FDNY and NYC Firehouses and Fire Companies

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Thanks guys for the info. Been up in Vermont.....no Wi-fi (or McDonalds Willy D) where i was in the sticks !!!!! 
 

mack

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Engine 156/Ladder 79/Bn 22  former firehouses  West New Brighton  Staten Island

Cataract Engine 2 End of Van St  W. New Brighton  1st SI volunteer company established 1844 in "Factoryville" section of SI, later renamed West New Brighton. Factoryville was named because of the manufacturing build up which took place after 1819. Textile dyeing and printing were first factories.  Many followed.  Charles Goodyear (as in tires) built Indian rubber-related factories starting in 1835 to produce shoes, life preservers and other rubber goods.  He later discovered a vulcanization process for rubber.  This fire company was established to preotect the fast growing industrialized area. SI was still not part of NYC.



10 Van St today - Fix-a-Dent Auto Body:


http://fixadent.net/

West New Brighton area today covered by Engine 156, Ladder 79 and Bn 22.

Engine 156  412 Broadway - current quarters - established in 1905 in former volunteer firehouse:


Ladder 79/Bn 22  1189 Castleton Ave  - current quarters - L 79 established in 1905 in former volunteer firehouse:


Bn 22 was organized in 1905 at 51 Cottage Place firehouse with newly organized engine 207 (later E 157)

 

mack

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Engine 17/Ladder 18/4th Bn:

Old Broome St firehouse - (Squad 5 operated from here 1966-1969):


New Pitt St firehouse - 1973 - "E 17/L 18/Squad 5/Bn 4" above doors

Firehouse built for 3 companies and BC - Squad 5 operated at 55 E Broadway and then moved to the Bronx in 1974

E 17 disbanded in 1991
Pitt St firehouse occupied by L 18 and Bn 4 1991-2001
E 15 relocated to Pitt St in 2001
 
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mack said:
Engine 17/Ladder 18/4th Bn:

Old Broome St firehouse - (Squad 5 operated from here 1966-1969):


New Pitt St firehouse - 1973 - "E 17/L 18/Squad 5/Bn 4" above doors

Firehouse built for 3 companies and BC - Squad 5 operated at 55 E Broadway and then moved to the Bronx in 1974

E 17 disbanded in 1991
Pitt St firehouse occupied by L 18 and Bn 4 1991-2001
E 15 relocated to Pitt St in 2001

  This firehouse and these companies are often forgot about when talking about the very busy FDNY War Years. But these lower east side companies along with 28/11 were among the busiest as this neighborhood also burned.

 

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Combination Engine 164/Engine E 264 - original firehouse - 332 Central Avenue  (1905-1912)  Former volunteer firehouse (1886/87 to 1905)







Prior volunteer companies at Central Ave:



The Big House Engine 264/Engine 328/Ladder 134 (built approx 1913)


Engine 264:


Engine 328:


Ladder 134:



 

mack

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The Lower East Side was another tough place to work.  The Alphabet City response area for E 28/L 11/E 17/L 18/Bn 4 was the area that Police Officers Rocco Laurie were assassinated in 1972:

    (http://www.odmp.org/officer/7946-police-officer-rocco-w-laurie) and Gregory Foster

    (http://www.odmp.org/officer/5032-police-officer-gregory-p-foster) were executed in 1972, on Ave B. 

Firefighter Mary Celic, Ladder 18, was liked by everyone and loved being a fireman.  He was laid off with the budget crisis of 1975.  Marty was reappointed Christmas Day 1976 and returned to L 18.  He was killed 7 months later in 1977 on 8th St between Aves C and D.

Marty was working overtime in E 15 on July 2 1977.  E 15 picked up a fire in an abandoned tenament  on E 8th St between Aves C & D.  It was an arson job.  E 15 went to work and stretch a line to the upper floors.  L 18 responded with its bucket.  A few minutes into the job, the stairway and bottom floors  of the building were torched.  Members were trapped as the front of the building became lost in heavy smoke.  L 18's bucket was raised into the smoke.  E 15 members who were cut off dove for the bucket.  One member did not make it - Marty. 

He hit the street at the feet of the chief.  Some members claim that some of the on-looking kids actually cheered when he fell.  He tried to recover in the hospital for 8 days and then passed away. Marty is honored along with other LODD firefighters by Fireman's Memorial Garden on E 8 St and an annual Celic Run.

   
    Marty Celic - top row - 2nd from left

    RIP.  Never Forget

http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/M310/highlights/12184

http://www.msgrfarrellhs.org/HallofFame2010/
 

mack

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Days Gone By In Battalion 4 - By Mick Ennis

