hurd’s Lane and North Barrington St
M. J. Power
Chairman, Fire Alarm Com.
October 4th, 1867
Halifax NS
To his worship the mayor and board of Alderman of the city of Halifax NS
We respectively submit to your honourable body proposals for the construction of fire alarm Telegraph in and for your city, viz:
A system known as the fire alarm Telegraph, the same as in use in the cities of Boston, Portland, Montreal, Quebec, and other cities in America, and in accordance with the following specifications:
25 cast iron signal boxes containing all the latest improvements, 6 engine house gongs with electrical apparatus for striking the same, 3 Electro bell striking machines, 75 caps “Improved Daniels Battery”, and sufficient iron and insulated copper wire to connect all the above mentioned apparatus in such manner that upon pulling the nob in any one of the signal box is the number of the box so pulled will be struck upon all the bells and gongs instantly and simultaneously.
The location of the signal boxes, bell machines and gongs to be determined by the Mayor and Chairman of the Board of Firewards.
All the iron wire necessary to connect said apparatus so as to form a complete system of Telegraph, to be best quality #9, supported upon good cedar or pine poles, or as is the custom in other cities upon the chimneys and housetops, secured upon neat iron fastenings, and in either case insulated with heavy glass insulators. The signal boxes to be securely fastened to the houses or posts at least 4 feet above the pavement, and connected with iron wire of the circuit by #16 rubber insulated copper wire, said insulated wire to be protected by wrought iron gas pipe to a height of 15 feet above the pavement and each box to have a ground wire sunk to sufficient depth to ensure connection at all times and protected in like manner below the surface of the pavement.
All the work to be performed in a thorough and workmanlike manner and completed within four months from the date of the contract, for the sum of $7800; to be paid to the subscribers upon the presentation of a certificate from the mayor and the chairman of the board of fire wardens that the Telegraph has been completed in accordance with the contract an is in thorough working order.
Wendell, Kennard & Co
Dear Sir-
The enclosed proposals contemplate a relief from all duties and an immediate acceptance.
The cost of maintaining the proposed system of Telegraph will not exceed $100 per annum.
Very respectfully,
Wendell, Kennard & Co
To His Worship
The Mayor of Halifax,
The matter having been submitted to the fire wards previous to being brought before the council, elicited the resolution annexed:
Extract from minutes of board of Firewards:
Resolved, That this board desire to return their thanks to His Worship the Mayor for his kindness in submitting the proposals of Wendell, Kennard and Co., For their consideration, and also to inform him that they have been affirmed the desirability of having the fire alarm Telegraph introduced in this city, by a resolution of the board passed 20th March, 1867, and forwarded to the City Council, and they will be only too well pleased to learn that the financial condition of the city will warrant so large an expenditure of money in addition to the amount necessary for the other more important improvements contemplated by the Fire Department.
(A true extract)
James Duggan
Secretary
The board of insurance agents have also approved of the improvement, at a meeting before which the plans were submitted:
Halifax, Oct 8, 1867
The president stated that he had summoned the board to submit a communication received from the mayor of the city, enclosing an offer. And tender from Messers Wendell,Kennard & Co., to erect an electric fire alarm Telegraph within the city,-the object of the meeting was to take into consideration whether the different fire insurance companies represented at the board would contribute towards defraying the expense. Whereupon it was resolved that the board desire to express their entire approval of the benefits arising from the electric fire alarm Telegraph, and would recommend the immediate construction thereof, and will bring the subject under the notice of their respective companies, and urge upon them the necessity of contributing towards the cost.
When these documents were read in the council some discussion took place.
Alderman Trenaman thought it would be proper to appoint a committee to consult with the boards of insurance agents and fire wards, and report to the council.
His Worship the Mayor said that the Telegraph could not be introduced into Halifax for the amount asked, $7800, were it not that Saint John had come under the arrangement and therefore be a great saving of the expense from the contiguity of the two cities
Alderman Nash considered that nothing could be done except to get the opinion of the council and submit a bill to the legislature if thought desirable.
