FDNY and NYC Firehouses and Fire Companies
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Engine 65 lost 3 members at August 1, 1932 Ritz Tower fire and explosion:
Manhattan Box 66-22-918 113 E 57th St 1036 hrs August 1, 1932
Delayed alarm - building engineer unsuccessfully tried to extinguish fire with standpipe hoseline - sub-basement paint room
1st alarm companies: E 26 (or E 23), E 8, E 65, E 39, L 2, L 16 2 BCs 1 Deputy
(thanks soda-acid)
Rescue 1 special called (masks)
Explosions when access door breeched
2nd alarm transmitted
8 LODDs - RIP:
Lt John Cosgrove E 65
FF Thomas Finn E 65
FF James Green E 65
Lt James Harnett L 16
FF Louis Harding L 16
FF William Pratt L 7
FF Peter A Daly E 39
FF Edward R Maloney E 39
Never forget.
Manhattan Box 66-22-918 113 E 57th St 1036 hrs August 1, 1932
Delayed alarm - building engineer unsuccessfully tried to extinguish fire with standpipe hoseline - sub-basement paint room
1st alarm companies: E 26 (or E 23), E 8, E 65, E 39, L 2, L 16 2 BCs 1 Deputy
(thanks soda-acid)
Rescue 1 special called (masks)
Explosions when access door breeched
2nd alarm transmitted
8 LODDs - RIP:
Lt John Cosgrove E 65
FF Thomas Finn E 65
FF James Green E 65
Lt James Harnett L 16
FF Louis Harding L 16
FF William Pratt L 7
FF Peter A Daly E 39
FF Edward R Maloney E 39
Never forget.
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I had the pleasure of knowing FF Thomas Finn Jr. (now deceased) who followed his late dad's footsteps. He worked in E258 and then E297.
soda-acid said:
Good catch, soda-acid. I went back and re-checked source ("Fire Department City of New York" by Paul Hashagen) and he credits E 26, not E 23 which is closer, on the 1st alarm. I will check WNYF article to see if they identify the respondiing companies.
Gman probably has old assignment cards to this box. There were 2 BCs assigned and Deputy. Also, maybe water tower responded.
Also, it should be Engine 39 as you noted (my typo error). Thanks.
Conspicuous by its absence in the foregoing E65 discussion is one "very important" special unit that was once quartered with Engine 65 and I do not mean Rescue 1. Canteen Field Kitchen Unit 94 was quartered at E65 from December 1948 until being disbanded on October 15, 1958. Prior to this, it was quartered from May 1946 until December 1946 at Engine 54. The apparatus was originally a converted 1942 Ford delivery van, later replaced by a 1956 Chevrolet/ABC Body, built for the purpose, delivery style van. It responded on 3-3s citywide, manned by one, or occasionally two, light duty firefighters.
HCO said:
HCO - Thanks for info and details. Canteen unit was FDNY and responded on all 3rd alarms? Where did the "94" come from? Similar in function to the services provided by the buffs at multiples (coffee, donuts)? Really a unique memory and piece of history which lasted 12 years. What prompted unit being disbanded? Thanks.
The number 94 was its special unit number under the preliminary Signal 9 classes and was so listed due to the UFA Local # in the IAFF being Local 94. They, Local 94, funded the food, beverages, etc., carried by the unit which was carried as Canteen Field Kitchen 1, but better known as "94". It was taken out of service for better manpower utilization. Three buff clubs, the Third Alarm Association, the 255 Club, and the Signal 8-8 Club took over the canteen function. Correction to the unit's move to E65 date: was December 1946, not 1948.
Engine 65 - History:
"ENGINE 65 100 YEARS OF SERVICE TO TIMES SQUARE AND MIDTOWN (by Mike Boucher)
Department General Order Number 2, dated May 27, 1898, placed Engines 65 and 66 in service on
June 4, 1898. Engine 66, the fireboat ?Robert A. Van Wyck? was placed in service at the foot of
Grand Street in the East River. Engine 65 was located in a new building at 33 W. 43rd Street in the
Midtown section of Manhattan.
Ten years earlier West 43rd street had become a service area with car and horse stables. By the
1890?s this area of Manhattan was becoming a very fashionable section of the City. The Theater
District had started moving north from the Union Square area to Midtown around this time. W. 43rd
Street between 5th and 6th Avenues contained three very exclusive clubs along with the N. Y. Bar
Association, and the Royalton Hotel. As new buildings were being built the need for additional fire
protection was also felt. Engine 65 would fill this gap in fire protection and was surrounded by
Engines 2, 8, 21, and 54.
The City of New York acquired the lot through condemnation procedures, which were started on
October 18, 1894, and were completed on July 25, 1895. The lot measures 25 feet by 100 feet and
cost $36,564.00 to acquire. The owner of the lot was Isaac Townsend, the president of the Racquet
and Tennis Club. The lot had a small frame building that was being used by Taggart Stables, as a
stable for the Racquet and Tennis Club.
This site when picked for a fire company location was not a popular choice with the local residents.
In fact the October 5, 1894 issue of the New York Times, front page was an article titled ?Noisy
Neighbor for Clubs?. The article goes on to state the members of the Racquet Club, the Academy of
Medicine, and the Century Club had discussed this issue thoroughly and regarded this as a
nuisance and an affliction to the neighborhood. The biggest complaint was the loud clanging of
the bells and gongs at all hours of the day and night. Most people did agree that a firehouse was
needed in the area but not on this street which is quiet and residential.
FIRSTS
Engine 65?s quarters were designed by Francis l.V. Hoppin and Terence A. Koen and built by E. D.
Colony and Son. It was started on July 12, 1897 and cost $23,449.00 to build. The front of the
building is Indiana limestone and buff brick with terra cotta trimmings. The first floor and sidewalk
vault is composed of steel I beams and brick arches with the apparatus flooring of cork brick. All
ceilings are of stamped steel. The second and third floors and roof have wooden beams with
flooring of wood and walls of brick. The building is 25 x 80 feet on a lot of 25 x 100 feet.
Engine 65 was placed in service with a crew of twelve at 8 A.M. on the 4th and assigned to the 9th
Battalion. The first members were Foreman (Captain) Richard J. Norris, Assistant Foreman
(Lieutenant) John F. Higgins, Engineers of Steamer Joseph Connolly and James Foley, and
Firemen James J. Convey, Edward Keegan, Edward Page, Herman W. Oppe, Robert Paul, Timothy
Donovan, Edward T. Tracy, and James G. Darling. They were assigned to 202 alarm stations, 43
first alarm, 52-second alarm, 69 third alarm, 31 fourth alarm and 6 special boxes.
The first run for the new Company came at 6:20 P.M. the first night when they responded to a
second alarm at 351 8th Avenue. They responded to a hydrant in front of 252 W. 28th Street. Deputy
Chief Edward F. Croker ordered Engine 65 back to quarters without doing any work. The next run
was later that night at 8:56 P.M. to 205 W. 38th Street and like the first run they didn?t do any work.
The first fire run for Engine 65 was on June 17th at 50 W. 43rd Street in a building being used as a
storehouse. It turned out to be a still alarm with Firemen Keegan and Oppe walking across the street
and putting the fire out with a pail of water. The apparatus stayed in quarters for this run and there
was no damage to the contain of the building.
The first major fire was on August 25th. The second alarm fire was at 206 through 212 E. 55th
Street. Engine 65 took four minutes to hook up the horses and to respond. They used 200 feet of 3-
inch hose to extinguish the fire. The line was laid through 211-213 W. 54th Street and operated in
the rear of the fire building. Engine 65 pumped 79,000 gallons of water and worked 4 hours and 35
minutes.
