Scattered around DC are many of its historic call boxes, employed by the fire department as early as 1864 for use by residents to report a blaze. Once a box was opened, the citizen would turn a wheel inside. Cut into the wheel were notches that tripped a telegraph key. A telegraph signal was sent directly to the District’s alarm headquarters, which in turn would forward it to all fire stations. Firefighters would listen to see whether it was a box they were responsible for, and if so, respond to the call.

In addition to red fire boxes were blue police boxes, used by officers to check in.

The advent of radios in police cars and on fire equipment in the 1950s spelled the end of the call boxes, which at their peak numbered about 1,500 in the District.

Some of the call boxes have been removed by the city, but around 700 still remain, many of which have been beautified by local artists. This particular one is located on 12th Street SE on Capitol Hill, although it appears to have originally been situated in Foggy Bottom in northwest DC.

‘Let me in — or else,’ posted earlier: