One if by Bay, Three if by Sea-- Fire Alarms in the 1920's

We liked this picture because the kid on the ring is probably Joseph Lynch, our Friend Larry's old man, some time in the 1920's. And anyone over about 40 can remember there used to be a couple of old fire alarm rings lying in the bushes or poison ivy around the Village, relics of earlier days.

We took a closer look at the old picture of old Joe Lynch, and we saw that there was a code on the sign above the ring:

Ring the ring once if there was a fire in the Bay section, two rings for fires in the middle of the Village, and three rings for a fire in the Ocean. It also warned that "Fires on Grounds and Beaches within the Limits of the Village of Saltaire are Prohibited Under Penalty of Law -- Board of Trustees."
Picture courtesy Larry Lynch. Click images to enlarge

(It is amazing what you can discover with Photoshop.)