THE LIFE OF A FIREMAN
The life of a firemen was a hard one, both physically and on one?s personal life. A fireman worked
24 hours a day with three 24-hour leaves per month, plus two 12-hour leaves that could not be
added to the 24 hour leave. He could go home for meals each day for a total of three hours in any
combination of three 1-hour breaks, 2 hour and a half breaks or one 3-hour break.
The horses were kings in the fire department during this time. On a cold winter?s night after fighting
a fire for five or six hours the first thing a fireman would do once back at quarters is take care of the
horses. They would be watered, rubbed down, dried down, and fed before any fireman would
change his wet clothes. The horses had an ambulance many years before the firemen did.
Because of Engine 65?s location in Times Square it has always been a show company. It was one
of the first companies to try rubber tires on the hose wagons in 1899. Because of the success of this
addition, a smoother ride and lower maintenance cost, every company would soon have rubber
tires. Other firsts included; the first 1000 gpm motorized pumper (1927), the first piece of apparatus
with pneumatic tires (1927), the first diesel powered apparatus (1965), and the first lime green
colored apparatus (1981). Also because of its location many probationary firemen passed through
the doors in 100 years.
Engine 65?s quarters were built for just one company and was spacious for the twelve men. Over the
years as the working conditions improved the building became cramped. By 1939, the threeplatoon
work chart was installed in all companies and the W. 43rd Street quarters became very tight
with twelve more men being assigned. On July 19, 1957 Battalion 8 relocated from 165 E. 51st
Street while that house was torn down and rebuilt. On March 2, 1960, Battalion 8 moved to 203 E.
50th Street, a temporary house. On May 1, 1960, Rescue 1 would be relocated from 243 Lafayette
Street when that house was closed adding another twenty-five men. The Rescue would stay until
February 1, 1973 and then move to 530 W. 43rd Street. This building was the former quarters of
Engine 2, which had been disbanded the day before.
LODDs
In 100 years of service five members of Engine 65 paid the supreme sacrifice with their lives.
On December 26, 1915, Fireman Matthew J. Ward was detailed to Ladder 21 for the day. The
weather was brutal with a full blizzard blowing. Ladder 21 was responding to Box 461, 6th Avenue
and W. 37th Street. While crossing Broadway at W. 36 Street, Ladder 21 was broadsided by a
southbound trolley car. Fireman Ward was caught between the trolley and the ladders. He died a
few hours of later from his injuries. The motorman reported not hearing the siren or bell above the
noise of the blizzard.
The second member to lose his life was Fireman John J. Frein on January 4, 1918 while operating
on the third floor of 305 E. 43rd Street. On the fifth floor was a 6 ton safe resting on fire-damaged
timbers. This caused the fourth and fifth floors to collapse to the third floor. The company was
pinned in the collapse. Fireman Frein was killed instantly in the collapse which also injured the rest
of the crew.
Three members of Engine 65, Lt. John H. Cosgrove, Firemen 1st Grade Thomas Finn and James
Greene were killed along with four other firemen on August 1, 1932. A fire had started in the paint
locker of the Hotel Ritz at Park Avenue and 57th Street. Before this minor fire in the paint locker of
the sub-cellar was out, it would take the lives of seven firemen and injure 31 other people. Engine
65 had placed a 35-foot ladder down the sidewalk elevator shaft and had been operating the line
for less than three minutes when a terrific blast ripped through the paint locker. The explosion blew
the first floor storefront windows out into the street along with $100,000 worth of gems from a jewelry
store window. The fire was out in twenty-five minutes. The four other firemen killed were; Lt. James
Harnett and Firemen Louis Hardina of Ladder 16, Peter Daly of Engine 39, and William L. Pratt of
Ladder 7, detailed to Ladder 2 for the day.
Three members of Engine 65 received medals for going above and beyond the call of duty in
making rescues. Captain Patrick J. Boylan received the William F. Conran Medal along with a
Department Medal for a rescue he made on December 21, 1945. Lieutenant Joseph W. Brochu was
awarded the M. J. Delhanty Medal on June 15, 1961. The last medal was given to Firefighter 1st
grade Donald E. Clark. He received the Mayor LaGuardia Medal for a rescue while off duty on
January 24, 1991.
LANDMARK
On October 2, 1990, The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission honored Engine 65 by
designating the firehouse as a New York City landmark.
In one hundred years of service, 528 firemen have proudly worn Engine 65 on the front their
helmets. If the walls of this firehouse could talk, we would a much livelier book of stories. It was
these 528 men who have made this engine company a premier company over the years. During the
past one hundred years Engine 65 has always been in the forefront of fire technology for this City.
No matter what types of run Engine 65 as been assigned to, they have done it with exceptional
pride and dedication. Let the next one hundred years be just as grand as the first one hundred.
WHEELS OF ENGINE 65
HORSE DRAWN APPARATUS
1898 LaFrance 1st size steamer #395, June 4, 1898.
1898 Gleason & Bailey 1st size hose wagon, #57, June 4, 1898.
1907 American Lafrance 1st size steamer #3135, 1907.
1907 Rech-Marbecker 1st size hose wagon #134, 1907.
1915 Chrystie front drive tractor replaced the horses on September 1, 1915.
MOTORIZED APPARATUS
1916 Mack hose wagon #108, January 1, 1916.
1914 Ahrens Fox 700 gpm pumper #804, November 1, 1916.
1927 Ahrens Fox 1000 gpm Pumper #744, June 4, 1927.
1929 Four Wheel Drive hose wagon #162, January 18, 1929.
1930 Seagrave hose wagon #245, July 1, 1930.
1933 Seagrave hose wagon #251, May 19, 1933.
1933 Ahrens Fox 1000 gpm pumper #4003, May 24, 1933.
1938 Ahrens Fox1000 gpm pumper #3432, June 25, 1938.
1938 Ward LaFrance hose wagon #266, January 9, 1943.
1947 Mack 750 gpm pumper #1148, June 27, 1947.
1938 Ahrens Fox 1000 gpm pumper #3423, April 30, 1951.
1936 Mack 1000 gpm pumper used as a hose wagon #1002, February 9, 1954.
1958 Mack 750 gpm pumper #1004, February 5, 1958.
1962 Mack 1000 gpm pumper #1154, January 2, 1963.
1965 Mack 1000 gpm pumper #1316, March 17, 1965.
1954 Mack 1000 gpm pumper #1099, July 30, 1966.
1971 Mack 1000 gpm pumper #MP7108, October 18, 1971.
1980 Ameican LaFrance 1000 gpm pumper #AP8080, July 21, 1981.
1983 Mack 1000 gpm pumper #MP8306, June 25, 1984.
1994 Seagrave 1000 gpm pumper #SP9405H, December 29, 1994.
THE BRAVEST OF THE BRAVE
Captain Patrick J. Boylan William F. Conran Medal & Department Medal
Captain Patrick J. Boylan earned the William F. Conran Medal and a Department Medal for the
removal of a man from a sewer at the intersection of Madison Avenue and E. 43rd Street on
December 21, 1945. During snow removal operations the sewer cover was removed from the sewer
so snow could be placed down the sewer. A man fell down the sewer, which had four feet of
running water. Captain Boylan and Engine 65 was the first company on the scene and Captain
Boylan was lower by a rope into the sewer. While in the sewer, water continued to pour down from
the street drenching Captain Boylan. He was searching in total darkness for the man and could not
locate him until he received a flashlight. Finally the man was located and was brought to the
surface with the help of members of Ladder 2. Captain Boylan was partially overcome by sewer gas,
and the chilling effect of the cold water had to be hoisted up with help from above.
