Archive for the ‘Project Firebox’ Category
Project Firebox 13
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Solemnity distiguishes the border of Blissville and Long Island City, a rough angle between neighborhoods forever shadowed by elevated roads. Adorning its nail scarred post in the manner of some scarlet scarab, Firebox 7232 maintains its link with central command still. When trouble strikes, it is ever at the ready.
Project Firebox 12
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Following Forgotten-NY’s Kevin Walsh around Bushwick one day, this very old firebox was observed.
It exhibited a couple of unique features, which even the great explorer and expert of these urban climes found puzzling. We shot photos, and moved on in search of certain locations rumored to have survived in the area unscathed by modernity, remnants of the German Brewers which once typified the population of this ancient section of Brooklyn.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Several days later, the normally steady and wholesome measure of Mr. Walsh’s correspondence took on a feverish tone when he reported that the network of antiquarians and recluse scholars with which he maintains communication had delivered to him a detailed description of the enigmatic firebox, with it’s embossed “H.P. TEL” on the crown and dated base.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
It seems that when the fire system, pipe and pump wise, was first laid down in the early 20th century, technological infancy limited the number of streets that could be served by high pressure lines. Reserved for high rises, factories, and high density tenement blocks- the high pressure water common today was only available in certain areas. However, should the need arise, a fire chief carried a key that would access one of these “H.P. TEL” fireboxes which would send a command back to the firehouse to throw open the valves that would pressurize the lines flowing through its district.
The TEL stands for telegraph, apparently, and the whole scheme ceased to be necessary sometime in the 1950’s.
Project Firebox 11
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This soldier of the realm is found along the hoary streets of Greenpoint in Brooklyn, specifically the corner of Leonard and Bayard streets. Having suffered the attentions of local vandals and inopportune traffic collisions for much of its long reign, this watchtower of the FDNY is stalwart in its mission. One wonders if it took up its position in the ancient time when Bayard was known as Sandford Street, and Leonard as Third Street?
ps- postings will be a bit sporadic over the next few days, your humble narrator is a bit burned out again, and requires a little break. There still will be posts coming your way through the Labor Day holiday, but they’ll be shorties- a few more “Project Firebox” and a couple of things I’ve noticed that aren’t earth shattering but interesting nevertheless. A full schedule of damned revelations and hellish probings will resume after said holiday. I’ll be roaming around the neighborhood, however, so if there’s anything crazy going on- you can always contact me here or just leave a comment. All comments are held back from immediate posting for review of course, so if its something you don’t want to disseminate to everyone, mention it at the top of the missive.
Look forward to updates on the St. Michael’s ritual site, which I haven’t mentioned for a while, but which has been monitored after each full moon. There’s also a trip through Greenpoint in the works, and a chance for you- lords and ladies- to get tickets for a boat ride up the Creek in October . More to come, promise.
Project Firebox 10
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Woe to the FDNY Firebox which finds itself on the surly triangular corners that swirl about Northern Blvd. This elegantly destroyed specimen languishes perilously close to Steinway Street’s transmogrification into 39th street near the Standard Motor Products Building, specifically 36th avenue and 41st street.
As a point of interest, this is the eastern extant of 36th avenue, with its western terminus obviated by the Roosevelt Island Bridge at the East River.
Project Firebox 9
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Foliated in the manner of some medieval “green man”, this FDNY alarm box clings to it’s mount at the corner of Woodside and 38th avenues. A vestigial back alley rudely forgotten beside the tracks of the LIRR, it sits squarely at the center of an angle between the neighborhoods of Woodside and Sunnyside- a place which is neither here nor there, between tick and tock.
The Newtown Pentacle 