YORK, Pa. — Pieces of history can be found on street corners, in alleyways and along the sidewalks of York - but not for much longer.
York’s Gamewell fire alarm system is a relic from the past and has been deemed no longer necessary in the present.
“There were no phones, so the only way you could transmit an alarm of fire would’ve been through the Gamewell system," said William Sleeger, York City Fire Department's Fire Chief. "It was established to hookup facilities and buildings on the street corners, so if someone had a fire in the residence they could run down the street and pull the Gamewell box.”
When pulled, the firebox would send a signal directly to the fire station and alert crews to an emergency; they’ve been used since 1884.
However, as time progressed, the boxes became too expensive to maintain.
“The problem with the parts is that they’re becoming obsolete," Sleeger continued. "Everything has to be handmade. Just the box alone was costing up to $6,000 to make.”
In their prime, fireboxes were the best way to alert first responders of emergencies; due to rising maintenance costs and continual malfunctions, the boxes will no longer be used by the city.
“I really hate to see them go. They were an essential part of the fire service and one of the first, and quickest, ways of fire notification,” Sleeger said.
As the new year pushes on, the York Electrical Bureau has already begun removing boxes from the city.
Some of the boxes are expected to have their parts repurposed, while others may be sold off to collectors at an unknown date.
“We’ve already been contacted by some of the departments that still use the Gamewell. They’re looking for some of the parts and once we get past that, they’ll probably do some type of an auction,” Sleeger explained.
The City of York is currently exploring more modernized alarm systems to invest in.
“There are many other systems out there that we’re encouraging folks to go to as a replacement for this,” Sleeger said.
Officials advise anyone who passes a box on the street not to disturb it, as some may still be active.