Engine 214 - original quarters - 231 Herkimer St from 1872-1948 - organized as paid Brooklyn Fire Department Engine 14 in 1872
231 Herkimer St firehouse:
http://www.brooklynpix.com/photoframex1.php?photo=/photo1/B/bedstuy301.jpg&key=BEDFORD STUYVESANT 301
E 214/L 111 current firehouse - 495 Hancock St (1957-present):
Companies' histories:
BFD Engine 14:
"The city has no more efficient factor in its excellent Fire Department than Engine Company No. 14, which was organized twenty years ago, and has since won a record most creditable to itself and the Department at large. Its house is at No. 231 Herkimer Street, between New York and Brooklyn Avenues. The company covers a most important and extensive district ... bounded by Ralph Avenue, Grand Avenue, Lafayette Avenue and the city line. It is essentially a residence district, factories being few and far between. And it diners from every other district in this respect, that it contains probably one-half of Brooklyn's public institutions, a condition of things which calls for the exercise of the greater vigilance on the part of the men attached to the company. Under the roofs of these institutions-asylums, homes, retreats and hospitals-from six thousand to eight thousand persons are housed temporarily or permanently. A large percentage of them are children, aged men, and women or invalids who would be helpless in case of a fire...Fires have occurred within this district that would have been marked by the most disastrous consequences but for the timely arrival and effective work of this engine-company. This is a matter of public record and one of which the gallant members of it feel proud. Engine Company No. 14 may be ranked as a veteran, as it has been in existence for over twenty years. It was organized in 1872, or shortly after the old Volunteer Department passed out of existence.
By a happy coincidence, it began its career on the nation's holiday, July 4th...At that time its district was much larger than it is at present, and the menhad to attend to every call coming from that part of the city which was bounded then by Flushing and Washington Avenues, the city line on the south and the New Lots line on the east. It seems hardly possible that one fire engine company could cover so extensive an area and yet do it well, but No. 14 did it and did it with splendid results, as the fire records show. To-day No. 14 answers all alarms in the section bounded by Lafayette, Grand, an Ralph Avenues and the city line. Second-alarms call it to points in some cases nearly a mile beyond these limits, except on the southern or city line. Third-alarms call it much further, and special alarms bring it to the furthermost parts of the city. The recent organization of Engine Company No. 31 in the Twenty-sixth Ward, has reduced the eastern end of No. 14's territory about one-half mile. This change was absolutely necessary in view of the rapid increase in the number of buildings in the Twenty-fourth, Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth Wards. Within a few years several hundred frame structures have been erected in the Twenty-fourth Ward alone. During its extended career Engine No. 14 has attended hundreds of fires and has done effective work. It has always been prompt in answering calls, and zealous in its efforts to save life and property, and citizens living within its bailiwick have always been loud in their praises of its work. To the credit of this branch of the fire service it may truthfully be said that very few of the fires which have occurred within its territory were marked by loss of life.... The worst fire that ever occurred in this territory was the burning of St. John's Home for Boys, in which over 1000 children were being cared for. It broke out late in the afternoon of Dec. 18, 1884. The fire had gained twenty minutes' headway before No. 14 was summoned to it. About 1000 of the inmates were gotten out in safety. A Sister of Charity and fourteen boys lost their lives, however. Nearly all of the latter were in the infirmary in the upper part of the building. No. 14 and its gallant crew did splendid work at this disastrous fire and prevented a frightful holocaust." from "Our Firemen - the Official History of the Brooklyn Fire Depatment"
BFD Ladder 11 (became FDNY L 111):
"Hook and Ladder No. 11, went into active service at two o'clock in the afternoon of April 26, 1892. The home of the company is in a pretty two-story brick building, located on Halsey Street, near Sumner Avenue. Three fine, large, gray horses draw the latest improved Hayes' extension.ladder apparatus. The district covered by the company is bounded by De Kalb Avenue, Broadway, the city line, and Nostrand Avenue. from "Our Firemen - the Official History of the Brooklyn Fire Depatment"
Firehouse website:
