Firehouse Lightbulb Remains Lit Since 1901

centennialbulbIn 1901, a lightbulb was installed at the hose cart house in Livermore California. Except for a 22-minute period during a move to a new firehouse in 1976, the bulb has remained lit continuously the entire time. “Hanging 18 feet above the floor at the end of a black cloth-covered cord, the little light with the filament the width of a No. 2 pencil lead is unprotected by any lampshade. Firefighters won’t even dust it. Touch it, jokes one captain, and you get your fingers chopped off.” The light bulb has a website, but unfortunately, it looks like it’s currently down, showing just a plain page with an email address.

One Response to “Firehouse Lightbulb Remains Lit Since 1901”

  1. Mungo

    How many firemen does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Well, if it’s the famous firehouse lightbulb in Livermore, California, the answer is zero! Get it? They haven’t changed it since 1901, so it would be zero! Get it? That’s funny. Zero…

    May 20th, 2008 | 1:11 pm

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