FDNY and NYC Firehouses and Fire Companies - 2nd Section

manhattan said:
Mack, I know it's been said so many times before, but I've got to say it again.  Your work is extraordinary.  Thank you so much.

And to you, fdhistorian!
 
Marine 7's old FH at the water (which i think is now a restaurant) has been featured in so many movies & videos showing the area under the Bridge....it was just shown on a news report from the area last night.
 
We also have a very well Respected FDNY Marine Unit Historian on this site.
 
68jk09 said:
We also have a very well Respected FDNY Marine Unit Historian on this site.
Thanks for catching that.  I reversed 223 and 232 - corrected now.
Also corrected Hewitt and Gaynor assignments - many changes in 1958. 
The Hewitt was Marine Engine 77 and was berthed at the foot of Fulton Street in Brooklyn as 77 in 1931. 
Gaynor and Archer replaced Hewitt briefly.
Hope that Respected FDNY Marine Unit Historian will comment.

Many thanks 68jk09 and 811 for clarifying the details.
 
1905 Battalion Chief John Kenlon assigned to 19th (Marine) Battalion.

Dec 7, 1908. Three new boats added to fleet: JAMES DUANE, THOMAS WILLETT, and CORNELIUS W. LAWRENCE, and organized as Engines 85, 86, 87 respectively.  At that time I believe the 10 [Marine] Engine Company numbers became associated with their berth locations and not the individual boats.

May 1, 1909 John Kenlon promoted and designated Deputy Chief in Charge of the newly formed Marine Division.
 
A correction or two for the 43/59 tribute-  the pic taken from inside showing the truck leaving is not 1901 Sedgwick Ave.  The picture for Barrett under medal winners is not the right guy, and won a medal in 1998 and 99.  Also, FF's Colon and Baker of L 59 were awarded medals in 2014.  Otherwise great work!

Trivia-  to this day L 59 still uses one of TCU 712's gas cans.  And E 85's stock pot is still on the stove at 43/59. 
 
scoobyd said:
A correction or two for the 43/59 tribute-  the pic taken from inside showing the truck leaving is not 1901 Sedgwick Ave.  The picture for Barrett under medal winners is not the right guy, and won a medal in 1998 and 99.  Also, FF's Colon and Baker of L 59 were awarded medals in 2014.  Otherwise great work!

Trivia-  to this day L 59 still uses one of TCU 712's gas cans.  And E 85's stock pot is still on the stove at 43/59.

Thanks a lot for catching errors. Appreciate all corrections and additional comments or pics.  Want to get stuff right. Pictures are very hard to find and appreciated. Will also make corrections to past companies with corrections or updates. Corrections made. Thanks. 
 
fdce54 said:
guitarman314 said:
That was Ladder 33's 1960 Mack C85/Maxim 85ft. tiller.
Tom, is that a ladder pipe on the underside of the ladder?
The early Meal Aerials like this had a permanently attached Ladder Pipe on the Bed Ladder section...originally they were a soft hose then later they were  an aluminum pipe....today Aerials in the FDNY only have a Portable Ladder Pipe consisting of 2 lengths of hose & functions from the tip of the fly section & is controlled by halyards.
 
Bronx 4th alarm - if you jump to about 8 minutes into video, Ladder 37 using their ladder pipe on roof and into upper floor:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIW7FOuEHZ4
 
Engine 223 (Marine) Brooklyn                BECAME MARINE 8

    Engine 23 Brooklyn Fire Department organized foot of Furman Street East River          1886
    Engine 23 Brooklyn Fire Department became Engine 23 FDNY                                    1898
    Engine 23 moved foot of Main Street East River                                                        1899
    Engine 23 became Engine 123                                                                                  1899
    Engine 123 moved foot of 42nd Street New York Bay                                                  1904
    Engine 123 moved foot of Main Street East River                                                        1904
    Engine 123 became Engine 223                                                                                1913
    Engine 223 moved foot of 38th Street New York Bay                                                  1915
    Engine 223 moved foot of 37th Street New York Bay                                                  1932   
    Engine 223 disbanded to form Marine 8                                                                    1932


Engine 23 BFD/Engine 223 fireboats:

    "Seth Low"          1886-1916        99' x 24' x 9'          3500 GPM 
                                Harbeck's Stores 
                                Wooden vessel 
                                Copper bottom

    "W. J. Gaynor"      1916-1961      118' x 25' x 13.4'      7000 GPM
                                John W. Sullivan & Company, Elizabethport, NJ
                                Last coal fired FDNY fireboat
                                Capable of 14 knots
                                Converted from coal to oil in 1937

                                       
Engine 23 BFD "Seth Low":

   

   


Engine 123/223 "Seth Low":

   

   

   


Engine 223  "W. J. Gaynor":

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   


Engine 233 37th Street Quarters:

   


Engine 233 Medals:

    LEONARD GEBHARD CAPT. ENG. 223 FEB. 17, 1919 1920 VAN HEUKELOM
   
          Rescued firefighter from hold of burning ship.