Lieutenant Joseph W. Brochu M. J. Delehanty Medal
Lieutenant Joseph W. Brochu received the M. J. Delehanty Medal for the rescue of a 11 year old
from a stalled elevator at 730 5th Avenue on June 15, 1961. The weather was very hot with high
humidity and electrical power was lost in this 26-story office building, trapping many people in the
elevators. Engine 65 responded under the command of Lieutenant Brochu and was told several of
the elevators had people in them and they were removed. The only light was from the flashlights
the members were carrying with them. An 11year old boy was still unaccounted for in one of the
elevators. The Company went up to the 14th floor the last known location of that car and forced the
doors to the shaft to here faint cries from below. Lieutenant Brochu slipped into bowline-on-a bight
on a roof rope and slipped into the darkness below. He was lowered six floors before coming upon
the stalled car. Once on the roof of the car he forced the escape hatch lowered himself into the
car. Stephan Nevaro was lying on the floor of the elevator, prostrated with heat and fear. Lieutenant
Brochu untied the rope from around himself and retied them around the boy, who was then raised
up to the 14th floor. Several minutes later the rope was lower and Lieutenant Brochu was brought up
from the car.
Firefighter 1st grade Donald E. Clark Mayor LaGuardia Medal
Firefighter 1st grade Donald E. Clark was awarded the Mayor LaGuardia Medal for the off duty
rescue his next door invalid neighbor living at 190 Cebra Avenue, Staten Island on January 24,
1991. As Donald was getting ready for bed he heard the neighbors yelling ?FIRE!? Rushing outside
he found the house next door having an orange glow and smoke pushing out the windows. After
notifying the Staten Island Dispatchers of the fire he entered the building. He knew an elderly
bedridden invalid occupied the fire apartment. Donald entered the building without any fire gear
only to be hit with a blast heat and heavy black smoke. Crawling about thirty feet to the fire
apartment he forced the door to find fire in the front part of the apartment. Hearing his neighbors
moaning, he crawled into the apartment looking for him. He found Mr. Tony Deeds on the floor
covered with burning debris. He pulled Mr. Deeds out of the burning apartment, down the hallway
to fresh air outside.
UNIT CITATIONS
Oct. 23, 1963, 1487 Broadway, Box 4-4 786
Sept. 7, 1966, S.S. Hanseatic, Pier 84, Box 5-5-817
Dec. 15, 1967 341 9th Avenue,
Morgan Post Office Box 5-5 676
Sept. 4, 1968, 277 Park Avenue, Box 2-2 827
Feb. 25, 1969, 595 5th Avenue, Box 3-3 839
Nov. 16, 1975, 250 W. 42nd Street, Box 3-3 786
June 14, 1979, Macy?s Herald Square, Box 4-4-714
Sept. 8, 1979, 25 Vanderbilt Avenue, Box 3-3-812
Nov. 3, 1979, 35 W. 43rd Street, Box 2-2 795
Apr. 17, 1981, 401 7th Avenue, Box 5-5 689
Oct. 15, 1984, 201 E. 36th Street, Box 2-2 735
Jan. 11, 1988, 135 e. 50TH Street, Box 5-5 858
May 14, 1991, 723 7th Avenue, Box 3-3 837
Jul. 2, 1992, 260 Madison Avenue, Box 3-3 757
Feb. 26, 1993, World Trade Center, Box 69
THE FALLEN MEMBERS OF ENGINE 65 5-5-5-5
Fireman Mathew J. Ward December 26, 1915
Fireman John J. Frein January 4, 1918
Lieutenant John H. Cosgrove August 1, 1932
Fireman Thomas S. Finn August 1, 1932
Fireman James F. Greene August 1, 1932
6-5-2
Captain Henry O. Laboda, Jr. March 10, 1929
Captain William J. Fiala March 3, 1932
Fireman Arthur J. Banger February 24, 1934
Fireman Harold F. Coote Oct. 16, 1934
Fireman Emanuel Parker February 8, 1982
HEADQUARTERS FIRE DEPARTMENT, CITY OF NEW YORK BUREAU CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT
General Orders, No. 2. May 27th, 1898.
1. It is announced to the Department that Eng. Co?s. No. 65 and No 66 will
be organized, and that Engine Co. No. 43 will be transferred from the 4th to the 10th
Battalion, to take effect from and after 8 A. M. on the 4th Proximo.
Eng. Co. No. 65 will be located at No. 33 West 43rd Street, assigned to the 9th
Battalion, and the Company District will be as follows: 6th Avenue from 40th Street to
59th Street to Park Avenue to 42nd Street to 5th Avenue to 40th Street to 6th Avenue.
The Company Districts of Eng. Co?s 8, 21, and H. & L. Co. 2 will be altered to
read as follows:
Eng. Co. No. 8 - Park Avenue from 50th Street to 59th Street to East River to
50th Street to Park Avenue.
H. & L. Co. No. 2 - Park Avenue from 42nd Street to 50th Street to East River to
42nd Street to Park Avenue.
Eng. Co. No. 21 - 5th Avenue from 34th Street to 42nd Street to East River to
34th Street to 5th Avenue.
Eng. Co. No. 65 will be assigned to duty as follows: (Stations marked # are first
due and for fuel)
First Alarm, Stations 457, 458, 459, 461, 462, 463, 476, 477, 478#, 479#, 481#,
482#, 483, 485, 486, 487, 488#, 489#, 492, 493, 516, 517. 518#, 519, 521#, 522#,
523#, 524, 525, 535, 536, 537, 541#, 542#, 543, 544, 557, 558, 559, 561, 562, 563,
and 574.
Second Alarm, Stations 418, 419, 421, 429, 434, 436, 438, 439, 441, 442, 443,
445, 446, 447, 454, 455, 456, 464, 465, 466, 467, 468, 471, 472, 473, 474, 475, 484,
512, 513, 514, 515, 526, 527, 528, 529, 534, 545, 546, 547, 548, 554, 556, 564, 565,
566, 567, 568, 573, 575, 576, and 582.
Third Alarm, Stations 374, 375, 376, 377, 379, 381, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386,
414, 415, 416, 417, 422, 423, 424, 427, 433, 435, 437, 448, 449, 451, 452, 453, 531,
532, 533, 551, 552, 553, 571, 572, 577, 578, 581, 583, 584, 585, 586, 587, 588, 591,
592, 593, 594, 597, 598, 599, 612, 613, 614, 615, 616, 617, 618, 619, 621, 622, 623,
624, 625, 626, 627, 628, 629, 634.
Fourth Alarm, Stations 316, 322, 331, 337, 339, 341, 342, 343, 345, 348, 349,
353, 356, 358, 361, 369, 371, 373, 378, 425, 428, 646, 653, 656, 672, 677, 678, 688,
697 699, and 722.
Class ?3? Stations 138, 162, 191, 365, 382 and 384.
Class ?10? Station 215.
First Alarm Station Locations
457 - 7th Ave. & 38th St.
458 - 7th Ave. & 35th St.
459 - Broadway & 34th St.
461 - 6th Ave. & 37th St.
462 - 5th Ave. & 35th St.
463 - Park Ave. & 37th St.
476 - 8th Ave. & 38th St.
477 - 7th Ave. & 40th St.
478 - Broadway & 42nd St.
479 - 5th Ave. & 42nd St.
481 - 6th Ave. & 40th St.
482 - 5th Ave. & 38th St.
483 - Lexington Ave. & 43rd St.
485 - 3rd Ave. & 40th St.
486 - 2nd Ave. & 42nd St.
487 - 1st Ave. & 41st St.
488 - Madison Ave. & 41st St.
489 - Madison & 45th St.
492 - Lexington Ave. & 39th St.
