The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

FIRE ESCAPE COUNTERWEIGHTS

THERE IS AN OLD CUSTOM IN CHICAGO OF ELABORATELY DESIGNING THE
COUNTERWEIGHTS ON THE LAST SECTION OF A FIRE ESCAPE (THAT PORTION
OF THE ESCAPE THAT KEEPS THE LAST SECTION RAISED), THESE WEIGHTS
ARE CAST IRON AND THE CASTINGS HAVE INTRICATE DESIGNS OF LETTERS OR
FIGURES. THIS CUSTOM SHOWS UP ON SOME FAIRLY
OLD BUILDINGS I'VE
SEEN SOME FROM THE 20S), HOWEVER, THE NEWER BUILDINGS HAVE DIFFERENT
FIRE ESCAPE SYSTEMS SO IT'S NOT DONE ANYMORE.

Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO

Date learned: 00001960S