         

         


         


          Acting Deputy Chief Marine Division:

             
 
      JOSEPH BURNS, JR. CAPT. ENG. 223 1934 1935 STEPHENSON
     
          Awarded for best disciplined fire company.

         

    JOHN A. SMYTH FF. ENG. 223 APR. 24, 1943 1944 CRIMMINS
   
          Awarded for bravery at a munitions ship fire.  SS El Estero was a ship filled with ammunition that caught fire at dockside in New York Harbor in 1943, but was successfully moved away and sunk by the heroic efforts of tug boats and fireboats, averting a major disaster.

         


Engine 223 LODD:

    FIREFIGHTER THOMAS J. COONEY ENGINE 223 March 19, 1902

          Fireman Thomas J. Cooney of the fireboat Seth Low, Engine 123 (now Engine 223) was operating on an ice covered dock on Governor?s Island in New York Harbor. The ship, British Queen, was loading for Holland at the docks in Hoboken, New Jersey. It is not known how the fire was started, but it spread to several other ships, oil barges and smaller vessels. Some of these ships, a burning mass, broke free and were floating south with the tide in the North River scorching piers along Manhattan?s waterfront. One ship landed on Governors Island and the Seth Low responded to this fire. The company was operating on a dock that was not finished yet and the men were handling a line of hose on the skeleton frame. Cooney slipped on the iced cover girders into the water and was not noticed missing for several minutes. The strong tides carried him away and he drowned.  - "The Last Alarm"

         

    RIP. Never forget.
 
fdce54 said:
guitarman314 said:
That was Ladder 33's 1960 Mack C85/Maxim 85ft. tiller.
Tom, is that a ladder pipe on the underside of the ladder?
[/quote  Yes, all of the 1959-60 Mack/Maxim aerials were delivered with 2 ladderpipes. BTW, The one that was suppose to be attached to the tip of the fly ladder was transverse (sideways) mounted on a shelf in front of the tillermans windshield.  It can be seen in that photo above.
 
mack said:
Engine 223 (Marine) Brooklyn

    Engine 23 Brooklyn Fire Department organized foot of Furman Street East River          1886
    Engine 23 Brooklyn Fire Department became Engine 23 FDNY                                    1898
    Engine 23 moved foot of Main Street East River                                                        1899
    Engine 23 became Engine 123                                                                                  1899
    Engine 123 moved foot of 42nd Street New York Bay                                                  1904
    Engine 123 moved foot of Main Street East River                                                        1904
    Engine 123 became Engine 223                                                                                1913
    Engine 223 moved foot of 38th Street New York Bay                                                  1915
    Engine 223 moved foot of 37th Street New York Bay                                                  1932   
    Engine 223 disbanded to form Marine 8                                                                    1932


Engine 23 BFD/Engine 223 fireboats:

    "Seth Low"          1886-1916        99' x 24' x 9'          3500 GPM 
                                Harbeck's Stores 
                                Wooden vessel 
                                Copper bottom

    "W. J. Gaynor"      1916-1961      118' x 25' x 13.4'      7000 GPM
                                John W. Sullivan & Company, Elizabethport, NJ
                                Last coal fired FDNY fireboat
                                Capable of 14 knots
                                Converted from coal to oil in 1937

In 1953, the McClellan, located at Marine Engine 51 on Staten Island, had an explosion, resulting in the death of Marine Engineer John D McKean.
Shortly thereafter, in 1954, the Gaynor temporarily moved to Marine Engine 51 on Staten Island.
The Firefighter moved over to Marine Engine 223 from Pier 1, Manhattan, Marine Engine 57.
Firefighter was out of service for repairs from December 1956 to June 1957, returning to Marine Engine 51.
Marine Engine 223 was redesignated as Marine 8 in 1959.
 
