Engine 32 firehouse 49 Beekman Street Financial District, Lower Manhattan
Disbanded
Engine 32 organized 18 Burling Slip (St. John Street) former volunteer firehouse 1865
Engine 32 moved 108 St John Street 1880
Engine 32 moved 49 Beekman Street 1905
Engine 32 disbanded 1972
Notes:
18 Burling Slip firehouse former quarters of volunteer Edwin Forrest Hose Company Number 5
- Manual of Corporation of City of NY
Engine 32 in front of 18 Burling Slip (St. John Street) firehouse:
49 Beekman Street firehouse 1980s:
49 Beekman Street firehouse current quarters Engine 6:
Engine 32:
Hose wagon:
1924 ALF 700 GPM:
1927 ALF 700 GPM:
1929 Seagrave hose wagon:
1954 Mack Hi-Pressure:
1962 Mack:
Engine 32 LODDs - Manhattan box 33-76, January 6, 1907:
" When first reported in the newspapers three firemen of Engine 32 were killed by being buried under the blazing debris of the roof and top two floors of the six-story paper warehouse of the George S. Hills Company at 54 Roosevelt Street. If it was not for the quick action of Acting Chief Binns, who ordered his men out of the building just in time, many more firemen may have perished. Firemen Campbell, Lennon and John J. C. Siefert were outside on the third floor landing and decided they could get to the ground faster by going down the stairs. They had just re-entered the building through a window when there was a great burst of fire from the floor above, then a rumble and the sound of breaking timbers. Other men on the fire escapes were all tossed to the ground injuring many of them. Once the three-alarm fire was subdued rescue parties entered the building from the top and started searching for the three missing firemen. Around midnight, two women approached Chief Binns, one dressed in black and the other in regular clothes. They were both looking for Jack Siefert. The Chief stated he thought he was dead in the collapse. Mrs. Siefert went up to the building looking for him and wanted to help in digging him out. The Chief ordered her home and after sometime she went home. Early the next day the mangled body of Lennon was pulled out of the rubble and there was not much hope of finding the other two alive. Several hours later a faint noise was heard. All work was stopped and the firemen listened for the noise. What they heard was three taps followed by two taps on a pipe and then a faint hello. The men ran to the spot where the sounds were coming from and yelled ?Hello! Is that you boys?? The answer came back saying he was Jack and did not feel like he was hurt but just could not move. The whole department started digging where the sound was coming from and after three hours they were no closer to finding him then before. Someone started tunneling toward where he thought the sounds were coming from. After several more hours of digging, a light was put in the tunnel and they asked Siefert if he could see it and he answered yes. Shortly after midnight the ruins shifted and everybody thought the rescuers would all be trapped. After thirty-one hours, Fireman Jack Siefert was removed alive from his prison. Fireman Siefert was trapped in a sitting position, his helmet still on saving his head from injuries. Water continually dripped on him and he would drink from this. His injuries were mostly minor cuts and bruises. Fireman Daniel J. Campbell was found only three feet from Siefert. His head was crushed by a metal stair railing." - The Last Alarm by Boucher, Urbanowicz & Melahn
FF Daniel J. Campbell, Engine 32, Manhattan box 33-76, 54 Roosevelt Avenue, building collapse, January 6, 1907
FF Thomas F. Lennon, Engine 32, Manhattan box 33-76, 54 Roosevelt Avenue, building collapse, January 6, 1907
WNYF fire summary:
FF John Seufert, Engine 32, survived collapse:
Never forget.
Engine 32 - 49 Beekman Street firehouse history:
"49 Beekman Street has been home for three different engine companies. Built in 1902, it occupied the former site of the Police Department's 2nd Precinct. The architectural firm of Horgan & Slattery designed this house as well as several others during the turn of the century. Construction started on October 1, 1902 and finished up on May 28, 1903 for an estimated cost of $35,000.00. The house was built for Engine 32 but was not occupied by them for several years. Engine 7 needed a temporary home while their old quarters were being torn down for subway construction, at 22 Chambers Street. Engine 7 used the house from June 15, 1903 until December 31, 1905, at which time the company moved to new quarters at 100 Duane Street. Engine 32 moved into Beekman Street from the leased quarters at 108 John Street. This three and one half story station measures 24 feet in the front and is 71 feet long. The lot, which was bought in 1851, cost $17,000.00. Engine 10 moved in while their quarters were being remodeled at 73 Water Street. Engine 10 responded from here between June 5, 1961 and March 5, 1962. Engine 6 was relocated here, March 6, 1970, from 113 Liberty Street, when those quarters were torn down for the World Trade Center. This was a temporary move but, became permanent when Engine 32 was disbanded on November 25, 1972. This is the only station to have the original engine company disbanded and not the relocating engine company."
Engine 32 apparatus:
1883 Clapp & Jones 2nd size steamer #413, 1883.
1892 Gleason & Bailey hose wagon, #23.
1906 Alfco 1st size steamer, #3104, tractorized in 1914 with a Chrystie FWD.
1906 Seagrave hose wagon, #117.
1913 Alfco 2nd size steamer, #3397, with Van Blerck tractor, Sep. 20, 1926.
1915 Mack hose wagon, #84, Apr. 29, 1915.
1920 Mack hose wagon, #139, Oct. 15, 1929 .
1927 Alfco 700 gpm, #6005, Jul. 1, 1927.
1929 Seagrave hose wagon, #219, Feb. 5, 1941.
1937 Mack 1000 gpm hose wagon, #1029, May 13, 1947.
1940 Mack hose wagon, #281, Jun. 8, 1940.
1947 Alfco 750 gpm, May 8, 1947.
1954 Mack, #1105, Feb. 25, 1954.
1962 Mack, #1150, Dec. 10, 1962.
Medal winner - Engine 32:
FF. James A. Molloy, Trevor-Warren Medal, Jan. 9, 1912.
- history from "Engine Company 32" by Mike Boucher
