Wayland Town Crier 4/25/11: Weston and Wayland phasing out fire alarm boxes. Quick! Where is the nearest fire alarm box? How long would it take you to find it? How do they work? Have you ever even used one?

If your answer to all these questions is a profound shrug of the shoulders, you’re probably among the vast majority of people. And thus, it will come as no surprise that these little red devices, formerly to be found on nearly every street corner and public facility, are going the way of the dinosaur, disappearing rapidly in many places, including both Weston and Wayland.

Popular and effective during the latter half of the 20th century, fire alarm boxes have been rendered obsolete and rusty by the advent of the cell phone.