Engine 86 (Marine) Manhattan            BECAME MARINE 2

    Engine 86 organized foot of Gansevoort Street Hudson River            1908
    Engine 86 moved foot of Bloomfield Street Hudson River                  1910
    Engine 86 new quarters foot of Bloomfield Street Hudson River          1933
    Engine 86 disbanded to form Marine 2                                            1959


Engine 86 fireboat:

    "Thomas Willett"

          1908-1959
          132' x 28' x 10'
          9000 GPM.
          Built by Alexander Miller & Bros, Jersey City, NJ
          Coal fire steam turbine driven centrifugal pumps
          4 deck pipes
          Tower mast
          Capable of 14 knots
          Converted from coal to oil in 1926

Fireboat "Thomas Willett":

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   


Engine 86 Medals:

    Munitions Ship El Estero Fire - April 24, 1943

          "With loading completed on April 24, 1943, El Estero had taken on 1,365 tons of mixed munitions and was preparing to depart at approximately 5:30PM when a boiler flashback started a fire on oily water in her bilges which quickly grew out of control.

          The initial report of fire aboard El Estero brought an immediate response of five fire trucks from the Jersey City Fire Department, two 30-foot fireboats and roughly 60 volunteers from the U.S. Coast Guard to battle and contain the flames aboard the ship, which was moored directly opposite two other fully loaded ammunition ships and two ammunition-laden consists of railroad boxcars. With over 5,000 tons of ammunition (comparable to a tactical nuclear weapon) now in immediate danger of being set off by the fire on El Estero and with memories of the Black Tom explosion fresh on the minds of many at the scene, fire fighting efforts began in earnest. It was quickly discovered that the location and intensity of the fire prevented access to the ships' seacocks, making any attempt at scuttling the ship impossible, and the call went out to the New York City Fire Department"  (from Wikipedia)


    The members on The Willett, Engine 86, were awarded the following medals for heroic performance of duty:
       

    FREDERICK BAHR LT. ENG. 86 APR. 24, 1943 1944 DOUGHERTY

    PETER J. GERAGHTY ENGINEER ENG. 86 APR. 24, 1943 1944 DEPARTMENT

    THOMAS F. REILLY ENGINEER ENG. 86 APR. 24, 1943 1944 DEPARTMENT

    JAMES CONNEELY (2) FF. ENG. 86 APR. 24, 1943 1944 DEPARTMENT

    GEORGE W. KRAUSE FF. ENG. 86 APR. 24, 1943 1944 DEPARTMENT

    THORVALD C. FINKELSON ENGINEER ENG. 86 APR. 24, 1943 1944 DEPARTMENT

    JOHN I. POLETTO FF. ENG. 86 APR. 24, 1943 1944 DEPARTMENT

    GUSTAVE A. WESENBERG PILOT ENG. 86 APR. 24, 1943 1944 TREVOR-WARREN

    BENJAMIN J. MESSINA FF. ENG. 86 APR. 24, 1943 1944 DEPARTMENT

    RALPH F. HOFFMAN FF. ENG. 86 APR. 24, 1943 1944 DEPARTMENT


          http://www.oldsaltblog.com/2012/06/the-el-estero-fire-the-greatest-nautical-disaster-that-didnt-happen/

          http://www.nww2m.com/2013/04/remembering-the-day-new-york-harbor-almost-blew-up/


Engine 86 LODD:

    PILOT JOHN J. HARVEY  ENGINE 86 February 11, 1930

         

         

         

          http://www.1931fireboat.org/index.php/john-harvey

          The German Lloyd liner Muenchen was docked at a pier at the end of Morton Street on the North River above the railroad tunnel around 9:10 in the morning. The five-alarm fire started shortly after 10:00 a.m. in Hold #6 where newsprint, shellac, potash and other inflammable items were stored. The crew tried putting out the fire before calling the fire department. At 11:00 o'clock, the fireboat Thomas Willett was pouring water on the Muenchen, when an explosion rocked the ship. The explosion blew the pilothouse of the Willett some seventy feet into the water, killing Pilot John J. Harvey. The explosion knocked several other firemen into the water. Harvey's body was in the water for over four hours before being recovered. After twelve hours of hard work, the fire was under control enough for men to board the ship to put the remaining fire out. Every company south of 68th Street worked at this five-alarm fire. Because the ship's stern sunk in the mud above the railroad tunnel, train traffic into and out of New York City was halted for some time. It was feared that the weight of the ship would collapse the tunnel. The fire caused $3,000,000 damage to the ship and its contents. Pilot Harvey was appointed to the Department on April 4, 1906 and assigned to Engine 18. He was promoted to Pilot on January 6, 1920. He lived at 82 Jane Street, an historic address in New York City. It was the site where Alexander Hamilton died after losing his duel with Aaron Burr. (from The Last Alarm)

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcImGRKUUkA


    RIP.  Never forget.


FDNY fireboat history sites:

    http://www.capecodfd.com/pages%20special/Fireboats_FDNY_H1_Hist-Overview.htm

    http://marine1fdny.com/fireboat_history_new.php




 
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