In the spring of 1951, Lorain was still taking steps to prepare its residents for possible enemy attack. World War II may have been over, but the Cold War was just getting started.
From the front page of the May 3, 1951 Lorain Journal comes the story of an upcoming test of an air raid signal.
As the article notes, "Lorain’s first city-wide air raid signal test since World War II will be staged at 10 a. m. Friday when four industries cooperate in a 3-minute whistle test to determine how well the whistles can be heard in various sections of the city.
“Arrangements for the civil defense tests were announced by Raymond Lucas, chief air raid warden and chief of the air raid warning setup. National Tube Co., Thew Shovel Co., American Shipbuilding Co. and the B. and O. car shop whistles will be used in the test.
“The signals will be a 10-second whistle followed by 10 seconds of silence. A check of various sections of the city will be made by wives of auxiliary police to determine effectiveness of the signal, according to Ralph Thibaut, chief of the auxiliary police.
“Lucas also announced at yesterday’s civil defense board meeting at the Hotel Antlers that they first training session for air raid wardens was held at the American Legion hall Monday night, with 18 prospective wardens from all parts of the city in attendance.
“The plan of civil defense organization was outlined by Lucas and the film, “Pattern for Survival,” was shown. First aid classes will start next Monday, and the course also will include chemical warfare, radiological warfare, decontamination and instruction on rescue and fire defense procedures, etc.”
Three years later, the city was testing air raid sirens of its own (which I wrote about here).
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| Publicity photo of Laurel and Hardy for the movie Air Raid Wardens (1943) |
Civil Defense has been a favorite topic on this blog.
I’ve written several posts about the old Civil Defense Tower, repurposed from its original function as a Coast Guard lookout and moved to a new location behind the old Lorain City Hall for use by the Ground Observer Corps.
Other related post topics include: a 1961 Fallout Protection Book; a 1968 Emergency Handbook for Nuclear Attack and Natural Disasters; a two-part series on Fallout Shelters; and an original Fallout Shelter sign that was mounted on the now-demolished Garfield Elementary School Annex.
There was an old Fallout Shelter sign bolted to the front of the old Eagles Club on Broadway for years.Right in front of the old Canes Surplus Store.But it is gone too.You can get these signs at swap meets and such.Various sizes.I have a few in my man cave.I also have a couple of old Civil Defense geiger counters.Nothing like cold war relics to remind me of how times have changed.
ReplyDeleteWhen I lived in Campito (1971-76),there was some kind of air raid siren in South Lorain that went off at six pm, and was quite audible over on Canton Avenue.
ReplyDeleteWas it possibly a fire station siren that you heard? Many fire stations had 6pm sirens everyday to test them. I was always told they chose 6pm because that is when the most people were awake regardless of what shift they worked. Vermilion still sounds off at 6pm and I believe Amherst retired theirs a few years ago. Growing up in Lorain, I can't say I remember any sirens, but then again, I can't recall the nearest fire station to my house on the east side.
ReplyDeleteThat's probably what it was; thanks!
DeleteThis was a popular civil defense poster parody when I was in college:
ReplyDeletehttps://i.etsystatic.com/7796072/r/il/7c0bf5/934145636/il_570xN.934145636_hn3c.jpg
Along with this illustration:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/yKif6nuMAfirDVE6M1l1ugwQgOJkH_kDG4UWANLzCyGtrOCMFnRqiQEUvQEaSXzGS5JjCfbCzz7nBGybUQfOaL0RJcHn3QNcJTiZOJkcWx_xj6LreCrnT46QZvwohVv_5-eLdf9THO2ftSyuLUCYx6czv4zpI7j8ybE