Somerville, MA

This manhole cover has been serving the good people of Somerville, MA since 1894. That makes it pretty old, but not quite as old as Lyndell's Bakery down the street. Lyndell's has been serving baked goods to hungry residents since 1887. If you happen to be in the area, I suggest the half moon cookies. Or the lemon squares. Or the cannoli...

Hudson, NH

You can travel the world, and you will never see manhole covers like those used in my own hometown. Although they do not have dates on them, they are blogworthy for an entirely different reason.

Because they are TRIANGLES!


What can I say, we do things a little bit differently in New Hampshire. But it is worth pointing out that we are not just being different for difference's sake; like round manhole covers, a triangular manhole cover cannot fall in on itself. It is actually a perfectly rational choice.

This is a vintage Mueller fire hydrant, from 1955, complete with accessories - notice the tag attached to the top so that the hydrant can be found in case it is buried under four feet of snow. Again, we are a practical people...

And a more recent entry, a fire hydrant just off of Central Street, made in 1986.
Where was I in 1986? Learning about New Hampshire's Revolutionary War hero John Stark and practicing my cursive in Mrs. Fucci's third grade class at Kimball Webster School.


Have I hooked you on Hudson?? Want to learn more?

Sources about Hudson don't get much more authoritative than this. Click here...

Omaha, NE

Among sandwich enthusiasts, Omaha is widely acclaimed for being the birthplace of the Reuben. This fire hydrant, in downtown Omaha, has been protecting Reubens and those who eat them for fifty four years.

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, NC

These images are from the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, right next to the old lifesaving station. When I first came out here, the lifesaving station was abandoned; it was half covered with sand dunes and was fenced off with barbed wire. Because of the dunes you could walk right over the fences. The lifesaving station has been mostly rehabbed, though I'm not sure what it is going to be used for. They haven't quite finished cleaning up the exterior after getting rid of a modern addition to the station. Lucky for me. How often do you get to see a fire hydrant in a sand dune?

St. Augustine, FL

I'm all for the Peanut Buster Parfait, but don't know about the DQ chicken salad...
St. Augustine is, by the way, the oldest Euro-American city in the continental United States. The Spanish founded it in 1565. Galileo was one year old in 1565.


A word of praise for St. Augustine and its city leaders. The city was built to last, and so are its fire hydrants. This one dates from 1965. That was the year St. Augustine held its quadricentennial celebration. It was a very big deal.

As an aside, I have seen more Mueller fire hydrants during this project than any other name. I think the Neenah Foundry may have the lead in modern manhole covers and sidewalk fixtures and whatnot, but when it comes to fire hydrants, Mueller takes the prize. Three cheers for Chattanooga.

Kill Devil Hills, NC

A fire hydrant in the Outer Banks, North Carolina. It has been enjoying its day at the beach since 1963.







A different fire hydrant down the street. It was made by the same company 46 years later. Clearly, it feels Awful.

Phoenix, AZ

First you look for the fire hydrants. And then the fire hydrants start looking for you... This one found me at Copper Star Coffee in Phoenix. It is from 1966. I have no idea why it is there.