FDNY and NYC Firehouses and Fire Companies

[manhattan]

RE:    I think there were Two High Ladder Units. They were 150 feet correct ? If I remember the other high ladder unit was in Manhattan, maybe Engine 1 ?

Correct that it was Ladder 24. I'm pretty sure that it was either 125 or 150 feet and I believe it arrived at 31st Street just before Easter of (1964? 1965?).  I also seem to remember that it was designated "Tower Ladder 24", so somewhere along the line "Tower Ladder" became "Rearmount".

 

[mack]

I believe one of the high ladders was moved to E 324 for the 1964-1965 World's Fair, before it was reconfigured with a shorter aeriel ladder.

 

[auxlteng225]

check a post on here titled " HIGH LADDERS' that has a lot of details on them. They were Mack Magirus rigs, two of them, rear mounts and 144 foot ladders. with the top section that folded out if I remember correctly. Way back L119 in Brooklyn had one that was used almost fully extended at the Jewish Book Repository fire where an engine company stretched a line up it to get water on the fire. Yes, it sure was skinny on the top section.

 

[guitarman314]

    According to the F.A.J. Mack C book: the two Mack C/Magirus 146ft. rearmounts were Shop #455 & #456. #455 was first assigned to Ladder 13 then became High Ladder #1 and was rebuilt in 1969 with a Grove 100ft. heavy duty aerial and assigned to T.C.U.731 then L171.                                                                                                                                                                            #456 was assigned to Ladder 24 then in 1964 was assigned as the 2nd piece of E324 to protect the 1964-65 N.Y. World's Fair. After the World's Fair closed it was redesignated High Ladder #2 and assigned to L119. Interesting note: at that time L119's 1960 Mack C/Maxim 85ft. tiller (shop#439) went to L40 to replace their 1962 Seagrave that was crushed in a wall collapse. Shop#456 was rebuilt in 1969 with a 100ft. Grove heavy duty aerial and assigned to T.C.U.712, L164 and the Training School.

 

[guitarman314]

I'm not sure the date(s) when they became special apparatus "High Ladder" trucks but I remember reading somewhere that High Ladder 1 was quartered with Engine 21 and Ladder 13 & 24 both received 1963 Seagrave tillers (L24 got a new one and L13 got L48's).

 

[811]

This clip is from Gus Johnson's "Handbook..." of the Ladder 119 High Ladder job in Brooklyn, 12/30/1966.

 

[811]

The other notable "High Ladder" job was the Jewish Theological Seminary Library at Broadway & West 122 St on 4/18/1966.

Ladder 119 was special called from Brooklyn to this Second Alarm. Photo and a complete article is in WNYF 2/1966. There is no mention on the serviceability or location of the "other" High Ladder and why it was not called. Article says ladder pipe stream was used from exterior with no mention of a handline being stretched up the aerial.

 

[memory master]

I believe one of the high ladders was moved to E 324 for the 1964-1965 World's Fair, before it was reconfigured with a shorter aeriel ladder.

That is correct about the High Ladder for the Fair in '64. I was told years ago, not sure but I think it was my dad, that 324's fire house was built for the 1939 World's Fair so that a company was close by to augment the World's Fair Fire Department.

 

[fdhistorian]

Satellite 4 (and 5) was organized ten years earlier, in 1983, soon after the Maxi Water concept was established.

 

[mack]

1964-1965 NY Worlds Fair Fire Department

"The 1964 World's Fair Corporation engaged Pinkerton's International Detective Agency to provide a number of essential services at the Fair, including fire protection. To raise a cadre of qualified and experienced fire fighters for this temporary engagement, Pinkerton's turned to the retirees of the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY). In all, 100 seasoned men were hired and a full-fledged World's Fair Fire Department was formed.

The fire department was commanded by former FDNY Assistant Chief Thomas P. O'Brien. Chief O'Brien also had one Assistant Chief, retired FDNY Battalion Chief James E. Gowdy. A Manual was written for the department that resembled that of any other organized fire department and was clearly modeled after that of the FDNY, though much abbreviated.

Three pumpers and one rescue truck, specially designed by Chief O'Brien, were each manned by one Captain, three Lieutenants, and twenty firemen on a platoon system. The pumpers were manufactured by H&H Apparatus of Jersey City, New Jersey. They were built on 1962 Willy's chassis (original makers of the world famous "Jeeps") and were equipped with a 500 gallon-per-minute pump, nearly 2,000 feet of hose, ladders and an assortment of fire fighting and rescue tools. The trucks had to be a slim 17 feet wide so that they could be driven down any of the Fair's streets; the smallest of which was 20 feet wide. Not traditional "fire engine red," these trucks were painted in the Fair's blue and orange colors. They were deployed in three fire stations situated around the perimeter of the Fairgrounds; one on the northwest area at the Security Building, one on the northeast side and one near the aquacade on the south side of the Long Island Expressway.

