Engine 36 Firehouse 120 E. 125th Street East Harlem, Manhattan 4th Division, 12th Battalion
DISBANDED
Suburban Engine 36 organized 1849 Park Avenue (4th Ave) 1865
(former quarters volunteer Pocahontas Engine 49)
Suburban Engine 36 became Engine 36 1868
Engine 36 moved to 104 E 126th St 1893
Engine 36 moved to new firehouse 1849 Park Avenue 1894
Engine 36 moved to 120 E 125th Street former quarters Ladder 14 1975
Engine 36 moved to 2282 3rd Avenue at Engine 35 2000
Engine 36 moved to 120 E 125th Street 2000
Engine 36 disbanded 2003
Battalion 12 organized 133 W 99th Street 1893
Battalion 12 moved to 120 E 125th Street at Ladder 14 1898
Battalion 12 moved 3431 White Plains Road at Engine 62 1903
Battalion 12 moved to 120 E 125th Street at Ladder 14 1904
Battalion 12 moved to new firehouse 2282 3rd Avenue w/Engine 35 1974
Battalion 12 moved to 120 E 125th Street at Engine 36 1990
Battalion 12 moved to 2282 3rd Avenue at Engine 35 1995
Battalion 12-2 organized 120 E 125th Street at Ladder 14 1968
Battalion 12-2 disbanded 1969
History volunteer Pocahontas Engine 49:
Organized Cherry St and Walnut Street 1832-1835 (no name associated with company)
Reorganized E 126th St and 3rd Avenue 1835-1857
Moved to 2333 4th Avenue 1857-1865
Disbanded 1865
"Pocahontas (the second No. 49). After the great fire of 1835, the residents of Harlem, feeling themselves not fully protected by the one Engine Company-No. 35-stationed in their section of the city, set to work to organize another engine company, and 49 came into existence and located in 126th Street, between 3rd and 4th Avenues, under the old station house. This house had a fire bell on it, as had the next house to which they removed in 1857. This was a new brick building on the east side of 4th Avenue, between 126th and 127th Streets, and is now used by Engine Company No. 36 of the Paid Department. At the time of their organization Gouverneur Morris ran a milk dairy in Harlem, which he called the "Pocahontas Dairy," and their old gooseneck engine, which was built in 1826, and was painted white, was christened "Pocahontas." They had the back painted with a representation of Pocahontas saving the life of Captain John Smith, and did duty with this engine until 1854, when they received a new Carson piano engine of third-class caliber. The old engine was laid aside, and now graces one of the upper floors of the repair shops of the present Fire Department in W 3rd Street. The back remains the same, but the box has been painted a dark color. John S. Kenyon was the first foreman, and was elected an assistant engineer in 1840; Warren Brady followed him as foreman. At a fire in Astoria at a tar factory in 1842, one of the former members of this company, William R. Kilpatrick contracted a severe cold, from which he lost his eyesight, and although alive, and well at this time, has never regained his sight. The trustees of the Benevolent Fund have for years stood by him. Wm. E. Pabor, Wm. Tabele, and Epenetus Doughty were among the early foremen of this company,, and Henry P. McGown, now civil justice, held the position of foreman for ten years, being succeeded in 1855 by E. W. Gardner, who had been assistant fireman. Wm. T. Mawbay, of this company, was elected a foreman of No. 8 Engine, was also members for a number of years. The Harlem Base Ball Club (celebrated from 1857 to 1860) contained several members of this company. Michael Kennedy succeeded Gardner as foreman, with A. A. Liscomb as assistant. In 1861 the company discarded the Carson engine, and took in its place the engine that had been used by No. 26 Engine Company, and replaced by a steam engine. It was of the piano style, but of a much lighter build than their former engine. Wm. H. Waterson and A. J. Walsh were at that time elected as foreman and assistant of the company. Cuthbert W. Ridley followed in 1862 as foreman and was elected an assistant engineer in 1863. Thomas C. Kennedy, who was assistant foreman, was elected foreman, and held the office till the company went out of service in 1865." - From ?Our Firemen ? the History of the NY Fire Department?