493 - 3rd Ave. & 42nd St.
516 - 9th Ave. & 47th St.
517 - 9th Ave. & 44th St.
518 - Broadway & 44th St.
519 - Broadway & 47th St.
521 - 6th Ave. & 46th St.
522 - 6th Ave. & 43rd St.
523 - 5th Ave. & 45th St.
524 - Lexington Ave. & 45th St.
525 - Lexington Ave. & 47th St.
535 - 8th Ave. & 51st St.
536 - 8th Ave. & 50th St.
537 - 7th Ave. & 51st St.
541 - 6th Ave. & 5th St.
542 - 5th Ave. & 48th St.
543 - 5th Ave. & 52nd St.
544 - Madison Ave. & 50th St.
557 - 8th Ave. & 55th St.
558 - Broadway & 53rd St.
559 - 7th Ave. & 59th St.
561 - 6th Ave. & 52nd St.
562 - 5th Ave. & 55th St.
563 - Madison Ave. & 54th St.
574 - 6th Ave. & 58th St.
100 YEARS OF RUNNING RUNS & WORKERS
YEAR RUNS WORKERS
1898 85 10
1899 287 50
1900 278 52
1901 242 38
1902 277 58
1903 280 56
1904 248 14
1905 282 44
1906 280 57
1907 322 50
1908 321 72
1909 288 59
1910 280 62
1911 270 55
1912 357 68
1913 272 49
1914 303 60
1915 282 46
1916 326 65
1917 282 89
1918 335 85
1919 313 74
1920 399 94
1921 342 72
1922 550 104
1923 629 93
1924 692 101
1925 697 113
1926 734 105
1927 677 80
1928 712 98
1929 678 101
1930 855 94
1931 770 151
1932 757 99
1933 629 83
1934 711 102
1935 636 169
1936 661 191
1937 623 169
1938 515 166
1939 564 187
1940 563 185
1941 570 200
1942 523 191
1943 659 248
1944 784 291
1945 784 187
1946 718 272
1947 650 302
1948 705 288
1949 912 287
1950 813 269
1951 817 247
1952 903 303
1953 913 299
1954 853 312
1955 873 284
1956 929 292
1957 1003 343
1958 1042 377
1959 1002 391
1960 863 385
1961 799 366
1962 686 347
1963 762 368
1964 1090 467
1965 1218 513
1966 1134 477
1967 1231 517
1968 1358 584
1969 1470 678
1970 1581 723
1971 1713 748
1972 1552 739
1973 1288 843
1974 1431 905
1975 1640 1031
1976 1754 1122
1977 2069 1395
1978 2237 1425
1979 2154 1337
1980 2637 1462
1981 2565 1343
1982 2784 1563
1983 3178 1751
1985 3318 2398
1986 3258 2293
1987 3480 2162
1988 3617 2278
1989 4298 2562
1990 4515 2310
1991 4444 2407
1992 4080 2178
1993 3910 2042
1994 3783 2149
1995 3635 2267
1996 4039 2514
1997 4343 2733
The Company responded to 124,971 alarms and 60,546 workers.
IN THE NEWSPAPER JUNE 4, 1898
The day is a Saturday and the temperature is in the low 70?s.
The Spanish American War is being fought and in Cuba the Collier Merricac is sunk to blockade
the mouth of Santiago Harbor. The Spanish Fleet is now bottled in the harbor and prevented from
escaping and engaging the U.S. Fleet. The Spanish Admiral claims the boat was torpedo, while
the U.S. Navy it had been sunk on purpose. The crew of eight sailors was captured.
U.S. Troops are mobilizing at Jacksonville, Florida for an invasion of Puerto Rico.
The Manhattan & Bronx School Boards are asking the Corporate Counsel if it can pay school
teachers who are serving with the military during the war.
At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Red Cross Society, steps will be taken to have a
penny collection taken in the schools before they ajorn for the summer for the War effort.
Between $1000 and $2000 was stolen from a money box at the Brooklyn Heights Railroad station
on Halsey Street, Brooklyn, on Thursday night. The police are anxious to interview Frank Smith,
the night starter, who left work early and has reported for work since.
The 23rd annual Conmencement of the N.Y. City Training School for Nurses was held yesterday
afternoon at the Charity Hospital on Blackwell?s Island. The 37 nurses will be asssigned to
Gouverneur, Harlem, Fordham, and Materinity Hospitals.
One worker was killed, two others injured and fifty familys are homeless after an explosion in the
basement of the Prince Street paint store. The three workers were pouring turpintine into smaller
containers in the basement. They were using a lighted candle to work by when the explosion
happened. The fire was out in 15 minutes.
The auxiliary cruiser ?ST. PAUL? has arrived at Tompkinsville yesterday morning. The big vessel
will take on coal and provisions and set sail in three days.
Two contestants in a Waltzing match for a $70.00 diamond ring will appear in the 5th Municipal
Court Monday. The dancers will exhibit their powers before Judge Goldfolge. The musicians
stopped playing and one of the contestants stop dancing thinking the contest was over. The other
continued dancing while the onlookers started whistling.
The Queens Budget Committee failed to adopt the $500,000 budget for the County. The Long Island
City Taxpayers Association is questioning the budget. It had to pass before Sunday night.
President McKinley discussed the question of Hawaiian Annexation with several representatives
today. He told them of the importance of prompt action by the two houses. The vote should be
taken next week and should pass.
The New York Herald Newspaper Daily & Sunday $10.00 for the years.
In Baseball, the New York Giants are in 4th place, 22-15. Yesterday the Giants beat the Cincinnati
team 16 to 10. Cincinnati is still in first place with a record of 27-10.
June 14, opening day for a new sailing season. Pleasure travel on the Great Lakes aboard the
Northern Steamship Company. Passage from Buffalo to Duluth Minnesota is $29.00 round trip Price
of berth and staterooms are extra. Northern Steamship Company offices are at 375 Broadway.
"ENGINE 65 100 YEARS OF SERVICE TO TIMES SQUARE AND MIDTOWN (by Mike Boucher)
Department General Order Number 2, dated May 27, 1898, placed Engines 65 and 66 in service on
June 4, 1898. Engine 66, the fireboat ?Robert A. Van Wyck? was placed in service at the foot of
Grand Street in the East River. Engine 65 was located in a new building at 33 W. 43rd Street in the
Midtown section of Manhattan.
Ten years earlier West 43rd street had become a service area with car and horse stables. By the
1890?s this area of Manhattan was becoming a very fashionable section of the City. The Theater
District had started moving north from the Union Square area to Midtown around this time. W. 43rd
Street between 5th and 6th Avenues contained three very exclusive clubs along with the N. Y. Bar
Association, and the Royalton Hotel. As new buildings were being built the need for additional fire
protection was also felt. Engine 65 would fill this gap in fire protection and was surrounded by
Engines 2, 8, 21, and 54.
The City of New York acquired the lot through condemnation procedures, which were started on
October 18, 1894, and were completed on July 25, 1895. The lot measures 25 feet by 100 feet and
cost $36,564.00 to acquire. The owner of the lot was Isaac Townsend, the president of the Racquet
and Tennis Club. The lot had a small frame building that was being used by Taggart Stables, as a
stable for the Racquet and Tennis Club.
This site when picked for a fire company location was not a popular choice with the local residents.
In fact the October 5, 1894 issue of the New York Times, front page was an article titled ?Noisy
Neighbor for Clubs?. The article goes on to state the members of the Racquet Club, the Academy of
Medicine, and the Century Club had discussed this issue thoroughly and regarded this as a
nuisance and an affliction to the neighborhood. The biggest complaint was the loud clanging of
the bells and gongs at all hours of the day and night. Most people did agree that a firehouse was
needed in the area but not on this street which is quiet and residential.