"I started my career on the Lower East Side when my Dad was an Aide in the 4th Bn. Many a time, back in the late 40s, I would sit in the back seat of the Chief's car on a run and then switch places on the way back to Broome St. and ring the bell. My Dad was in Bn. 4 from 1937 to 1957, Ed Ennis, and he passed away at the age of 56 in 1970.
I came on the job in Oct. 1967, after three years as a Transit Cop, and was assigned to Eng. 9. At that time we were relocated to the quarters of Eng. 15 on Henry St. while our new house was being built on Canal St. There were three pieces of apparatus on that floor with Eng. 9's hose wagon stuffed up against the wall. Eng. 15 always had to clear out when we had a run back towards our 1st due area which was under the Manhattan Bridge. When we moved to Canal St. I transferred to Ladder 6. I wound up with the seat in Bn 4 in 1969 driving Chief Frank Woods. What a great area to work in, especially when I had spent my younger days buffing with my Dad and getting to meet some great men.
I eventually transferred out to St. Albans with BC Woods and stayed in the 54 Battalion for a few years. Wound up driving DC Woods in the 4th Div. in the qtrs. of Eng. 53 & Lad. 43 on 3rd Ave. and 102nd St. I left Spanish Harlem in 1979 when the Div. was disbanded and spent the last six years in Lad. 135 in Glendale and retired in 1985. I've been in Cave Creek, AZ since 1997 and continued my career as a sports writer in a few local papers. Attached is a photo of some of the guys in Eng. 9, I am standing, first on the left. The year is unknown but it has to be in the late 60's. We have group out here in Phoenix of about 73 names of retired guys.
Joe Pecoraro from Eng. 28 is about the only other guy from the LES. Only about 20 guys are active since we are spread all over the state. We meet in a vintage Antique Auto Museum with about 60 cars from Duisenberg's to Shelby's and in between. Hope everyone is doing well at Ft. Pitt. Been a long time since I was in the hood. Hard to believe 17 is gone, but, then again, many other companies have gone the same route. I used to love to stand on the corner of Pitt St. before the new house was built, and watch 28 &11, 17 &18, 15, Bn. 4, all respond at the same time. A very unique place to work. Stay well and have a Happy Holiday season."
 
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Thank you Joe (mack) and Chief JK (68jk09) for the above photos and stories. The Lower East side of Manhattan was a very tough place to work. Those above photos and the stories show exactly what it was like in those days.

  In fact, thank you for all the stories and photos of ALL the FDNY Firehouses that you have posted over the last several pages. This thread has become a collectors item as far as I'm concerned. And as I see it, there's just something about those old FDNY Firehouses. I guess in their own way, they can be compared to a fine, vintage wine.

I appreciate what you have provided us with.

P.S. - To all, don't forget, if you're ever in my neighborhood in Norwich, Ct, we have the oldest operating firehouse in Connecticut. Engine 2 on North Main St, not too far from Foxwoods/Mohegan Sun Casinos. It actually looks like an older FDNY firehouse. I'm sure my Brothers would be glad to show you around.
 

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E 85/TCU 712/L59 - firehouse - "Tin House" - 1971-1986 - 1264 Boston Road:

    E 85(Marine) - originally organized as a marine unit in Manhattan 1908-1959 - became Marine 3 in 1959
    E 85 organized at 1215 Intervale Ave (E 82/L 31/Bn 3) 1967
    E 85 moved to Tin House w/TCU 712  1971
    E 85 disbanded to form L 53  1986

    TCU 712 (Tactical Control Unit - ladder company) organized at 1215 Intervale Ave (E 82/E 85/L 31/Bn 3) 1969
    TCU 712 moved to 1264 Boston Road 1971
    TCU 712 disbanded to form L 59  1972

    L 59 organized at 1264 Boston Road Tin House 1972
    L 59 moved to 1901 Sedgwick Ave  1978

E 85 responding:



TCU 712 responding:







Currently FDNY EMS Station 26:




E 85:



Thank you Willy D

TCU 712:

At 1215 Intervale Ave firehouse
 
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The Tinhouse had an old barber chair set up in the middle of the kitchen.  Perfect for a kid to sit in and eat ice cream.  43/59 still use one of the Tinhouse's big saucepots to cook with.  59 also still uses a TCU 712 gas can.
 
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Great stories and pictures fellas. Hearing all the stories and history on this site first hand beats reading about it or watching documentaries on television any day of the week.

People forget how busy and tough the Lower East Side was back in the day. When people mention the "War Years", you automatically think of the South Bronx, Brooklyn, and Harlem, but the Lower East Side burned too.

I might add, the old Broome St. firehouse looks fairly similar to the quarters of Engine 34/Ladder 21 in Hell's Kitchen.

By the way Bill, here's a picture of the Norwich Firehouse in question, the oldest operating firehouse in the state of Connecticut, the "Greenville Hilton".

greeneville_thumb.jpg
 
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Thanks Emmett for posting that picture.

The apparatus doors used to be red, but a rehab job changed that.

Again, great pictures and histories. Thank you.
 

mack

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E 232/TCU 732/L 176 "Tin House" firehouse 266 Rockaway Ave - Brownsville - 1971-1988  Currently quarters to EMS Bn 44 

    E 232 reorganized at 107 Watkins St (E 231/L 103/Bn 44) 1966  Note  (E 232 had prior service as a marine unit and became Marine 6 1959)
    E 232 moved to 266 Rockaway Ave Tin House 1971
    E 232 disbanded 1988

    TCU 732 (Tactical Control Unit - ladder company) organized 582 Knickerbocker Ave (E 277) 1970
    TCU 732 moved to 266 Rockaway Ave Tin House 1971
    TCU disbanded 1972 

    L 176 organized 266 Rockaway Ave Tin House 1972
    L 176 moved to 25 Rockaway Ave (E 233) 1987
         






Currently home to EMS Bn 44:


current

Picture of E 231/E 232/L 103/Bn 44 supporting troops in front of Watkins St:

 

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E 232 Tin House closing 1988:
During halftime of Super Bowl XXII on January 31, 1988, Engine Company 232 -- also known as the Tin House -- received a call to cover for another Brooklyn engine company that had allegedly been called out to a fire. Later that evening, the firefighters returned and were met by a large contingent of FDNY Chiefs, fire marshals and police officers -- only to discover that their firehouse was being closed. It was subsequently discovered that the earlier alarm had been a ploy to get them out of the building so it could be closed.

Tin House EMS reopening announcement:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/html/98b/pr550-98.html
 
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