I spent the day at the Grand Rapids City Archives digging through boxes and boxes of unsorted Grand Rapids Fire Department records.
The archival staff was very helpful and gave me digital prints of the four civil defense air raid sirens that used to stand ready to warn Calder city of an incoming attack.
All photos are property of the Grand Rapids City Archives or Grand Rapids Public Library archives and used with permission.
___________________________________September 2014 UPDATE__________________________________
I contacted the company that owns the Michigan National Bank Building at 77 Monroe Center which housed the siren in the first picture. The good news is a siren is still up there (not the original Chrysler but a Thunderbolt model); the bad news is that their insurance company won't let me up there to get a photo. Thanks to Eric from Michigan Civil Defense Museum for his expertise on this subject.
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The archival staff was very helpful and gave me digital prints of the four civil defense air raid sirens that used to stand ready to warn Calder city of an incoming attack.
All photos are property of the Grand Rapids City Archives or Grand Rapids Public Library archives and used with permission.
___________________________________September 2014 UPDATE__________________________________
I contacted the company that owns the Michigan National Bank Building at 77 Monroe Center which housed the siren in the first picture. The good news is a siren is still up there (not the original Chrysler but a Thunderbolt model); the bad news is that their insurance company won't let me up there to get a photo. Thanks to Eric from Michigan Civil Defense Museum for his expertise on this subject.
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While digging in the archives I came across the 1983 Grand Rapids Fire Department Annual Report and found a picture of this guy. Rest in peace grandpa, and thank you for your service to the City of Grand Rapids.