While doing a bit of antiquing in Bath County, VA , we stumbled across this old school building on Sam Snead Highway. Built in 1908, Ashwood School initially served as a high school. It then was converted to an elementary school in 1927 and remained so until 1969. Today it is Ashwood Antiques and within there are books, tables, baby dolls, clothing, furniture, dishware, tools, baskets, perfume bottles, shoes, the original school bell… but what I found most interesting was waiting for me outside the building…
Any guesses?
Just above the metal door of the chute was this plaque…a fire escape slide, circa 1903! After marvelling at my my find (and it is RED ♥) I then wondered how often the kids got to practice their fire drills? Is there anyone out there in Norm’s Thursday Doors who has ever seen anything like this? I am now on the lookout for more of these steel spiral fire escapes.
Thoughts Of An E'ville Woman 
I’m glad there’s a spiral inside or it would be quite a drop. 🙂 It reminds me of the things set up on construction sites to drop trash into a dumpster at the bottom, although of course there’s no spiral. What a great find.
janet
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
HOLY!! I love this! … and I would love to test drive it! I did a quick search but couldn’t find any references to something similar in Toronto. Now of course I will be on the lookout!!
I thought you might find this article interesting … http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/how-to-escape-a-building-by-dropping-through-a-fabric-esophagus
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now that tube I have heard of, never seen though. Keep me posted if you see the steel snake!
LikeLike
Will do! Although there doesn’t appear to be any in Toronto.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great door/escape. I’ve never seen anything like this. Great find. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A very unique find. This is a first for me. I’m hung up on the spiral part…wondering how many rotations one makes on the way down. I wouldn’t want to come off the slide stumbling dizzy while running from a fire, but I bet it was fun for the kids to do fire drills 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
When researching about these I actually was sent to some Canadian sites so I was hoping that someone from our Thursday Door family might have an experience with one of these crazy escapes. I will do more digging to find out more but initially there was
very little to read about them. Still hoping a reader might weigh in!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good heavens! I was thinking someone was trying to fly to the moon!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It does sort of resemble a rocket!
LikeLike
Interesting! Never saw a fie escape that looks like a tower with a funky door:) One of a kind find!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agreed!
LikeLike
I have never seen anything like this. Fine catch. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!
LikeLike
Wow! I wonder why they didn’t just have a regular fire escape on the side of the building? I assume there is a ladder inside – I’d hate to think of a bunch of scared children falling on top of each other as they slide down a chute.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would bet the rather enjoyed flying down that thing! Not the fire part of it, just the slide. Think about how much faster it is to slide than to travel down steps..and it is only from a second story floor. Now, if it were a much taller building I imagine that could get a bit scary. WOOOOSH!
LikeLike
I would hate to be the first kid down the chute! Hope the doors open easily.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are right…don’t go down head first. Might need a bit of WD40 today!
LikeLike
Wow, never seen anything like this. Wonder if it’s like a helter skelter inside. :>)
LikeLiked by 1 person
If all the kids jumped in at once…still waiting to hear from someone who has seen this before.
LikeLiked by 1 person