http://www.fdnynuthouse.com/
http://nyfd.com/brooklyn_ladders/ladder_111.html
231 Herkimer St firehouse:
http://www.brooklynpix.com/photoframex1.php?photo=/photo1/B/bedstuy301.jpg&key=BEDFORD STUYVESANT 301
E 214/L 111 current firehouse - 495 Hancock St (1957-present):
Companies' histories:
BFD Engine 14:
"The city has no more efficient factor in its excellent Fire Department than Engine Company No. 14, which was organized twenty years ago, and has since won a record most creditable to itself and the Department at large. Its house is at No. 231 Herkimer Street, between New York and Brooklyn Avenues. The company covers a most important and extensive district ... bounded by Ralph Avenue, Grand Avenue, Lafayette Avenue and the city line. It is essentially a residence district, factories being few and far between. And it diners from every other district in this respect, that it contains probably one-half of Brooklyn's public institutions, a condition of things which calls for the exercise of the greater vigilance on the part of the men attached to the company. Under the roofs of these institutions-asylums, homes, retreats and hospitals-from six thousand to eight thousand persons are housed temporarily or permanently. A large percentage of them are children, aged men, and women or invalids who would be helpless in case of a fire...Fires have occurred within this district that would have been marked by the most disastrous consequences but for the timely arrival and effective work of this engine-company. This is a matter of public record and one of which the gallant members of it feel proud. Engine Company No. 14 may be ranked as a veteran, as it has been in existence for over twenty years. It was organized in 1872, or shortly after the old Volunteer Department passed out of existence.
By a happy coincidence, it began its career on the nation's holiday, July 4th...At that time its district was much larger than it is at present, and the menhad to attend to every call coming from that part of the city which was bounded then by Flushing and Washington Avenues, the city line on the south and the New Lots line on the east. It seems hardly possible that one fire engine company could cover so extensive an area and yet do it well, but No. 14 did it and did it with splendid results, as the fire records show. To-day No. 14 answers all alarms in the section bounded by Lafayette, Grand, an Ralph Avenues and the city line. Second-alarms call it to points in some cases nearly a mile beyond these limits, except on the southern or city line. Third-alarms call it much further, and special alarms bring it to the furthermost parts of the city. The recent organization of Engine Company No. 31 in the Twenty-sixth Ward, has reduced the eastern end of No. 14's territory about one-half mile. This change was absolutely necessary in view of the rapid increase in the number of buildings in the Twenty-fourth, Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth Wards. Within a few years several hundred frame structures have been erected in the Twenty-fourth Ward alone. During its extended career Engine No. 14 has attended hundreds of fires and has done effective work. It has always been prompt in answering calls, and zealous in its efforts to save life and property, and citizens living within its bailiwick have always been loud in their praises of its work. To the credit of this branch of the fire service it may truthfully be said that very few of the fires which have occurred within its territory were marked by loss of life.... The worst fire that ever occurred in this territory was the burning of St. John's Home for Boys, in which over 1000 children were being cared for. It broke out late in the afternoon of Dec. 18, 1884. The fire had gained twenty minutes' headway before No. 14 was summoned to it. About 1000 of the inmates were gotten out in safety. A Sister of Charity and fourteen boys lost their lives, however. Nearly all of the latter were in the infirmary in the upper part of the building. No. 14 and its gallant crew did splendid work at this disastrous fire and prevented a frightful holocaust." from "Our Firemen - the Official History of the Brooklyn Fire Depatment"
BFD Ladder 11 (became FDNY L 111):
"Hook and Ladder No. 11, went into active service at two o'clock in the afternoon of April 26, 1892. The home of the company is in a pretty two-story brick building, located on Halsey Street, near Sumner Avenue. Three fine, large, gray horses draw the latest improved Hayes' extension.ladder apparatus. The district covered by the company is bounded by De Kalb Avenue, Broadway, the city line, and Nostrand Avenue. from "Our Firemen - the Official History of the Brooklyn Fire Depatment"
Firehouse website:
http://www.fdnynuthouse.com/
http://nyfd.com/brooklyn_ladders/ladder_111.html
