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Light Bulb Keeps Burning After 100 Years

Bulb Has Own Web Site

LIVERMORE, Calif., 5:58 p.m. PDT May 23, 2001 -- For 100 years, a single light bulb has been switched on at a Northern California fire station. And it's showing no signs of going out soon.

Fire station No. 6 always keeps the light on. A 4-watt light bulb hangs from the ceiling, emitting a tiny glow. If you look directly up on it, the filament inside reads on, and it's been that way for a century.

The light bulb has been burning since 1901. And in 100 years, it has only been moved twice. The longest it has ever been off has been 20 minutes.

In the old days fireman kept the bulb on to light their kerosene lanterns. And it wasn't too long ago that firefighters took little notice of the treasure in their midst.

"It used to hang down low in the station. And so you'd walk by and swat the bulb. And as it hung down a long cord, you'd just watch it swing back and forth, trying to hit it with Nerf footballs and see who could hit it," Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department spokesman Tom Bramell said.

But now the light bulb is almost a shrine with visitors coming from around the world to sign their names and list their comments in a guest book.

"When they come, and they look, they almost say, "Is that all there is?" centennial bulb committee spokeswoman Lynn Owens said.

The station has a backup generator in case there's a blackout. And how many light bulbs can boast their own Web site, providing live pictures.

It holds the record for the longest burning bulb. Since the bulb's only 4 watts, it costs just a penny a day to keep it burning.

If you would like to watch the centennial bulb online, click here.

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