FDNY and NYC Firehouses and Fire Companies

[nfd2004]

One of the very first firehouses that I hung around as a buff, along with my brother, was Engine 58/Ladder 26. That was when Ladder 26 was the ALF tiller. We just sat in our car listening to the scanner. When something came in nearby we chased it. All very busy companies like:
  E53/L43
  E37/L40
  E36 (RIP)
  E35/L14 (Lad 14 becoming one of the first tower ladders)
  E91 (later to get a second section E91-2)
  E59/L30

Ladder 26 also received a second section Ladder 26-2

The reason we decided to make that our buff area is because listening to the FDNY on the scanner at the time, 58/26 was very busy. Plus not really knowing the streets well around the city, these streets were numbered and followed a regular pattern. Except for the few avenues, with few exceptions, even they followed a pattern.

That was right after our riding with Rescue 2 when fire activity was really starting to pick up.

Basically a couple of very lucky young guys that were interested in the fire dept, who got to see the Major Leagues in action.

 

[mack]

1951 "Fire in the City" - Engine 58/Ladder 26:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tizzdrDZBks

    - thanks Chief K.

 

[mack]

Engine 58/Ladder 26 Runs and Workers:

1940:

   

1941:

   

1953:

   

1954:

   

1956:

   

1964:

   

1965:

   

1966:

   

1967:

   

1968:

   

1969:

   

1970:

   

1972:

   

1990:

   

2016:

    Engine 58 - 5,975 runs, 2,061 EMS, 3,009 emergencies, 905 fires, 67 all-hands

    Ladder 26 - 5,507 runs, 4,646 emergencies, 795 fires, 63 all-hands

 

[enginecap]

One out of every 100 runs is to a fire.  No thanks.....but it's the job these days

 

[1261Truckie]

Does anyone have a picture of L-26's 1960 American LaFrance with the cab roof they built for themselves? I understand it was quite different from the plywood roofs the city put on the rigs.

 

[mack]

Engine 297/Ladder 130  Firehouse  119-11 14th Road, College Point, Queens  14th Division, 52nd Battalion  "Pride of the Point"

    Hose 9 (FDNY) organized 14-11 114th Street former volunteer firehouse        1908
    Hose 9 became Engine 297                                                                        1918
    Engine 297 moved 18-18 125th Street at Engine 296                                    1922
    Engine 297 new firehouse w/Ladder 130 119-11 14th Road                          1931
   

    Ladder 80 organized 18-18 125th Street w/Hose 8                                        1908
    Ladder 80 became Ladder 130                                                                    1913
    Ladder 130 organized new firehouse 119-11 14th Road w/Engine 297            1931


Pre-FDNY College Point Fire Department:

    Between 1857 and 1908, College Point was protected by the volunteer College Point Fire Department.  There were 2 hose companies and one ladder volunteer companies.  Enterprise Hose 2's firehouse became the quarters of FDNY Hose 9, and later Engine 297.
   
    Enterprise Hose 2 organized 2nd Avenue near 6th Street                                  1863
    Enterprise Hose 2 new firehouse 14-11 114th Street                                    Date Unknown
    Enterprise Hose 2 disbanded                                                                          1908


Enterprise Hose 2:

   


Enterprise Hose 2 firehouse 14-11 114th Street:

   

   

   


Engine 297/Ladder 130 firehouse 119-11 14th Road:

     

   

   

   

   


FDNY Hose 9:

   


Ladder 80 (became Ladder 130) at 18-18 125th Street firehouse with Hose 8 (became Engine 296):

   


Engine 297:

   

   

   

   

   

   


Ladder 130:

   

   

   

   

   

   


Engine 297/Ladder 130:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cad2nuSaZIk

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvHaj8ywHvw

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7es9d7jEz1s


Engine 297 Medals:

    FF GUY V. AVEZZANO, OFF DUTY DEC. 21, 1979 PRENTICE MEDAL

    LT JAMES E. REINHEIMER, FEB. 12, 1987 THOMPSON MEDAL


Engine 297/Ladder 130 LODDs:

    LT WILLIAM MUNDA, LADDER 130 January 22, 1952

          LT Munda died as a result of injuries sustained while operating at a single alarm fire on January 11th.

