New York Monday #129: Cooling Off!
June 29, 2008 | Filed Under New York Monday
Spray of water from open fire hydrant
During the hot and humid summer days, some city kids will open the fire hydrant and play in its icy spray of water, in hopes of trying to keep cool. This photo was taken in one Bronx neighborhood, where the kids did just that. You’re not supposed to open the hydrants but the Fire Department is understanding of the circumstances and prefers to open the hydrants for the kids, themselves (instead of the kids doing it). That way, they open the hydrant in a safe manner and put a special gadget on the hydrant so that too much water isn’t wasted.
Sometimes, passing cars are splashed with the water from the open hydrant. I thought that drivers don’t like that but someone told me that some drivers don’t mind because they get the outside of their car clean that way. Who knew?
When I was younger, I remember the kids on my block opened the hydrant one sweltering day. The older kids, bullies that they sometimes were, would grab the younger kids and hold them in front of the full force blast of water. Not fun for their victims. They grabbed my sister and held her in front of the gushing water till her friends helped her get away. I’m glad that never happened to me.
Happy Monday. Have a great week.
Paz
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12 Responses to “New York Monday #129: Cooling Off!”
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How I envied children playing in the streets with the water splashing from the fire hydrant!! So much fun!
Have a great cool summer!
City life. All good natured fun. I wish my Mom would have let me join in on that. Just to try once.
It was part of my life growing up in NYC to play in the spray of hydrants during the summer months. Thanks for the memory, and for a photo that really helps to cool us off on such a hot day.
Such a great picture. It so captures living in the city in the humid summers here in the northeast!!
Typically American! Great! Here, that kind of thing would never happen and would be punished ;-P…
Cheers,
Rosa
I’ve often wondered whether they had droughts on the East Coast. Having grown up in California, I know that there’d be some serious trouble if anyone did that, there.
Summer is supposed to have ended here already but there are still big spots of heat…I would love some of that hydrant spray right now!
Paz, when you mentioned the passing cars getting cleaned … An Uncle of mine moves his car out of the garage into the open when it rains so that his car gets cleaned.
Havae a lovely week paz. I am in Singapore at the moment and can relate to the excessive heat bit.; o )
Very cute! I would not want to be held in front of the hydrant, for sure.
What a great shot! I can’t stop thinking about your poor sister, though-I bet she hates fire hydrants now!
Hi Dorit: I think all the grownups who watched the kids, envied them, too.
Hi Courtney: Wish you could experience it just once, but mother knows best.
Hi Lydia: Sounds like great memories.
Hi We are Never Full: Welcome and thanks!
Hi Rosa: They are supposed to be punished here, too, but they take pity on the kids.
Hi DaviMack: Welcome! Under ordinary circumstances, there’d be serious problems but they tryd to work with the kids.
LOL! Hi Joey: I wish you could experience some of the cool spray of water here.
LOL! Hi Sra: You uncle certainly had a good idea.
VALENTINA! Bejinhos!
Hi Simona: It’s fun to run in and out through the water but not fun to be held under the high pressure of the cold water.
Hi Rebecca: LOL! Thankfully my sister is fine and has good memories.
Thanks for stopping by everyone!
Paz xxoo