FIRSTS
Engine 65?s quarters were designed by Francis l.V. Hoppin and Terence A. Koen and built by E. D.
Colony and Son. It was started on July 12, 1897 and cost $23,449.00 to build. The front of the
building is Indiana limestone and buff brick with terra cotta trimmings. The first floor and sidewalk
vault is composed of steel I beams and brick arches with the apparatus flooring of cork brick. All
ceilings are of stamped steel. The second and third floors and roof have wooden beams with
flooring of wood and walls of brick. The building is 25 x 80 feet on a lot of 25 x 100 feet.
Engine 65 was placed in service with a crew of twelve at 8 A.M. on the 4th and assigned to the 9th
Battalion. The first members were Foreman (Captain) Richard J. Norris, Assistant Foreman
(Lieutenant) John F. Higgins, Engineers of Steamer Joseph Connolly and James Foley, and
Firemen James J. Convey, Edward Keegan, Edward Page, Herman W. Oppe, Robert Paul, Timothy
Donovan, Edward T. Tracy, and James G. Darling. They were assigned to 202 alarm stations, 43
first alarm, 52-second alarm, 69 third alarm, 31 fourth alarm and 6 special boxes.
The first run for the new Company came at 6:20 P.M. the first night when they responded to a
second alarm at 351 8th Avenue. They responded to a hydrant in front of 252 W. 28th Street. Deputy
Chief Edward F. Croker ordered Engine 65 back to quarters without doing any work. The next run
was later that night at 8:56 P.M. to 205 W. 38th Street and like the first run they didn?t do any work.
The first fire run for Engine 65 was on June 17th at 50 W. 43rd Street in a building being used as a
storehouse. It turned out to be a still alarm with Firemen Keegan and Oppe walking across the street
and putting the fire out with a pail of water. The apparatus stayed in quarters for this run and there
was no damage to the contain of the building.
The first major fire was on August 25th. The second alarm fire was at 206 through 212 E. 55th
Street. Engine 65 took four minutes to hook up the horses and to respond. They used 200 feet of 3-
inch hose to extinguish the fire. The line was laid through 211-213 W. 54th Street and operated in
the rear of the fire building. Engine 65 pumped 79,000 gallons of water and worked 4 hours and 35
minutes.
THE LIFE OF A FIREMAN
The life of a firemen was a hard one, both physically and on one?s personal life. A fireman worked
24 hours a day with three 24-hour leaves per month, plus two 12-hour leaves that could not be
added to the 24 hour leave. He could go home for meals each day for a total of three hours in any
combination of three 1-hour breaks, 2 hour and a half breaks or one 3-hour break.
The horses were kings in the fire department during this time. On a cold winter?s night after fighting
a fire for five or six hours the first thing a fireman would do once back at quarters is take care of the
horses. They would be watered, rubbed down, dried down, and fed before any fireman would
change his wet clothes. The horses had an ambulance many years before the firemen did.
Because of Engine 65?s location in Times Square it has always been a show company. It was one
of the first companies to try rubber tires on the hose wagons in 1899. Because of the success of this
addition, a smoother ride and lower maintenance cost, every company would soon have rubber
tires. Other firsts included; the first 1000 gpm motorized pumper (1927), the first piece of apparatus
with pneumatic tires (1927), the first diesel powered apparatus (1965), and the first lime green
colored apparatus (1981). Also because of its location many probationary firemen passed through
the doors in 100 years.
Engine 65?s quarters were built for just one company and was spacious for the twelve men. Over the
years as the working conditions improved the building became cramped. By 1939, the threeplatoon
work chart was installed in all companies and the W. 43rd Street quarters became very tight
with twelve more men being assigned. On July 19, 1957 Battalion 8 relocated from 165 E. 51st
Street while that house was torn down and rebuilt. On March 2, 1960, Battalion 8 moved to 203 E.
50th Street, a temporary house. On May 1, 1960, Rescue 1 would be relocated from 243 Lafayette
Street when that house was closed adding another twenty-five men. The Rescue would stay until
February 1, 1973 and then move to 530 W. 43rd Street. This building was the former quarters of
Engine 2, which had been disbanded the day before.
LODDs
In 100 years of service five members of Engine 65 paid the supreme sacrifice with their lives.
On December 26, 1915, Fireman Matthew J. Ward was detailed to Ladder 21 for the day. The
weather was brutal with a full blizzard blowing. Ladder 21 was responding to Box 461, 6th Avenue
and W. 37th Street. While crossing Broadway at W. 36 Street, Ladder 21 was broadsided by a
southbound trolley car. Fireman Ward was caught between the trolley and the ladders. He died a
few hours of later from his injuries. The motorman reported not hearing the siren or bell above the
noise of the blizzard.
The second member to lose his life was Fireman John J. Frein on January 4, 1918 while operating
on the third floor of 305 E. 43rd Street. On the fifth floor was a 6 ton safe resting on fire-damaged
timbers. This caused the fourth and fifth floors to collapse to the third floor. The company was
pinned in the collapse. Fireman Frein was killed instantly in the collapse which also injured the rest
of the crew.
Three members of Engine 65, Lt. John H. Cosgrove, Firemen 1st Grade Thomas Finn and James
Greene were killed along with four other firemen on August 1, 1932. A fire had started in the paint
locker of the Hotel Ritz at Park Avenue and 57th Street. Before this minor fire in the paint locker of
the sub-cellar was out, it would take the lives of seven firemen and injure 31 other people. Engine
65 had placed a 35-foot ladder down the sidewalk elevator shaft and had been operating the line
for less than three minutes when a terrific blast ripped through the paint locker. The explosion blew
the first floor storefront windows out into the street along with $100,000 worth of gems from a jewelry
store window. The fire was out in twenty-five minutes. The four other firemen killed were; Lt. James
Harnett and Firemen Louis Hardina of Ladder 16, Peter Daly of Engine 39, and William L. Pratt of
Ladder 7, detailed to Ladder 2 for the day.
Three members of Engine 65 received medals for going above and beyond the call of duty in
making rescues. Captain Patrick J. Boylan received the William F. Conran Medal along with a
Department Medal for a rescue he made on December 21, 1945. Lieutenant Joseph W. Brochu was
awarded the M. J. Delhanty Medal on June 15, 1961. The last medal was given to Firefighter 1st
grade Donald E. Clark. He received the Mayor LaGuardia Medal for a rescue while off duty on
January 24, 1991.
LANDMARK
On October 2, 1990, The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission honored Engine 65 by
designating the firehouse as a New York City landmark.
In one hundred years of service, 528 firemen have proudly worn Engine 65 on the front their
helmets. If the walls of this firehouse could talk, we would a much livelier book of stories. It was
these 528 men who have made this engine company a premier company over the years. During the
past one hundred years Engine 65 has always been in the forefront of fire technology for this City.
No matter what types of run Engine 65 as been assigned to, they have done it with exceptional
pride and dedication. Let the next one hundred years be just as grand as the first one hundred.