    FF TONY SHANDS, ENGINE 297 October 20, 1984

          FF Shands was struck by a drunk driver while rolling up a hose after putting out a blaze in an abandoned van.
       
         

          http://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/21/nyregion/firefighter-hit-and-killed-by-car-as-he-rolls-up-hose-after-blaze.html

    RIP.  Never forget.


College Point:

    History:

          College Point is named for St. Paul?s College, a seminary founded in 1835 by Rev. Augustus Muhlenberg. The college closed its doors around 1850, but the name stuck. The village was formerly called Lawrence?s Neck, Tew?s Neck, Flammersberg, Strattonsport and College Point. However, in 1867, when the village was incorporated, the residents chose College Point as the official name.

          Conrad Poppenhusen, a German-American businessman, manufactured hard rubber products in College Point and was responsible for much of its early development.  Poppenhusen organized the Enterprise Engine Company 2 in 1861.   

    Neighborhood:

         
         
          http://forgotten-ny.com/2006/05/college-point-queens/

 

 

[memory master]

Thanks Mack for the College Point recap. In the photos of the current firehouse on 14th road, the white private dwelling adjacent to quarters unfortunately was the scene of a fatal fire which claimed a young man. It was about 0600 on a Sunday morning back in the mid 60's. On the other side of quarters, the building with the Asian lettered awning was at one time, for many years, the "Rendevous Bar & Grill." Last but not least, the flagpole was originally in front of quarters sticking out from the truck office.

 

[mack]

Thanks Mack for the College Point recap. In the photos of the current firehouse on 14th road, the white private dwelling adjacent to quarters unfortunately was the scene of a fatal fire which claimed a young man. It was about 0600 on a Sunday morning back in the mid 60's. On the other side of quarters, the building with the Asian lettered awning was at one time, for many years, the "Rendevous Bar & Grill." Last but not least, the flagpole was originally in front of quarters sticking out from the truck office.

Memory Master - Engine 297/Ladder 166 quarters does have a unique side-of-quarters location for the flagpole as you pointed out:

   


FF Michael Haub Road:  114th Road where Engine 297/Ladder firehouse is located, is named for, and dedicated to, FF Michael Haub who was a probationary firefighter originally assigned to Ladder 130 but transferred in January 2001 to Ladder 4 in Times Square.  FF Haub was killed September 11, 2001 operating at the World Trade Center. 

   

   

    http://bravestmemorial.net/html/members_individual/haub_michael/demolay_international.html130 is

    http://www.legacy.com/sept11/cjonline/story.aspx?personid=146363

RIP.  Never forget.

 

[mack]

College Point 1908:

College Point was protected by the College Point Fire Department which had 3 volunteer companies which disbanded when fire protection converted to FDNY in 1908:

     Hose - Union Hose (16th St);  Enterprise Hose 2 (518 5th St); 
     Ladder - Eagle H&L 1 (18-18 125th St)

In 1908, FDNY's 52nd Bn was formed with Engines 172 (E 272), 173 (E 273), 174 (E 274); Hose Companies 8 (E 296) and 9 (E 297); and H&L Companies 79 (L 129) and 80 (L 130).  All companies were organized in former volunteer company firehouses.

In 1918, the 125th St firehouse was rebuilt for Engine 296.


    Note:  The 1897 Brookly Daily Eagle Almanac lists all Long Island Fire Companies (includes sections of Queens before incorportation into NYC):

          http://books.google.com/books?id=C8EWAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA119&lpg=PA119&dq=eagle+hose+company+college+point&source=bl&ots=H1rqwTU6qs&sig=-WAOI61NQbMi3QzB27jRrgjj5rk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=7kHjUIa4OsaH0QHR_4DwCg&sqi=2&ved=0CDQQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=eagle%20hose%20company%20college%20point&f=false

 

[mack]

There is another historic College Point Fire Department-related building on 123rd Street, "Fireman's Hall", built in 1906 by the Exempt Firemen's Benevolent Association of College Point.  It has been owned by the College Point Little League:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firemen%27s_Hall_(College_Point,_New_York)

 

[mack]

College Point:  FDNY Ladder 80 (became Ladder 130) at 18-18 125th Street firehouse with FDNY Hose 8 (became Engine 296).     

