N.E.A.R. Testing
The N.E.A.R. device is a small, black box measuring at about 2-3 inches. It's supposed to plug into a standard power outlet, and if it receives any special emergency signals it will start buzzing.
Almost immediately after World War 2, our allies, the Soviet Union, became our worst enemy.
In 1949, the Soviet Union surprised us by successfully testing their first atomic bomb, and this made them the world's second leading nuclear power. From there, it was a scramble for all of the major countries to produce deadlier technology. This rising threat to our country sported new, innovative ways for us to protect our homeland- such included the N.E.A.R. device, also known as the Nuclear Emergency Alarm Repeater.
In 1949, the Soviet Union surprised us by successfully testing their first atomic bomb, and this made them the world's second leading nuclear power. From there, it was a scramble for all of the major countries to produce deadlier technology. This rising threat to our country sported new, innovative ways for us to protect our homeland- such included the N.E.A.R. device, also known as the Nuclear Emergency Alarm Repeater.
In 1950, President Truman created the Federal Civil Defense Administration, abbreviated as FCDA. This organization was created to educate citizens about nuclear war, and also teach them how to protect themselves from it.
On December 7th, 1956, the FCDA released details for a new program about testing an internal warning system that could alert American's at home or at work in the case of an enemy attack. Only five manufacturers in America were given these devices, including a manufacturer here in Michigan. The Midwest Research Institute and Office of Civil Defense spent about a million dollars to develop tests for these N.E.A.R. Devices. They were looking for an average American town to test the device in- and Charlotte was that town.
The testing was fairly simple. On September 15th, 1960, (also known a 'D Day- Delivery Day' to the people of the time), the N.E.A.R. devices were distributed to the residences and businesses of Charlotte- 1,500 in fact- by clubs and organizations such as the Lion's Club, Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs, Girl Scouts, Women's Club and the Junior Chamber of Commerce. On October 11th, when the big demonstration was to take place, Charlotte High School seniors were to inflate weather balloons, then pass them out to everyone around town. That afternoon the alarm was given, and if the homeowner's device buzzed (meaning it worked), they would release their given balloon into the air on a captive string. All the while, the seniors were in the tower at the courthouse counting how many balloons went up and getting carried away with the helium that were used to inflate the balloons.
This event brought top officials of various industries, including the government, to Charlotte from all over America and Canada. For such an average, typical small town, this was a huge event.
When the testing was concluded, the rest faded away. With the introduction Emergency Broadcast Systems, the N.E.A.R. device was not needed anymore. The broadcast system was a more efficient way of alerting the population of any sort of national disaster. The five manufacturers who were given the N.E.A.R. devices were given permission to destroy them, and most homeowners who had one either stored it away or gave it back to the government.
Although the N.E.A.R. device did not last, the testing of it was a milestone in our city's history. It brought good media to our town, and who knows- if the device would've made it through, Charlotte would have been one of the most contributing towns in America against the Cold War.
On December 7th, 1956, the FCDA released details for a new program about testing an internal warning system that could alert American's at home or at work in the case of an enemy attack. Only five manufacturers in America were given these devices, including a manufacturer here in Michigan. The Midwest Research Institute and Office of Civil Defense spent about a million dollars to develop tests for these N.E.A.R. Devices. They were looking for an average American town to test the device in- and Charlotte was that town.
The testing was fairly simple. On September 15th, 1960, (also known a 'D Day- Delivery Day' to the people of the time), the N.E.A.R. devices were distributed to the residences and businesses of Charlotte- 1,500 in fact- by clubs and organizations such as the Lion's Club, Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs, Girl Scouts, Women's Club and the Junior Chamber of Commerce. On October 11th, when the big demonstration was to take place, Charlotte High School seniors were to inflate weather balloons, then pass them out to everyone around town. That afternoon the alarm was given, and if the homeowner's device buzzed (meaning it worked), they would release their given balloon into the air on a captive string. All the while, the seniors were in the tower at the courthouse counting how many balloons went up and getting carried away with the helium that were used to inflate the balloons.
This event brought top officials of various industries, including the government, to Charlotte from all over America and Canada. For such an average, typical small town, this was a huge event.
When the testing was concluded, the rest faded away. With the introduction Emergency Broadcast Systems, the N.E.A.R. device was not needed anymore. The broadcast system was a more efficient way of alerting the population of any sort of national disaster. The five manufacturers who were given the N.E.A.R. devices were given permission to destroy them, and most homeowners who had one either stored it away or gave it back to the government.
Although the N.E.A.R. device did not last, the testing of it was a milestone in our city's history. It brought good media to our town, and who knows- if the device would've made it through, Charlotte would have been one of the most contributing towns in America against the Cold War.
A few years ago, History Detectives, a show on WKAR, did an episode on the N.E.A.R. device. In the show, the detective visits Charlotte and interviews a few of the people that live here, and even looks at the N.E.A.R. device we have at the Courthouse Museum.
*Note: the video linked below is only available in it's longer version, so if you only want to watch the N.E.A.R. segment, you must fast forward. The segment begins at 33:36.
*Note: the video linked below is only available in it's longer version, so if you only want to watch the N.E.A.R. segment, you must fast forward. The segment begins at 33:36.