Fallout Shelters: Remnants of the Cold War on Main Steet
Written and Photographed by Nancy Clover
For those under 50 years old, here is a history lesson. In the 1950-70s the nuclear tension between the Soviet Union and the US was intense.
In the 1960’s the US Civil Defense Department urged citizens to prepare for an atomic war and nuclear fallout. I still remember my Dad bringing water, food, and a radio to our cellar. This was extreme because my Dad, who was a handyman, had many unrepaired things he could have been doing in our house (Love ya, Dad).
Every school child was taught to “Duck and Cover” which meant hiding under your school desk and covering your head.
Public fallout shelters were created for those who did not have a home basement or could not reach home within 30 minutes after warning to take shelter. These were not bomb shelters but spaces to protect you from radioactive particles falling from the sky.
Many of these fallout Shelters were in basements of municipal buildings, schools, public buildings, and residential complexes. Melrose had multiple public fallout shelters. Buildings where shelters were located had the sign in the photo posted.
There were many flaws to these plans, but they had a psychological effect that we might be able to survive an atomic blast.
Next time you are riding down Main Street take a look at the building at 277 Main to see this fragment of history.