WHEELS OF ENGINE 65
HORSE DRAWN APPARATUS
1898 LaFrance 1st size steamer #395, June 4, 1898.
1898 Gleason & Bailey 1st size hose wagon, #57, June 4, 1898.
1907 American Lafrance 1st size steamer #3135, 1907.
1907 Rech-Marbecker 1st size hose wagon #134, 1907.
1915 Chrystie front drive tractor replaced the horses on September 1, 1915.
MOTORIZED APPARATUS
1916 Mack hose wagon #108, January 1, 1916.
1914 Ahrens Fox 700 gpm pumper #804, November 1, 1916.
1927 Ahrens Fox 1000 gpm Pumper #744, June 4, 1927.
1929 Four Wheel Drive hose wagon #162, January 18, 1929.
1930 Seagrave hose wagon #245, July 1, 1930.
1933 Seagrave hose wagon #251, May 19, 1933.
1933 Ahrens Fox 1000 gpm pumper #4003, May 24, 1933.
1938 Ahrens Fox1000 gpm pumper #3432, June 25, 1938.
1938 Ward LaFrance hose wagon #266, January 9, 1943.
1947 Mack 750 gpm pumper #1148, June 27, 1947.
1938 Ahrens Fox 1000 gpm pumper #3423, April 30, 1951.
1936 Mack 1000 gpm pumper used as a hose wagon #1002, February 9, 1954.
1958 Mack 750 gpm pumper #1004, February 5, 1958.
1962 Mack 1000 gpm pumper #1154, January 2, 1963.
1965 Mack 1000 gpm pumper #1316, March 17, 1965.
1954 Mack 1000 gpm pumper #1099, July 30, 1966.
1971 Mack 1000 gpm pumper #MP7108, October 18, 1971.
1980 Ameican LaFrance 1000 gpm pumper #AP8080, July 21, 1981.
1983 Mack 1000 gpm pumper #MP8306, June 25, 1984.
1994 Seagrave 1000 gpm pumper #SP9405H, December 29, 1994.
THE BRAVEST OF THE BRAVE
Captain Patrick J. Boylan William F. Conran Medal & Department Medal
Captain Patrick J. Boylan earned the William F. Conran Medal and a Department Medal for the
removal of a man from a sewer at the intersection of Madison Avenue and E. 43rd Street on
December 21, 1945. During snow removal operations the sewer cover was removed from the sewer
so snow could be placed down the sewer. A man fell down the sewer, which had four feet of
running water. Captain Boylan and Engine 65 was the first company on the scene and Captain
Boylan was lower by a rope into the sewer. While in the sewer, water continued to pour down from
the street drenching Captain Boylan. He was searching in total darkness for the man and could not
locate him until he received a flashlight. Finally the man was located and was brought to the
surface with the help of members of Ladder 2. Captain Boylan was partially overcome by sewer gas,
and the chilling effect of the cold water had to be hoisted up with help from above.
Lieutenant Joseph W. Brochu M. J. Delehanty Medal
Lieutenant Joseph W. Brochu received the M. J. Delehanty Medal for the rescue of a 11 year old
from a stalled elevator at 730 5th Avenue on June 15, 1961. The weather was very hot with high
humidity and electrical power was lost in this 26-story office building, trapping many people in the
elevators. Engine 65 responded under the command of Lieutenant Brochu and was told several of
the elevators had people in them and they were removed. The only light was from the flashlights
the members were carrying with them. An 11year old boy was still unaccounted for in one of the
elevators. The Company went up to the 14th floor the last known location of that car and forced the
doors to the shaft to here faint cries from below. Lieutenant Brochu slipped into bowline-on-a bight
on a roof rope and slipped into the darkness below. He was lowered six floors before coming upon
the stalled car. Once on the roof of the car he forced the escape hatch lowered himself into the
car. Stephan Nevaro was lying on the floor of the elevator, prostrated with heat and fear. Lieutenant
Brochu untied the rope from around himself and retied them around the boy, who was then raised
up to the 14th floor. Several minutes later the rope was lower and Lieutenant Brochu was brought up
from the car.
Firefighter 1st grade Donald E. Clark Mayor LaGuardia Medal
Firefighter 1st grade Donald E. Clark was awarded the Mayor LaGuardia Medal for the off duty
rescue his next door invalid neighbor living at 190 Cebra Avenue, Staten Island on January 24,
1991. As Donald was getting ready for bed he heard the neighbors yelling ?FIRE!? Rushing outside
he found the house next door having an orange glow and smoke pushing out the windows. After
notifying the Staten Island Dispatchers of the fire he entered the building. He knew an elderly
bedridden invalid occupied the fire apartment. Donald entered the building without any fire gear
only to be hit with a blast heat and heavy black smoke. Crawling about thirty feet to the fire
apartment he forced the door to find fire in the front part of the apartment. Hearing his neighbors
moaning, he crawled into the apartment looking for him. He found Mr. Tony Deeds on the floor
covered with burning debris. He pulled Mr. Deeds out of the burning apartment, down the hallway
to fresh air outside.
UNIT CITATIONS
Oct. 23, 1963, 1487 Broadway, Box 4-4 786
Sept. 7, 1966, S.S. Hanseatic, Pier 84, Box 5-5-817
Dec. 15, 1967 341 9th Avenue,
Morgan Post Office Box 5-5 676
Sept. 4, 1968, 277 Park Avenue, Box 2-2 827
Feb. 25, 1969, 595 5th Avenue, Box 3-3 839
Nov. 16, 1975, 250 W. 42nd Street, Box 3-3 786
June 14, 1979, Macy?s Herald Square, Box 4-4-714
Sept. 8, 1979, 25 Vanderbilt Avenue, Box 3-3-812
Nov. 3, 1979, 35 W. 43rd Street, Box 2-2 795
Apr. 17, 1981, 401 7th Avenue, Box 5-5 689
Oct. 15, 1984, 201 E. 36th Street, Box 2-2 735
Jan. 11, 1988, 135 e. 50TH Street, Box 5-5 858
May 14, 1991, 723 7th Avenue, Box 3-3 837
Jul. 2, 1992, 260 Madison Avenue, Box 3-3 757
Feb. 26, 1993, World Trade Center, Box 69
THE FALLEN MEMBERS OF ENGINE 65 5-5-5-5
Fireman Mathew J. Ward December 26, 1915
Fireman John J. Frein January 4, 1918
Lieutenant John H. Cosgrove August 1, 1932
Fireman Thomas S. Finn August 1, 1932
Fireman James F. Greene August 1, 1932
6-5-2
Captain Henry O. Laboda, Jr. March 10, 1929
Captain William J. Fiala March 3, 1932
Fireman Arthur J. Banger February 24, 1934
Fireman Harold F. Coote Oct. 16, 1934
Fireman Emanuel Parker February 8, 1982
HEADQUARTERS FIRE DEPARTMENT, CITY OF NEW YORK BUREAU CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT
General Orders, No. 2. May 27th, 1898.
1. It is announced to the Department that Eng. Co?s. No. 65 and No 66 will
be organized, and that Engine Co. No. 43 will be transferred from the 4th to the 10th
Battalion, to take effect from and after 8 A. M. on the 4th Proximo.
Eng. Co. No. 65 will be located at No. 33 West 43rd Street, assigned to the 9th
Battalion, and the Company District will be as follows: 6th Avenue from 40th Street to
59th Street to Park Avenue to 42nd Street to 5th Avenue to 40th Street to 6th Avenue.
The Company Districts of Eng. Co?s 8, 21, and H. & L. Co. 2 will be altered to
read as follows:
Eng. Co. No. 8 - Park Avenue from 50th Street to 59th Street to East River to
50th Street to Park Avenue.
H. & L. Co. No. 2 - Park Avenue from 42nd Street to 50th Street to East River to
42nd Street to Park Avenue.
Eng. Co. No. 21 - 5th Avenue from 34th Street to 42nd Street to East River to
34th Street to 5th Avenue.
Eng. Co. No. 65 will be assigned to duty as follows: (Stations marked # are first
due and for fuel)
First Alarm, Stations 457, 458, 459, 461, 462, 463, 476, 477, 478#, 479#, 481#,
482#, 483, 485, 486, 487, 488#, 489#, 492, 493, 516, 517. 518#, 519, 521#, 522#,
523#, 524, 525, 535, 536, 537, 541#, 542#, 543, 544, 557, 558, 559, 561, 562, 563,
and 574.
