 The original siren used to alert the Ridgely area of a Blackout is on display at the front window of the Ridgely Pharmacy, and according to Brenda Walls, it still works! The signal for an Air Raid was long and short blasts, continuously for five minutes. The All Clear signal was five short blasts. | WANTED! WANTED! More volunteers at the Observation Post. Help to protect America as it has protected you! Don't alibi--that's Hitler's game! Inactive Organizations robbed Mussolini of fame. To give a helping hand is little enough to be done Until this big battle is completely won. The solution for a clear American mind Is to do your part while there's still time! The community knows each of you by name, If you fail to help, you will be to blame. When the last "All Clear" sounds And the boys are homeward bound, What will you say when the question is asked of you, "What did you do to help preserve the Red and White and Blue?" Serve Your Country with the Army Air Forces Ground Observation Corps! Taken from the Caroline Sun Newspaper, Oct. 1943 |
In December of 1941, the newspaper calls for volunteers and reports: "The Ridgely airplane observers' post, located at Spark's Filling Station, at Oakland, is now on a 24-hour service since war has been declared. The Ridgely observers' post are on a 2-hour schedule, when from 6 a.m to 10 p.m., one man will be at his post. From 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. two men will be on the lookout for any airplanes that might be in the vicinity."
According to the memories of the seniors who served there, it was located twenty feet off the ground with a ladder to gain entry. It contained a small table, two chairs, a telephone, a writing pad, binoculars, and an airplane identification chart was posted on the wall. Freda Lord recalls that at the outbreak of the war, the Ridgely Fire Department had two men on duty all night at the fire house, standing watch with weapons. Beginning in April of 1942, women were called upon to volunteer for the daytime shifts, two at a time for three hour periods.
According to the memories of the seniors who served there, it was located twenty feet off the ground with a ladder to gain entry. It contained a small table, two chairs, a telephone, a writing pad, binoculars, and an airplane identification chart was posted on the wall. Freda Lord recalls that at the outbreak of the war, the Ridgely Fire Department had two men on duty all night at the fire house, standing watch with weapons. Beginning in April of 1942, women were called upon to volunteer for the daytime shifts, two at a time for three hour periods.
January 1942, BLACKOUT ORDERS
IF AN ALARM SOUNDS:
1. Keep calm. Keep cool.
2. Get off the streets. Walk--don't run.
3. If within five minutes of your home, go there. If more than five minutes away from home, go into the nearest building.
4. Don't mingle in crowds.
5. Motorists should park their cars immediately--off the streets, if possible.
6. Put out all lights. Obey blackout instructions.
7. Avoid the top and lower stories of buildings and seek shelter in the center portions of buildings.
8. Stay away from windows and outside walls. Do not use elevators.
9. Do not use the telephone. It is needed entirely by the Army, Navy, and Civilian Defense officials.
10. Do not believe all rumors. Think twice before doing anything.
11. If you are enrolled in one of the civilian defense agencies, go to your post immediately and follow your instructions.
12. Know your air raid alarm signals and what they mean.
13. Above all, keep calm. Help others keep calm. Prevent any disorder.
Test blackouts will be tried shortly all must be ready. Civilians defense workers will canvas the town on such occasions and all violators will be waited on.
* The above information can be found in Volume 7 of The Caroline Sun Historical Booklet compiled by Tommy Rampmeyer.
IF AN ALARM SOUNDS:
1. Keep calm. Keep cool.
2. Get off the streets. Walk--don't run.
3. If within five minutes of your home, go there. If more than five minutes away from home, go into the nearest building.
4. Don't mingle in crowds.
5. Motorists should park their cars immediately--off the streets, if possible.
6. Put out all lights. Obey blackout instructions.
7. Avoid the top and lower stories of buildings and seek shelter in the center portions of buildings.
8. Stay away from windows and outside walls. Do not use elevators.
9. Do not use the telephone. It is needed entirely by the Army, Navy, and Civilian Defense officials.
10. Do not believe all rumors. Think twice before doing anything.
11. If you are enrolled in one of the civilian defense agencies, go to your post immediately and follow your instructions.
12. Know your air raid alarm signals and what they mean.
13. Above all, keep calm. Help others keep calm. Prevent any disorder.
Test blackouts will be tried shortly all must be ready. Civilians defense workers will canvas the town on such occasions and all violators will be waited on.
* The above information can be found in Volume 7 of The Caroline Sun Historical Booklet compiled by Tommy Rampmeyer.
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