Ladder 103 (originally L 3 BFD) - former firehouses - 236 Gold St (former firehouse of volunteer E 11 Jackson) and 183 Concord St (built by Brooklyn Fire Dept) - current firehouse 480 Sheffield Ave Brooklyn
L 3 BFD organized 236 Gold St. 1869; moved to 183 Concord St. 1875; became L 3 FDNY 1898; became L 103 1013; moved to 480 Sheffield Ave. with E-290 1932
Additional section at 480 Sheffield Ave:
L 193 organized 480 Sheffield Ave 1966; became L 103-2 1968; disbanded Dec. 16, 1974
BFD L 3 at 236 Gold St:
"TRUCK COMPANY NO. 3, THE MEN WHO FIGHT AT CLOSE QUARTERS - HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY NO. 3.
Truck Company No. 3, which at present is stationed at No. 183 Concord Street, was organized on Sept. 15, 1869, and occupied the house at No. 236 Gold Street, which was formerly used by Volunteer Engine No. n and later by Volunteer Truck No. 2. That house was a two-story brick building, 20 x 50 feet; the whole first floor was used as an apparatus-room, with two stalls in the rear for the horses, the second floor being fitted up as sleeping apartments for the officers and men. On April 29, 1874. the company removed to its present quarters on Concord Street, a two-story brick building. 25x75 feet. The apparatus-room has three stalls in the rear, and has lately been supplied with a patent extension ladder...
THIS TRUCK COMPANY IS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE CITY. It takes the men just twelve seconds from the first tap of the gong to get the truck out of the house and well started, which is good time considering that the horses have a run of fifty-nine feet to get under the harness and that there are three collars to snap and six lines to buckle up. The actual time of raising the
extension ladder and putting a man on a roof as timed by eight stop-watches before the Oxford Club and Fire Commissioner Richard R. POILLON, was fifty-nine seconds, and the second man reached the roof about four seconds after. The truck weighs 9100 pounds.
The men of Truck No. 3 are noted for their courage in the face of danger, and in this they have an excellent example in their Foreman, JOHN FITZGERALD...On Oct. 5, 1891, while working at a fire on the roof of the old ferryhouse at the foot of Bridge Street, the supports burned away and the roof fell and carried him down with it. He received a contusion of the spine which confined him to his bed for two months. He has rescued a number of persons from burning buildings since he was
connected with the Department. " - from 'Our Firemen - The Official History of the Brooklyn Fire Department'
L 103 Concord St Firehouse:
Former 183 Concord St firehouse today:
L 103 at 480 Sheffield Ave:
480 Sheffield Avenue quarters w/ Engine 290:
Note - between 2000 and 2011, L 103 responded to 46055 runs, averge 3838 per year (per Fire Bell Club)
History:
http://nyfd.com/brooklyn_engines/engine_290/engine290_history.pdf
http://www.fdnytrucks.com/files/html/brooklyn/e290.htm
http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/medal_day/2003/medals/friedbergmedal.shtml