Second Alarm, Stations 418, 419, 421, 429, 434, 436, 438, 439, 441, 442, 443,
445, 446, 447, 454, 455, 456, 464, 465, 466, 467, 468, 471, 472, 473, 474, 475, 484,
512, 513, 514, 515, 526, 527, 528, 529, 534, 545, 546, 547, 548, 554, 556, 564, 565,
566, 567, 568, 573, 575, 576, and 582.
Third Alarm, Stations 374, 375, 376, 377, 379, 381, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386,
414, 415, 416, 417, 422, 423, 424, 427, 433, 435, 437, 448, 449, 451, 452, 453, 531,
532, 533, 551, 552, 553, 571, 572, 577, 578, 581, 583, 584, 585, 586, 587, 588, 591,
592, 593, 594, 597, 598, 599, 612, 613, 614, 615, 616, 617, 618, 619, 621, 622, 623,
624, 625, 626, 627, 628, 629, 634.
Fourth Alarm, Stations 316, 322, 331, 337, 339, 341, 342, 343, 345, 348, 349,
353, 356, 358, 361, 369, 371, 373, 378, 425, 428, 646, 653, 656, 672, 677, 678, 688,
697 699, and 722.
Class ?3? Stations 138, 162, 191, 365, 382 and 384.
Class ?10? Station 215.
First Alarm Station Locations
457 - 7th Ave. & 38th St.
458 - 7th Ave. & 35th St.
459 - Broadway & 34th St.
461 - 6th Ave. & 37th St.
462 - 5th Ave. & 35th St.
463 - Park Ave. & 37th St.
476 - 8th Ave. & 38th St.
477 - 7th Ave. & 40th St.
478 - Broadway & 42nd St.
479 - 5th Ave. & 42nd St.
481 - 6th Ave. & 40th St.
482 - 5th Ave. & 38th St.
483 - Lexington Ave. & 43rd St.
485 - 3rd Ave. & 40th St.
486 - 2nd Ave. & 42nd St.
487 - 1st Ave. & 41st St.
488 - Madison Ave. & 41st St.
489 - Madison & 45th St.
492 - Lexington Ave. & 39th St.
493 - 3rd Ave. & 42nd St.
516 - 9th Ave. & 47th St.
517 - 9th Ave. & 44th St.
518 - Broadway & 44th St.
519 - Broadway & 47th St.
521 - 6th Ave. & 46th St.
522 - 6th Ave. & 43rd St.
523 - 5th Ave. & 45th St.
524 - Lexington Ave. & 45th St.
525 - Lexington Ave. & 47th St.
535 - 8th Ave. & 51st St.
536 - 8th Ave. & 50th St.
537 - 7th Ave. & 51st St.
541 - 6th Ave. & 5th St.
542 - 5th Ave. & 48th St.
543 - 5th Ave. & 52nd St.
544 - Madison Ave. & 50th St.
557 - 8th Ave. & 55th St.
558 - Broadway & 53rd St.
559 - 7th Ave. & 59th St.
561 - 6th Ave. & 52nd St.
562 - 5th Ave. & 55th St.
563 - Madison Ave. & 54th St.
574 - 6th Ave. & 58th St.
100 YEARS OF RUNNING RUNS & WORKERS
YEAR RUNS WORKERS
1898 85 10
1899 287 50
1900 278 52
1901 242 38
1902 277 58
1903 280 56
1904 248 14
1905 282 44
1906 280 57
1907 322 50
1908 321 72
1909 288 59
1910 280 62
1911 270 55
1912 357 68
1913 272 49
1914 303 60
1915 282 46
1916 326 65
1917 282 89
1918 335 85
1919 313 74
1920 399 94
1921 342 72
1922 550 104
1923 629 93
1924 692 101
1925 697 113
1926 734 105
1927 677 80
1928 712 98
1929 678 101
1930 855 94
1931 770 151
1932 757 99
1933 629 83
1934 711 102
1935 636 169
1936 661 191
1937 623 169
1938 515 166
1939 564 187
1940 563 185
1941 570 200
1942 523 191
1943 659 248
1944 784 291
1945 784 187
1946 718 272
1947 650 302
1948 705 288
1949 912 287
1950 813 269
1951 817 247
1952 903 303
1953 913 299
1954 853 312
1955 873 284
1956 929 292
1957 1003 343
1958 1042 377
1959 1002 391
1960 863 385
1961 799 366
1962 686 347
1963 762 368
1964 1090 467
1965 1218 513
1966 1134 477
1967 1231 517
1968 1358 584
1969 1470 678
1970 1581 723
1971 1713 748
1972 1552 739
1973 1288 843
1974 1431 905
1975 1640 1031
1976 1754 1122
1977 2069 1395
1978 2237 1425
1979 2154 1337
1980 2637 1462
1981 2565 1343
1982 2784 1563
1983 3178 1751
1985 3318 2398
1986 3258 2293
1987 3480 2162
1988 3617 2278
1989 4298 2562
1990 4515 2310
1991 4444 2407
1992 4080 2178
1993 3910 2042
1994 3783 2149
1995 3635 2267
1996 4039 2514
1997 4343 2733
The Company responded to 124,971 alarms and 60,546 workers.
IN THE NEWSPAPER JUNE 4, 1898
The day is a Saturday and the temperature is in the low 70?s.
The Spanish American War is being fought and in Cuba the Collier Merricac is sunk to blockade
the mouth of Santiago Harbor. The Spanish Fleet is now bottled in the harbor and prevented from
escaping and engaging the U.S. Fleet. The Spanish Admiral claims the boat was torpedo, while
the U.S. Navy it had been sunk on purpose. The crew of eight sailors was captured.
U.S. Troops are mobilizing at Jacksonville, Florida for an invasion of Puerto Rico.
The Manhattan & Bronx School Boards are asking the Corporate Counsel if it can pay school
teachers who are serving with the military during the war.
At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Red Cross Society, steps will be taken to have a
penny collection taken in the schools before they ajorn for the summer for the War effort.
Between $1000 and $2000 was stolen from a money box at the Brooklyn Heights Railroad station
on Halsey Street, Brooklyn, on Thursday night. The police are anxious to interview Frank Smith,
the night starter, who left work early and has reported for work since.
The 23rd annual Conmencement of the N.Y. City Training School for Nurses was held yesterday
afternoon at the Charity Hospital on Blackwell?s Island. The 37 nurses will be asssigned to
Gouverneur, Harlem, Fordham, and Materinity Hospitals.
One worker was killed, two others injured and fifty familys are homeless after an explosion in the
basement of the Prince Street paint store. The three workers were pouring turpintine into smaller
containers in the basement. They were using a lighted candle to work by when the explosion
happened. The fire was out in 15 minutes.
The auxiliary cruiser ?ST. PAUL? has arrived at Tompkinsville yesterday morning. The big vessel
will take on coal and provisions and set sail in three days.
Two contestants in a Waltzing match for a $70.00 diamond ring will appear in the 5th Municipal
Court Monday. The dancers will exhibit their powers before Judge Goldfolge. The musicians
stopped playing and one of the contestants stop dancing thinking the contest was over. The other
continued dancing while the onlookers started whistling.
The Queens Budget Committee failed to adopt the $500,000 budget for the County. The Long Island
City Taxpayers Association is questioning the budget. It had to pass before Sunday night.
President McKinley discussed the question of Hawaiian Annexation with several representatives
today. He told them of the importance of prompt action by the two houses. The vote should be
taken next week and should pass.
