That was supposed to protect us against the radiation fallout, I guess. We practiced going into the basement and putting our heads under the desks there. Yours truly remembers nuclear 'drills' at Dalrymple Elementary School in the late 1950s. If a plane had more than two engines, they were to call the Grand Rapids Filter Center immediately. Volunteers manned the roofs of the Parker Inn Hotel beginning in 1952, and the roof of Albion City Hall beginning in 1955 for the purpose of spotting Communist airplanes. Up in Charlotte, there was a fallout shelter manufacturer that was in existence, and a small handful of Albion residents actually built their own shelters in their basements.Ī Ground Observer Corps group was formed in July, 1952 as part of the nationwide Civil Defense program. These shelters were stocked with barrels of water, food, and other supplies. In fact, the sign at our Albion Post Office is still there here in 2019, albeit a bit faded. Post Office, City Hall, City Bank & Trust Company, and others. These buildings were marked with a Fallout Shelter sign, such as at the U.S.

Fallout shelters were established locally to protect citizens in case of atomic attack. Any photos not otherwise credited are from the personal collection of Frank Passic, Albion Historian.Ĭivil Defense was a main theme across the country during the 1950s, as the possibility of nuclear war loomed in the minds of our citizens.

Fallout shelter 1950 symbol