50's Nuclear Fallout Shelters?

Question

I am doing research on the difference between nuclear fallout shelters back then and now. I have found a tremendous amount of information on modern fallout shelters. But, I am having a hard time trying to find information on old fallout shelters. Ex. How they were built, materials used, what was brought into them, how ventilation and air were kept, and how people planned on communicating, and who had them.
Do you have any information or websites that would be helpful. I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you in advance!

Answer 1

Here are a few links that should help you.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

My old middle school was a fall out shelter for the whole town and it was from the 50's. I don't know if they can give much information about it but it couldn't hurt to try. It is Lake Worth Intermediate School Lake Worth Tx. You could probably google it and find a phone number. Hope this helps. Ours was not a above groud shelter and was completely underground except for four stairwells leading to the surface. It might make an interesting addition to your research.

Answer 4

This link is to a series of radio broadcasts about bomb shelters.

http://www.conelrad.com/nuclearfamilies/


A number of other links exist which provide details on how to build a bomb shelter.

http://members.aol.com/rafleet/fallout.htm

http://www.loti.com/fifties_history/surviving_nuclear_attack.htm

The following link provides a cartoon film (of the time) called duck and cover.

Bomb shelters where not just simple acts fo finding a place in the basement. The could be quite elaborate and most plans included heavy ceilings of earth or concrete, just being in a basement wasn’t enough protection.

I clearly remember those times and the practicing we all did in case of atomic attack. At one time I worked for Rich DeVoss and Jay Van Andel the founders of Amway. One of my jobs was to develop a new archival storage area and because of that I got to go through old records. At one time (before Amway) Rich and Jay sold pre-cast concrete bomb shelters. They were designed for the suburban family and were meant to be buried in the back yard.

Most of us believed in the high probability of a nuclear attack and a significant segment had taken steps to be prepared. Were this step enough? I guess we’ll never know.

Answer 5

Back then, a fallout shelter was basically any old cellar with a stout door. The prevailing thought was to protect yourself from the lawlessness that would undoubtedly ensue after nuclear war.

I can remember nuke drills in elementary school, where we climbed under our desks for protection. Talk about false security....