Posted by Dick H on May 04, 2001 at 22:30:18:
In Reply to: ValComm Fire ? posted by D on May 04, 2001 at 02:33:47:
A "box" is a reference to former times when there were fire alarm boxes on the street. Box 1758 was probably at 39th S. and some cross street.
Boxes were assigned in a zone system - boxes beginning with 1 may have been in the south part of the city, etc. If you were working in a fire station, and gongs were striking a box number, you would know instantly when the first "1" sounded that you were or were not going.
Even today, when there are no boxes physically on the street it is a quick way to identify a location.
If there are any older firefighters on this board, they may know exactly where 1758 is.
I remember many Boston boxes (where they still have about 2500).
For example, I used to call Box 3555 the "cookie box". It is at Lorna Rd. and Doone Ave.