North Jersey Town Mourns Its Temporarily Non-Tooting 6 O'Clock Whistle

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Despite what some may think, there are quaint towns all over America where kids are still told to "Go play outside" and adults listen for the fire whistle at 6, 7, or 8 p.m. to call their family in for dinner.

Last week, after a decades-old fire whistle in Livingston, N.J. stopped working, the township sent a message to residents that it needed repairs.

The news of the whistle drew an almost Palovian wave of memories from residents on social media.

The town explained last Thursday, "A power line came down and shorted out the old radio tower that affects the 6:00 whistle. The radio power supply company is searching for a new supplier and will have the whistle back up and running as soon as they can."

'Signal To Come Home'

Residents posted their memories on Facebook.

"Growing up in Livingston in the '50s and '60s, the 6:00 whistle always was the signal to come home for dinner," said one man. "A great tradition, memories and history!"

"Been hearing it since I was a kid in the 60’s. It makes me smile every night," said a woman.

The whistle goes back to early in the last century, according to town histories. Signals would rally the town's volunteer firefighters.

But one man has mixed feelings about it.

"I love it until you're accidentally in front of the fire station when it goes off," he posted.

He drew posts of agreement and a suggestion to "hold your ears lol."

But wait! No ear-holding will be necessary in the near future.

When Will I See You Again? When Will We Share Precious Moments?

Livingston spokeswoman Judith Heller told Patch on Monday, "I was surprised at the way in which the post about the whistle took some of us down memory lane!"

But, she said, "As of now, we're still awaiting parts and don't yet have a timeline."

So for the time being, the children of Livingston, New Jersey, will get to touch grass outside just a little bit longer before night falls and dusk draws itself over the suburbs.