Alderman Richardson would like to see the improvement, but didn't know where the money was to come from, as the citizens were already grumbling about their taxes.
Alderman gossip was not opposed to the project, seeing that we were becoming a modern city with horse railways etc. He advised communication with other cities where the Telegraph was in operation, to assert attain if it worked satisfactorily.
His Worship the Mayor handed in a pamphlet Containing certificates as to efficacy from Montreal and other places.
Alderman Jennings coincided with the suggestion for a committee; There was no need of haste, and nothing could be done without an act of the legislature. Time should be allowed to have the matter thoroughly ventilated.
Alderman Butler would like to see something definite as to what they were disposed to contribute from the fire insurance agencies. They were very deeply interested in the matter.
Alderman Barron said premiums would be brought down by the introduction of the system, but Alderman Conway differed from this view.
Finally, Alderman nashes motion was passed, and a committee appointed consisting of Alderman Sinclair, Richardson, Nash, treneman, Conway and Horley. The matter rests here at present but we hope it will not be long before this valuable auxiliary to the fire department is in full operation in our city. We would easily cite cases where property to the amount of the estimated cost might have been saved through a speedier knowledge on the part of the fireman of the locality of a conflagration.
Location of Fire Alarm Boxes June 24th, 1908
Box Location
12 Bowery Rd.
14 Freshwater, Ritchies
15 Victoria Rd. And South Park streets
16 Gas Works, Gas Lane
17 Queen St. engine house
18 Morris and Pleasant streets
19 Tramway Company Station, Lower Water St
21 Park Street and Spring Garden Rd
23 Morris St. Blind Asylum.
24 Victoria General Hospital.
25 South St. Poor asylum.
26 Carlton St. and Spring Garden Rd.
27 Seymour St., Corner. Coburg Rd.
28 Corner Edward and Morris streets.
212 Corner, Bishop and Water streets.
214 Corner Birmingham and Spring Garden Rd.
3 Central Engine House, Brunswick Street.
32 Grafton Street. Engine House.
34 Barrington St. foot of Blower St.
35 Water and Salter streets.
36 Hollis and Sackville streets.
37 George and Water streets.
38 Corner, Prince and Barrington streets.
4 Police station.
41 Buckingham and Granville streets.
42 Water and Jacob streets.
43 UPC Hall.
45 Water St. and Hurds Lane.
5 Cogswell and Creighton streets.
51 Creighton and Cornwallis streets.
52 Deep Water, Upper Water St.
53 Cornwallis St. Corner Lockman St
54 Lockman and Garrish streets.
56 Prince William St. Near Gottingen
57 West St. Engine House.
58 Corner North Park and Cunard
6 Quinpool Rd. Engine House.
61 Corner. Louisburgh St. and Jubilee Rd.
63 Cunard St. Corner Robie.
65 North and Robie streets.
67 Corner Chebucto Road and Oxford streets.
7 North and Lockman St.
71 Campbell Rd. Foot of Russell St.
72 North and Gottingen streets.
73 Gottingen St. engine house.
74 Dockyard Gate, Upper Water St.
8 Sugar Refinery.
81 Richmond and Campbell Rd.
83 Campbell Rd. Combo foot of Roome St.
9 Windsor and Almon St.
93 Cotton factory.
Waterworks signals.
Ten single strokes on the bells denotes that the low water service will be turned off within an hour.
Ten single strokes repeated once denotes that the high service will be turned off within an hour.
Special calls.
Two single strokes--Fire under control.
Two single strokes repeated.--#1 chemical called out.
Two single strokes, repeated twice.--#2 Chemical called out.
Two single strokes, repeated after any alarm.--Police call, or police required.
Three single strokes.--For additional ladder truck.
Four single strokes.--For additional chemical truck.