Colleagues,
Most interesting Cooperative Education experience for a Blackstone Valley Tech Senior!
David
Mentoring the Next Generation of Tradesperson
Sound the Alarm! August 7, 2024
There is an alluring to a fire. It’s cozy, warm, and inviting on a cool fall evening. But a fire can occur unexpectedly and escalate rapidly. When it does, a reliable fire alarm system is essential in early detection. It allows occupants to evacuate quickly and firefighters to respond swiftly, minimizing damage and preventing the fire from spreading to neighboring properties.
<![if !vml]>
<![endif]>
With a rich history in electrical contracting, Kuik Electric in Uxbridge is a family-owned and operated company. They are also one of our industry partners in our Co-Op program who take pride in mentoring our students with career opportunities while providing friendly, reliable service to residential, commercial, and retail clients. Their expertise also extends to the installation and monitoring of fire alarm systems for commercial buildings.
During her senior year on Co-Op, Julia Saksa of Northbridge (Electrical, Class of 2024) had a unique opportunity to work with owner and Master Electrician, Tom Kuik (Electrical, Class of 1982), on a special project for the Northbridge Fire Department. This involved repairing and rewiring an antique fire alarm control panel, which is still a crucial component of the firehouse’s alarm system.
The antique panel, known as a city box indicator station, manufactured by Whitin Machine Works, was in use from the 1940s to the 70s. It was the main means of summoning firefighters before the general availability of telephones, and today, still plays an important role in notifying the fire department of a fire or fire alarm activation.
<![if !vml]>
<![endif]>This was done through red fire alarm boxes (pull stations) located at various street corners. When pulled, they would send a code to the fire station, indicating the location and triggering a horn to alert the firefighters. The first firefighter to receive the code would flip the corresponding switch on the city box indicator station to light up the street name, guiding the other firefighters to the location.
The indicator station that Julia and Tom worked on is a large, heavy metal panel with 58 street names painted onto a pane of glass that covers a corresponding light bulb (there are 60 available spots/bulbs, so there were two empty/open street spots remaining for another street name). Though primitive compared to the newer fire alarm control panels made today, these older control panels have stood the test of time.
The panel’s successful restoration is a testament to the fire department’s commitment to preserving our shared history and maintaining historic fire safety equipment for the town of Northbridge. To showcase their dedication, a section of the new fire station now houses a small museum, where the restored city box indicator station and other historical items are proudly displayed at the new headquarters. Curious to learn more? Pack up the kiddos and swing by the firehouse to take a stroll through history.
David J. Ferreira
MAVA Communications Coordinator
DavidFerreira