ENGINE 205/LADDER 118 FIREHOUSE 74-76 MIDDAGH STREET BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN DIVISION 11, BATTALION 32 “FIRE UNDER THE BRIDGE”
PRE-BROOKLYN FIRE DEPARTMENT HISTORY - BROOKLYN HEIGHTS - VOLUNTEER ERA - 1846-1869
PACIFIC NO. 14, THE "DUDE" COMPANY OF THE HEIGHTS
Pacific Engine Company No. 14, was organized September 19, 1846, at which time a few gentlemen got together and constituted themselves the
nucleus of a new company to be located on the Heights. These were
Henry B. WILLIAMS, who was made Foreman
William WRIGHT
Edward MERRITT
F. H. MACY
John W. MASON
George C. BAKER
H. H. COX
Clinton ODELL
Henry HAVILAND
and George E. BROWN
At a special meeting in November following they resolved to purchase an engine of H. WATERMAN, the builder, of Hudson, N. Y., and the sum of $600 was subscribed immediately. When the machine was ready for them in June, 1847, the company rolled it into their quarters which the Common Council had erected for them in Love Lane, near Henry Street. This engine, which cost them $1,000, they used for three years only, and then they resolved to have a new one, which they ordered of John AGNEW, of Philadelphia- a double-decker of the most approved pattern with the latest improvements. This cost them another $1,000, which was subscribed at the meeting at which they resolved to have the new machine, but $800 of the amount required they procured by selling their old machine to Engine Co. No. 8, of Williamsburgh. The new engine, when fully equipped, weighed 4,800 pounds. It was completed and delivered August 21, 1851, and its reception by the company was made the occasion of a general entertainment of the friends of the members, and a social reunion of the Fire Department, for which purpose the company engaged the old riding-school in College Place- just around the corner from the engine-house, and there they spread a collation for their numerous guests.
The accession of the new engine, which was something very fine when it was purchased, led to a considerable increase in the membership of the company, which was of such an extent as to crowd them very much in their quarters. Their petition to the Common Council for a new engine-house large enough to accommodate their increased membership was granted, and the commodious house on Pierrepont Street was erected for them.
The rules of the Department at that time did not permit of their sleeping in the engine-house; so they hired accommodations next door to it, and there they bunked, in readiness for the first alarm. The company prospered so well that by 1862 they wanted still more room and better surroundings, so they got up a subscription among themselves for the enlargement of their house, which was accomplished by a committee consisting of J. Pryor RORKE, William A. FOWLER and D. B. PHILLIPS, who turned over to the company one of the most convenient houses in the city at that time.
Foreman WILLIAMS, who was the first incumbent of the office, was succeeded in October 1849, by William WRIGHT, who resigned the following May, giving place to Edward MERRITT, who served out the unexpired portion of his term. John W. MASON was Foreman for one year from October, 1850, and in 1851 H. B. WILLIAMS was reelected for his second term ; but his departure for California after six months of his term had passed led to the choice of James K. LEGGETT as his successor, in April, 1852. Ill-health caused Mr. LEGGETT's withdrawal in March, 1853, when John A. WEED was temporarily put in charge, and in October, 1853. Mr. LEGGETT was again elected Foreman, as which he served for three very
prosperous years in the history of the company. In 1856, H. R. HAYDOCK was chosen, and he also served three years, at the end of which term Joseph B. LEGGETT was elected. But his service was only for one month, and he was followed by Isaac G. LEGGETT, who was Foreman three years. After him came, in 1862. J. Pryor RORKE; in 1865, F. S. MASSEY.
As a volunteer company, owning their own apparatus, and having an excellent grade of membership, Pacific 14 was one of the conspicuous companies of the old Department; and both in fire duty and in personal influence, it was a force in the affairs of the Department to the end.
1868 - FIRE - ENGINE 14
PRE-BROOKLYN FIRE DEPARTMENT HISTORY - BROOKLYN HEIGHTS - VOLUNTEER ERA - 1846-1869
PACIFIC NO. 14, THE "DUDE" COMPANY OF THE HEIGHTS
Pacific Engine Company No. 14, was organized September 19, 1846, at which time a few gentlemen got together and constituted themselves the
nucleus of a new company to be located on the Heights. These were
Henry B. WILLIAMS, who was made Foreman
William WRIGHT
Edward MERRITT
F. H. MACY
John W. MASON
George C. BAKER
H. H. COX
Clinton ODELL
Henry HAVILAND
and George E. BROWN
At a special meeting in November following they resolved to purchase an engine of H. WATERMAN, the builder, of Hudson, N. Y., and the sum of $600 was subscribed immediately. When the machine was ready for them in June, 1847, the company rolled it into their quarters which the Common Council had erected for them in Love Lane, near Henry Street. This engine, which cost them $1,000, they used for three years only, and then they resolved to have a new one, which they ordered of John AGNEW, of Philadelphia- a double-decker of the most approved pattern with the latest improvements. This cost them another $1,000, which was subscribed at the meeting at which they resolved to have the new machine, but $800 of the amount required they procured by selling their old machine to Engine Co. No. 8, of Williamsburgh. The new engine, when fully equipped, weighed 4,800 pounds. It was completed and delivered August 21, 1851, and its reception by the company was made the occasion of a general entertainment of the friends of the members, and a social reunion of the Fire Department, for which purpose the company engaged the old riding-school in College Place- just around the corner from the engine-house, and there they spread a collation for their numerous guests.
The accession of the new engine, which was something very fine when it was purchased, led to a considerable increase in the membership of the company, which was of such an extent as to crowd them very much in their quarters. Their petition to the Common Council for a new engine-house large enough to accommodate their increased membership was granted, and the commodious house on Pierrepont Street was erected for them.
The rules of the Department at that time did not permit of their sleeping in the engine-house; so they hired accommodations next door to it, and there they bunked, in readiness for the first alarm. The company prospered so well that by 1862 they wanted still more room and better surroundings, so they got up a subscription among themselves for the enlargement of their house, which was accomplished by a committee consisting of J. Pryor RORKE, William A. FOWLER and D. B. PHILLIPS, who turned over to the company one of the most convenient houses in the city at that time.
Foreman WILLIAMS, who was the first incumbent of the office, was succeeded in October 1849, by William WRIGHT, who resigned the following May, giving place to Edward MERRITT, who served out the unexpired portion of his term. John W. MASON was Foreman for one year from October, 1850, and in 1851 H. B. WILLIAMS was reelected for his second term ; but his departure for California after six months of his term had passed led to the choice of James K. LEGGETT as his successor, in April, 1852. Ill-health caused Mr. LEGGETT's withdrawal in March, 1853, when John A. WEED was temporarily put in charge, and in October, 1853. Mr. LEGGETT was again elected Foreman, as which he served for three very
prosperous years in the history of the company. In 1856, H. R. HAYDOCK was chosen, and he also served three years, at the end of which term Joseph B. LEGGETT was elected. But his service was only for one month, and he was followed by Isaac G. LEGGETT, who was Foreman three years. After him came, in 1862. J. Pryor RORKE; in 1865, F. S. MASSEY.
As a volunteer company, owning their own apparatus, and having an excellent grade of membership, Pacific 14 was one of the conspicuous companies of the old Department; and both in fire duty and in personal influence, it was a force in the affairs of the Department to the end.
1868 - FIRE - ENGINE 14
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