?Pocahontas engine, No. 49: Foreman, Andrew J. Walsh. Located the east side of 4th Avenue, between 126th and 127th streets; performs duty in Harlem and vicinity. House in good order; engine third class, piano style, four 7-inch cylinders, 4 1/2-inch stroke, patent capstan, in good condition; built in 1853, by Pine & Hartshorn; rebuilt in 1859, by the same; formerly belonged to Engine Company No. 26; present number of men, 18; 400 feet of hose in ordinary condition, and 400 feet bad.? - From ?Manual of the Corporation of the City of New York? by D.T. Valentine 1865
Suburban Engine 36:
Suburban engine and ladder companies were originally organized in some outlying areas of the city which were less built up, had poorer roads and poor water supplies. Suburban engine and ladder companies were staffed differently, operated differently and were paid less than other regular companies. Suburban members were able to work other civilian jobs but had to comply with all Department rules and regulations, sleep in the firehouse at night, respond to all alarms and attend two afternoon drills per month. Suburban companies were equipped with hand drawn pumpers and hand drawn ladder trucks due to the poor roads and limited structures in response districts.
Engine 36 original personnel:
Assistant Foreman: John A. Cowie; Engineer of Steamer: George Jarvis; Firemen: Adam Jacoby; George A. Campbell; Hosemen: James Crowley; Henry C. Mount; Thomas B. Morris; Michael Daily; James Brodie; William O. Seaman; William Johnson; Henry L. Nunns
Engine 36 original quarters:
Engine 36 120 E. 125th Street firehouse:
Firehouse history:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/emilio_guerra/4306511272
http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/1997FireHookLadder14.pdf
Engine 36 1929 Seagrave:
Engine 36 1937:
Engine 36 1958 Mack:
Engine 36:
Engine 36 120 E 125th St firehouse (Ladder 14 former firehouse):
Engine 36 Runs and Workers 1975-2002:
Year Engine Runs EMS Workers OSW
1975 36 4280 0 3087 0
1976 36 4420 0 3265 0
1977 36 3996 0 2856 0
1978 36 3686 0 2469 0
1979 36 2579 0 1387 0
1980 36 2887 0 1607 0
1981 36 2625 0 1359 0
1982 36 2430 0 1326 0
1983 36 2319 0 1275 258
1984 36 2231 0 1197 0
1985 36 2278 0 1265 270
1986 36 2166 0 1176 215
1987 36 2392 0 1212 204
1988 36 2685 0 1442 255
1989 36 2643 0 1427 269
1990 36 2850 0 1430 213
1991 36 2898 0 1479 226
1992 36 3148 0 1531 333
1993 36 3004 0 1441 311
1994 36 2808 0 1232 264
1995 36 2698 0 1372 248
1996 36 2457 151 1409 188
1997 36 2859 626 1644 239
1998 36 2891 687 1703 219
1999 36 2960 691 1763 230
2000 36 2932 699 1700 213
2001 36 2845 690 1580 172
2002 36 2759 768 1669 194
Engine 36 medals:
FF Denis M Ryer, September 26, 1894 James Gordon Bennett Medal
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSvcid=483424&GRid=163267806&
FF Harry A. Leech, April 10, 1935 Prentice Medal
CAPT Theron A. Bingham, January 18, 1962, Johnson Medal
Engine 36 LODDs - RIP:
FF John Banks, March 31, 1894
FF Andrew B George, January 3, 1939
FF Emile A Steiner, May 22, 1944
FF Elbert Hardman, January 9, 1945
Killed w/ FF Tuite when caught under a collapsing wall while operating a deck gun in front of a burning 6-story warehouse involved in a 4-alarm fire. The hose wagon was destroyed.
FF Nelson L Tuite, January 9, 1945
Killed w/ FF Hardman when caught under a collapsing wall while operating a deck gun in front of a burning 6-story warehouse involved in a 4-alarm fire. The hose wagon was destroyed.
Video of Lee Brothers Warehouse fire which took the lives of FF Tuite and FF Hardman, Engine 36, January 9, 1945:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3CHU8SuokM
FF Philip C Smith, October 5, 1968
Battalion 12 LODD:
FF George L. Collins, November 15, 1968
FF Collins died as a result of the acute heart attack he suffered July 8th while working at a fire.
RIP. Never forget.
120 E 125th Street former firehouse current use:
http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120110/harlem/landmark-harlem-firehouse-be-reborn-as-afrocaribbean-cultural-institute
http://www.denhamwolf.com/Denham-Wolf-Projects.php?p=170
East Harlem:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Harlem