Three pumpers and one rescue truck, specially designed by Chief O'Brien, were each manned by one Captain, three Lieutenants, and twenty firemen on a platoon system. The pumpers were manufactured by H&H Apparatus of Jersey City, New Jersey. They were built on 1962 Willy's chassis (original makers of the world famous "Jeeps") and were equipped with a 500 gallon-per-minute pump, nearly 2,000 feet of hose, ladders and an assortment of fire fighting and rescue tools. The trucks had to be a slim 17 feet wide so that they could be driven down any of the Fair's streets; the smallest of which was 20 feet wide. Not traditional "fire engine red," these trucks were painted in the Fair's blue and orange colors. They were deployed in three fire stations situated around the perimeter of the Fairgrounds; one on the northwest area at the Security Building, one on the northeast side and one near the aquacade on the south side of the Long Island Expressway."


http://www.nywf64.com/wffd03.shtml


http://nywf64.com/wffd02.shtml

http://cj3b.info/Fire/FireFCWorldsFair.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U4zNx_eqQ0

 

 

[mack]

Engine 289 organized 41-19 102nd Street in 1913 former quarters of volunteer fire company Pioneer Hook and Ladder 6.  Engine 289 moved to new firehouse 97-28 43rd Avenue in 1914.

Pioneer Hook and Ladder 6 - firehouse - National Street and 102nd Street  Corona, Queens

    Pioneer H&L 6 and Pioneer Hose were two of the volunteer companies which protected Corona before FDNY companies were organized.  Pioneer H&L 6 operated from this firehouse from 1890 through 1913 when Engine 289 was organized in this firehouse.  The former firehouse serves as a thrift store today.  The location of Pioneer Hose is unknown.

Pioneer H&L firehouse:






Former firehouse - 99 Cent Gift Store:


Corona neighborhood - former firehouse identified in site:
http://forgotten-ny.com/2005/12/corona-crown-of-queens/

 

[mack]

Louna Engine 8  -  volunteer company  - firehouse  -  Corona Queens

    Louna Engine 8 organized 103rd Street and Northern Boulevard    1896
    Louna Engine 8 moved new firehouse 102-03/05 32nd Avenue      1910
    Louna Engine 8 disbanded                                                          1913

102-03/05 32nd Avenue former firehouse today:

 

[mack]

Engine 167/Ladder 87/Foam 167 firehouse  345 Annadale Rd  Annadale, Staten Island  Division 8, Battalion 23 

    Engine 167 organized 345 Annadale Rd                      1972
    Engine 167 disbanded    (July 2-4)                            1975
    Engine 167 reorganized                                            1975

    Ladder 78 organized 345 Annadale Rd at Engine 167  1987

    Foam 167 organized 345 Annadale Rd at Engine 167  1998

Notes:
    -  Engine 167 was formed when they disbanded Engine 208 in Brooklyn and re-designated them Engine 167 (thanks JOR176)
    -  Engine 162 relocated to 345 Annadale Rd at Engine 167 while quarters refurbished 2013

345 Annadale Rd:










Ladder 87:




Engine 162 at 345 Annadale Rd:


Engine 167/Ladder 87/Battalion 23/ESU at rollover:
FDNY: MVA Rollover. FDNY Tower Ladder 87 + Engine 167

Engine 167 responding with spare:
FDNY Engine 167 Responding (Spare)

Annadale, SI:

History:





"The community received its present name circa 1860, and is named after Anna Seguine, a descendant of French Huguenots who were among the South Shore's earliest settlers; this settlement is also responsible for the neighborhood immediately to the southwest of Annadale being named Huguenot, and the Seguine family also lends its name to Seguine Avenue, the principal north-south thoroughfare on the east side of Prince's Bay, the next neighborhood southwest of Huguenot.

In 1929, immigrants from Spain purchased land along the Annadale shoreline, and founded a settlement that became known as the Spanish Camp, or Spanish Colony. First tents, and later bungalows, were built at the site. The site was purchased and buildings demolished at the end of the 20th century so that several large, upscale homes could be constructed.

