Museum Matters

For many years there was a steam whistle that was used as a timepiece at the Dublin Water Works. It was used to tell workers when to go to work, take lunch, return to work and go home. Workers didn’t need a watch, the whistle took care of that. Not only did it tell the time, people loved the sound of the whistle. Older citizens were asked about it. Walter Hamilton guessed it must have been a custom since 1891.

When dependable electricity came to Dublin, the Water Works stopped using steam for the water pumps and the steam whistle fell silent.

(The Dublin Progress, April 16, 1948) A revival of the old custom was inaugurated on July 25, 1955 when the morning whistle was blown at 7 am telling people it was time to be up and going. The tolling was the regular 7-12 and 1-5 routine coming from the Hazelwood Creamery. Workmen renovating the boiler in the plant one weekend unearthed the whistle, cleaned it and connected it to the top of the boiler. That wonderful sound was once again heard all over Dublin. I heard it as a kid as far away as the school, so it must have been loud.

The Dublin Progress spoke to Calvin Hazelwood, manager of the plant and he said the whistle was of unknown vintage, but was given to him by the late, well known cotton ginner, H.L. Kight so it could be used as the city’s official timepiece once again. That timepiece had a wonderful vintage sound that was enjoyed by everyone.

It was thought that the whistle originally came from a locomotive, though its actual history was unknown. At any rate, it was back for a time and part of our hometown heritage.