JUST across 3rd Avenue from the ancient high pressure fire hydrant featured on February 2nd, 2022, I spotted this Dresser hydrant, which is actually the one on duty on this block. It was covered in goo of some kind that looked like flame retardant material used when water isn’t a good idea. Though the familiar black, silver capped O’Brien hydrants, in use since 1904, are still NYC standard issue, the Dresser model, introduced in 1984 and with a more streamlined design, can be seen here and there.
This one is mounted very high, with a great deal of the pipe connecting it to the underground water supply in full view. I haven’t featured fire hydrants as often as I should in Forgotten New York as I haven’t gleaned much background info on them. Years ago, I did feature those pumps that still sported their 1976 Bicentennial paint jobs.
8 comments
Why is that hydrant mounted so high ?
To deter dogs from pissing on the caps?
When it gets hot out can the children with their pipe wrenches open
up these newer style hydrants?
Darn! I thought the streets had sunk beneaththese kind of hydrants.
I would assume that mounting high like that will defeat the breakaway feature?
What you call ” O’Brien” hydrants are called ” Smith” hydrants by the DEP.
Dont everyone answer me at once now.One at a time please.
You’ll get your turn.Just be patient
In Brooklyn, we used to call them “Johnny pumps”. Is that a common term anywhere else?