Geography:

Annadale once had abundant woodland, but much of it was cleared in the last three decades of the 20th Century to make room for new homes. However, a city park in the heart of the neighborhood was converted into a wildlife preserve; known as Blue Heron Park Preserve, it covers 222 acres, much of it consisting of ponds, swamps and small streams which empty into nearby Raritan Bay.

The northwestern part of Annadale is now often regarded as a separate neighborhood known as Arden Heights. Southeast Annadale also harbors its own identity separate from the rest of the neighborhood. This quiet enclave is the section most often associated with Blue Heron Park."
(Wikipedia)

SE Annadale today:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjN3gDoFIT0

From Above: Southeast Annadale, Staten Island

Staten Island Rapid Transit (SIRT) Annadale Station history:
http://forgotten-ny.com/2007/02/stations-of-the-staten-island-railway-part-4/

 

[FDNYSTATENISLAND]

Thanks for the little history lesson on Annadale and 167/87, Mack. Very interesting always enjoy. That ariel video of the area is cool.

 

[FDNYSTATENISLAND]

Another patch design:



Engine 167:




Tower Ladder 87:

 

[brianpr3]

Hey Mack anything on engine 241 ladder 109 3rd ave express please?

 

[mack]

Engine 241/Ladder 109 - firehouses - Bay Ridge Brooklyn

    Engine 41 Brooklyn Fire Department organized w/Ladder 13 BFD 240 Bay Ridge Avenue                1896
    Engine 41 BFD became Engine 41 FDNY                                                                                      1898
    Engine 41 became Combined Engine Company 41                                                                        1898
    Combined Engine 41 became Combined Engine 141                                                                    1899
    Combined Engine 141 became Combined Engine 241                                                                  1913
    Combined Engine 241 became Engine 241                                                                                  1914
    Engine 241 new firehouse 6630 3rd Avenue w/Ladder 109                                                          1971

    Ladder 13 BFD organized w/Engine 41 BFD 240 Bay Ridge Avenue                                                1896
    Ladder 13 BFD disbanded                                                                                                          1898

    Ladder 9 BFD organized 633 4th Avenue former firehouse Engine 1 BFD                                        1891
    Ladder 9 BFD became Ladder 9 FDNY                                                                                        1898
    Ladder 9 became Ladder 59                                                                                                      1899
    Ladder 59 became Ladder 109                                                                                                  1913
    Ladder 109 moved to 240 Bay Ridge Avenue at Engine 241                                                          1939
    Ladder 109 new firehouse 6630 3rd Avenue w/Engine 241                                                          1971

Notes:
    - Bay Ridge originally protected by Bay Ridge Engine 1, Neptune Engine 2 and Bay Ridge Ladder 1 quartered in 1 story wood-frame sheds.
    - Combine Engine 41 (both BFD and later FDNY) was assigned pumper, hose wagon and ladder apparatus, common practice for outlaying areas in BFD and FDNY
   

240 Bay Ridge Avenue firehouse:








240 Bay Ridge Ave former firehouse:

Original use - American Legion hall


Current use - a store.

633 4th Ave Ladder 109 original firehouse (current pictures):




6630 3rd Ave new firehouse dedication 1971:






New Apparatus 1971:


6630 3rd Avenue:










Engine 241 Ahrens Fox:










Ladder 109:



















Engine 241/Ladder 109 in quarters:


Engine 241/Ladder 109 website:  http://www.thirdavenueexpress.com/
(pictures from website)

Engine 241/Ladder 109 Memorial Page - LODDs - Never Forget: http://www.thirdavenueexpress.com/memorial.html



Engine 241 history: http://nyfd.com/brooklyn_engines/engine_241/engine_241.pdf


Engine 241/Ladder 109 responding:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-zHqalY_6Q

Bay Ridge fire:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_v4Q_wou74


Bay Ridge, Brooklyn:
http://derekstadler.wordpress.com/portfolio-2/collections-photography/brooklyn/the-history-of-bay-ridge-fort-hamilton-and-the-verrazano-narrows-bridge/

http://forgotten-ny.com/2005/04/forgotten-tour-20-bay-ridge-brooklyn/

Old Bay Ridge trolley (and Bklyn trollies): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WvRSZSoktA

 

[JOR176]

The thread before this concerning 167 & 87 it should be noted that E167 was formed when they disbanded E 208 in Brooklyn and redesignated them E 167. This is just for your info.

 

[mack]

JOR176 - thanks for important note connecting Engine 208 and Engine 167 - made update.

 

[fdny1075k]

Great stuff as always, mack! Thanks for sharing.