The New York Herald Newspaper Daily & Sunday $10.00 for the years.
In Baseball, the New York Giants are in 4th place, 22-15. Yesterday the Giants beat the Cincinnati
team 16 to 10. Cincinnati is still in first place with a record of 27-10.
June 14, opening day for a new sailing season. Pleasure travel on the Great Lakes aboard the
Northern Steamship Company. Passage from Buffalo to Duluth Minnesota is $29.00 round trip Price
of berth and staterooms are extra. Northern Steamship Company offices are at 375 Broadway.
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2013
- Messages
- 911
Mack - there was an article about Field Kitchen 94 in a Fire Engineering magazine of that time, probably written by Paul Ditzel.
Bxboro said:
Engine 48 - firehouse 2504 Webster Avenue
Engine 48 former firehouse 2504 Webster Ave:
Pictures of Engine 48 members operating at 1956 fire and building collapse:
http://nyfd.com/3rd_ave_4-4-56.html
Engine 48 former firehouse 2504 Webster Avenue fire:
http://northeastfirephotos.smugmug.com/FDNY/Bronx-Collapse-of-Engine-48s/13661967_TRFtZB#!i=997398018&k=xw9cj
Engine 63/Ladder 39/Bn 15 firehouses - Wakefield and Woodhaven Bronx, NY "Top of da Bronx"
Engine 63 organized White Plains Rd and St Ouen Place former firehouse of volunteer companies 1896
Engine 63 moved to new firehouse 687 E 240 St 1896
Engine 63 moved to new firehouse 4109 White Plains Rd 1909
Engine 63 moved to new firehouse 755 E 233 St 1971
Engine 63 firehouse 755 E 233 St remodeled 2011-2013
Note - Wakefield Village volunteer fire companies were: Americus Ladder, Nereid Engine 1, George Washington Hose located White Plains Rd and E 240 St
Combined Engine 69 organized 243 E 233 St 1899
Combined Engine 69 disbanded 1916
Ladder 39 organized 1799 1st Ave Manhattan w/Engine 89 1909
Ladder 39 moved to 243 E 233 St former firehouse Combined Engine 69 1916
Ladder 39 moved to 755 E 233 St at Engine 63 1981
Ladder 39 moved to 243 E 233 St 1982
Ladder 39 moved to 755 E 233 St at Engine 63 2006
Ladder 39 firehouse 755 E 233 St remodeled 2011-2013
Bn 15 moved to 755 E 233 St at Engine 63 1986
Bn 15 moved to21 Asch Loop 2011
Bn 15 returned to 755 E 233 St at Engine 66 2013
Note: Bn 15 also located at Combined Engine 62, Combined Engine 75
Wakefield 1900:
Engine 63 original firehouse White Plains Rd and E 240 St (formerly St Ouen Pl and BronxPlace):
Co-located with NYPD 39th Precinct
Engine 63 former firehouse 4109 White Plains Rd became EMS Station 15:
243 E 233 St firehouse - original firehouse of Combined Engine 89 and then Ladder 39:
Ladder 39's firehouse 243 E 233rd St:
Fight to keep Ladder 39's Woodhaven firehouse open (last wood-framed FDNY firehouse):
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/bronx/fdny-response-angers-nabe-article-1.235709
http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/boroughs/line-nearing-bx-firehouse-article-1.618658
Current EMS Station 27 built at 243 E 233 St (former location of Ladder 39's firehouse):
http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/events/2011/080511a.shtml
Engine 63/Ladder 39/Bn 15 firehouse 755 E 233 St Wakefield Bronx (before remodeling):
Engine 63/Ladder 39/Bn 15 755 E 233 St firehouse -current:
Engine 63:
Ladder 39:
Quarters and apparatus:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZsF2z8rPvk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFZE7h27iJs
E 63/Ladder 39 responding:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVHxOLzZJbY
E 63 LODD - FF Edward J. Curtin 7/17/54 Box 5-7-3874 - Never Forget
Company website:
http://www.fdnyengine63.com/news/index/layoutfile/home
Centennials:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/events/2009/042409b.shtml
Woodlawn Heights/Wakefield:
http://forgotten-ny.com/2003/07/borderline-crazy-part-ii-part-two-in-a-series-exploring-nycs-boundaries-with-other-municipalities-second-in-the-series-the-bronx-wakefield/
Engine 63 organized White Plains Rd and St Ouen Place former firehouse of volunteer companies 1896
Engine 63 moved to new firehouse 687 E 240 St 1896
Engine 63 moved to new firehouse 4109 White Plains Rd 1909
Engine 63 moved to new firehouse 755 E 233 St 1971
Engine 63 firehouse 755 E 233 St remodeled 2011-2013
Note - Wakefield Village volunteer fire companies were: Americus Ladder, Nereid Engine 1, George Washington Hose located White Plains Rd and E 240 St
Combined Engine 69 organized 243 E 233 St 1899
Combined Engine 69 disbanded 1916
Ladder 39 organized 1799 1st Ave Manhattan w/Engine 89 1909
Ladder 39 moved to 243 E 233 St former firehouse Combined Engine 69 1916
Ladder 39 moved to 755 E 233 St at Engine 63 1981
Ladder 39 moved to 243 E 233 St 1982
Ladder 39 moved to 755 E 233 St at Engine 63 2006
Ladder 39 firehouse 755 E 233 St remodeled 2011-2013
Bn 15 moved to 755 E 233 St at Engine 63 1986
Bn 15 moved to21 Asch Loop 2011
Bn 15 returned to 755 E 233 St at Engine 66 2013
Note: Bn 15 also located at Combined Engine 62, Combined Engine 75
Wakefield 1900:
Engine 63 original firehouse White Plains Rd and E 240 St (formerly St Ouen Pl and BronxPlace):
Co-located with NYPD 39th Precinct
Engine 63 former firehouse 4109 White Plains Rd became EMS Station 15:
243 E 233 St firehouse - original firehouse of Combined Engine 89 and then Ladder 39:
Ladder 39's firehouse 243 E 233rd St:
Fight to keep Ladder 39's Woodhaven firehouse open (last wood-framed FDNY firehouse):
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/bronx/fdny-response-angers-nabe-article-1.235709
http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/boroughs/line-nearing-bx-firehouse-article-1.618658
Current EMS Station 27 built at 243 E 233 St (former location of Ladder 39's firehouse):
http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/events/2011/080511a.shtml
Engine 63/Ladder 39/Bn 15 firehouse 755 E 233 St Wakefield Bronx (before remodeling):
Engine 63/Ladder 39/Bn 15 755 E 233 St firehouse -current:
Engine 63:
Ladder 39:
Quarters and apparatus:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZsF2z8rPvk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFZE7h27iJs
E 63/Ladder 39 responding:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVHxOLzZJbY
E 63 LODD - FF Edward J. Curtin 7/17/54 Box 5-7-3874 - Never Forget
Company website:
http://www.fdnyengine63.com/news/index/layoutfile/home
Centennials:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/events/2009/042409b.shtml
Woodlawn Heights/Wakefield:
http://forgotten-ny.com/2003/07/borderline-crazy-part-ii-part-two-in-a-series-exploring-nycs-boundaries-with-other-municipalities-second-in-the-series-the-bronx-wakefield/
mack said:Bxboro said:
Engine 48 former firehouse 2504 Webster Avenue fire:
http://northeastfirephotos.smugmug.com/FDNY/Bronx-Collapse-of-Engine-48s/13661967_TRFtZB#!i=997398018&k=xw9cj
As a buff, I remember catching a job in that vacant firehouse. I think there were actually TWO jobs in that firehouse, once it went vacant.
- Status