Every Dec. 31, America looks to New York City's Times Square to ring in the New Year. Among the dazzling lights and electric displays, people across the country watch as the ball is dropped from the roof of One Times Square to begin the countdown.

For over 100 years, the IBEW has played an essential role in this annual tradition, along with some of the most historic displays to ever grace the square.

On March 28, 1936, a state-of-the-art electronic advertisement for Wrigley's Spearmint Gum illuminated Broadway atop the International Casino building. Installed by 121 members of New York City Local 3, it was the biggest display ever constructed, reaching the height of a 10-story building and stretching for an entire block on Broadway, from 44th Street to 45th Street.

Designed by artist Dorothy Shepard, the sign represented a drastic departure in electrical advertising. "In contrast to other quick-flashing electric signs to hurrying crowds," an article in the April 1936 Electrical Worker read, "the Wrigley display is keyed to a slow-motion tempo with gigantic multi-colored fish, the largest measuring 42 feet in length, appearing to glide about among rhythmic waves of red and green light while bubbles rise to the top." The wattage required was sufficient to "operate all radios in the United States for two hours."

In 1940, the International Casino building was purchased by Bond Clothing and turned into a retail store. The Wrigley's display was replaced by a lackluster ad for Schlitz Beer. In 1948, an advertiser by the name of Douglas Leigh persuaded Bond's owner to install a store advertisement that would surpass Wrigley's and become the most extravagant display in the square's history.

Completed in July 1948 by members of Local 3, the 75-foot-tall sign featured a 132-foot-wide waterfall with more than a million gallons poured over a 27-foot-high backdrop every hour. Twenty-three electric pumps kept the water in circulation from a 10,000-gallon tank at the bottom. According to an August 1948 article in The Electrical Worker, "approximately one million watts were used in the sign's operation, which had 21,500 bulbs, 14,000 feet of neon tubing, 270 transformers, 270 branch circuits, 120 miles of wire, and 10,000 feet of high-tension cable."

Bookending the waterfall were 50-foot-high male and female figures, cast in concrete and illuminated at night. Beneath the sign was a 287-foot-long "adcast," containing the longest traveling message sign ever built in a straight line, with letters 6 feet high.

From 1928 to 1961, the adcast news display in Times Square was maintained by James J. Torpey of Local 3. Early in his career, Torpey took the job of head electrician for the contractor that built the sign in 1928 and simply never left. Each night, he and two other electricians checked and repaired the switches, connections and components of the sign and set newsroom bulletins in letters. The letters were placed in a frame inserted in a magazine at the end of a narrow track over which a chain conveyor moved them as they would form and break circuits.

According to an article in the December 1966 Electrical Worker: "Torpey was most proud of his scoop on August 14, 1945 when, at 7:30pm, he flashed the news *** Truman Announces Japanese Surrender **. The stars were Torpey's idea and represented the different branches of the armed forces. He remained in his post that day for 23 hours."

In appreciation of his efforts that day, Arthur Sulzberger, publisher of the New York Times, presented Torpey with a 6-foot-high photo of the joyous crowd inscribed: "To James Torpey who told this crowd in Times Square that the war was over." Brother Torpey passed away at age 70 in 1966.

For one week in January 1982, the IBEW seal was proudly displayed on every screen of One Times Square. Seen by millions of viewers during the AFL·CIO Centennial Convention, the digital sequence programmed by Spectacolor Inc. appeared every 20 seconds each hour.

The New Year's Ball sits atop a specially designed pole on the roof of One Times Square. The ball drop was first held on Dec. 31, 1907, organized by Adolph Ochs, owner of The New York Times, to promote the opening of the Times' new headquarters. The original ball was made of wood and iron, measured 5 feet wide and was illuminated with 100 incandescent light bulbs.

As lighting technology evolved, the ball's design, maintenance and operation became more complex. Today's ball is 12 feet wide, weighs 11,000 pounds and features 32,256 LEDs. For the past several decades, it's been the members of the IBEW Local 3, working for signatory contractor AMA Sign & Electric, who have ensured that this time-honored tradition continues.