LIVERMORE'S

Oakland Tribune....................Nov. 3, 1974

Livermore's Claim to Fame

by John Miller
TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

LIVERMORE - This town has a reputation for fine wines, fst rodeos and more
Nuclear physicists per capita than almost any other community
In the country.

But it took a lowly light bulb to secure a place in the famed
Guinness Book of World Records.

A heretofore insignnificant light bulb hanging from the
Rafters of the Livermore Fire Department Station No. 1
Has attracted more notoriety than all the fine wines,
Cowboys and nuclear brainpower combined.

Why?
Because it appears from the best available evidence that the
Livermore light bulb holds the world record for burning
Continuously. Installed around 1901, the bulb has been
Burning ever since, day and night, with only a few brief
Periods of interruption because of power failures.

The bulb has been the subject of a Ripley's "Believe It
Or Not" syndicated cartoon, a national television piece by CBS "On the Road" correspondent Charles Kuralt and, more recently, the Guinness Book of World Records.

While not stating flatly that the Livermore light is the undisputed world record holder, the Guinness book states that there is "some evidence" that the bulb has been burning constantly since 1901. The previous record holder was a bulb in the Palace Theater in Fort Worth, Tex.

The exact history of the pear-shaped Livermore light is
Somewhat uncertain, but it appears that it was given to
The fire department by the late Dennis Bernal, grandson
Of Juan Pablo Bernal, one of the early Livermore Valley
Land grant holders.

 

Zylpha Bernal Beck, now 90, and daughter of Dennis
Bernal, recalls that her father donated the bulb to the
Fire department "around 1900 or 1901, sometime about then".
Mrs. Beck said her recollection of the bulb is as accurate
As any "because there aren't many people living now who
Were around here back then."

Mrs. Beck said her father owned the local power and water
Company "but there were very few electric lights in town then".
She said her father gave one of the bulbs to the fire department,
Adding "he just did nice little things like that".

Local firemen don't know just why the hand-blown lamp has
Lasted so long, although they suspect it is because the lamp gives such a small glow, about three candles worth of light, that it consequently doesn't get very hot. Experts have examined the
bulb and believe it was manufactured by the Shelby Electric Co., although there are no manufacturer's markings on it.

The exact history of the pear-shaped Livermore light is
Somewhat uncertain, but it appears that it was given to
The fire department by the late Dennis Bernal, grandson
Of Juan Pablo Bernal, one of the early Livermore Valley
Land grant holders.

Zylpha Bernal Beck, now 90, and daughter of Dennis
Bernal, recalls that her father donated the bulb to the
Fire department "around 1900 or 1901, sometime about then".
Mrs. Beck said her recollection of the bulb is as accurate
As any "because there aren't many people living now who
Were around here back then."

Mrs. Beck said her father owned the local power and water
Company "but there were very few electric lights in town then".
She said her father gave one of the bulbs to the fire department,
Adding "he just did nice little things like that".

 

Local firemen don't know just why the hand-blown lamp has
Lasted so long, although they suspect it is because the lamp gives
Such a small glow, about three candles worth of light, that it
Consequently doesn't get very hot. Experts have examined the
Bulb and believe it was manufactured by the Shelby Electric Co.,
Although there are no manufacturer's markings on it.
The bulb, which has lighted the way for volunteer firemen at
Three different locations through the years, will be moved
Again sometime next year when the present First Street fire
Station is closed and a new facility constructed.

Chief Jack Baird said the bulb's notoriety has aroused much
Interest throughout the country. Visitors from as far away as
New York have dropped by the fire house just to see the
Venerable old light. He also has received letters from people
In California, Oregon, North Carolina and Texas who have
Read of the lightbulb and want to relate information on similar
Long-lasting light bulbs in their own communities.

None, however, comes close to matching the longevity of
The Livermore bulb.

Aand Baird, who said the department in celebrating its 100th
Anniversary this year, hopes the bulb will continue to burn
For many more years to come.

Baird says the old bulb provides a necessary link with the
City's past and affords his men an opportunity to reflect
For a moment "and attain a perspective of where we have been.

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