   


Notes:

    - Ladder 130 and Hose 8 were apparently combined to form Combined Engine Company 130 for a period of time between 1913 and 1918.
    - Hose 8 subsequently became Engine 296
    - Engine 296 remained in the former volunteer company firehouse at 18-18 125th Street from 1918 to 1961 when disbanded
    - The 18-18 125th Street firehouse was built in the 1850s and was quarters for volunteer Union Hose Company 1857-1908 and volunteer Eagle Ladder Company 1 1854-1908 when it became an FDNY firehouse


Eagle Ladder Company 1:

   

   


Eagle Ladder Company 1 firefighter:

   

 

[memory master]

The house watch desk was located directly behind where the apparatus doors are folded back. Behind the house watch there were two side by side sliding poles from the second floor.  After 296 was disbanded in 1960 and before the Communications line men moved in there was a firefighter detailed there from all over the battalion 24/7 to keep the steam boiler operating. This of course was in the colder months to keep the water pipes from bursting. It was an interesting house to wander through although it needed a heck of a lot in the way of repairs.
.

 

[mack]

The house watch desk was located directly behind where the apparatus doors are folded back. Behind the house watch there were two side by side sliding poles from the second floor.  After 296 was disbanded in 1960 and before the Communications line men moved in there was a firefighter detailed there from all over the battalion 24/7 to keep the steam boiler operating. This of course was in the colder months to keep the water pipes from bursting. It was an interesting house to wander through although it needed a heck of a lot in the way of repairs.
.

Memory Master - The firehouse behind Eagle Ladder Co 1 members should be the quarters of Engine 296 prior to some later renovations:

   

 

[memory master]

It sure is Mack!

 

[mack]

Engine 296  Firehouse 14-11 114th Street  College Point, Queens  14th Division, 52nd Battalion              DISBANDED

    Hose 8 organized 18-18 125th Street in former volunteer firehouse                  1908
    Hose 8 became Engine 296                                                                            1918
    Engine 296 disbanded                                                                                    1961

    Ladder 80 organized 18-18 125th Street in former volunteer firehouse w/Hose 8 1908
    Ladder 80 became Ladder 130                                                                        1913
    Ladder 130 moved new firehouse 119-11 14th Road w/Engine 297                    1931


FDNY Ladder 80 and Hose 8 (became Ladder 130 and Engine 296) 18-18 125th Street firehouse:

   


Engine 296 FDNY Medal:

    LT Morgan O'Connell  off-duty  September 3, 1950  Third Alarm Association Medal


College Point pre-FDNY fire protection:

    College Point originally protected by volunteer College Point Fire Department 1863-1908: 
     
          Eagle Ladder 1                1863-1908  (18-18 125th Street)

             

             

             
         
          Enterprise Hose 2            1863-1908

             

             
         
          Touch Down Steamer      Unknown dates
         
          Union Engine 1                1860-1864    (18-18 125th Street)
         
          Union Bucket Company 1  1857-1860    (18-18 125th Street)
         
          Union Hose 1                  1857-1908    (18-18 125th Street)

             

             

          College Point FD volunteer hose company responding:

             
]

College Point late 1800s:

   

 

[mack]

Engine 154  Firehouse  3730 Victory Blvd  Travis, Staten Island  "Splendor in the Grass"  8th Division, 22nd Battalion

    Engine 204 organized 44 Sarah Ann St SI (former quarters of volunteer Niagara Engine 5)  1905
    Engine 204 address changed to 44 VanDuzer St                                                              1910
    Engine 204 changed to Engine 154                                                                                  1913
    Engine 154 new firehouse 60 Hannah St                                                                          1913
    Engine 154 new firehouse 3730 Victory Blvd                                                                    1972
    Engine 154 disbanded                                                                                                    1975
    Engine 154 reorganized                                                                                                  1975
    Engine 154 disbanded                                                                                                    1975
    Engine 154 reorganized                                                                                                  1981

    Relay Hose Wagon SI moved from Engine 31 to 60 Hannah St at Engine 154                      1965
    Relay Hose Wason SI moved to 345 Annadale Rd at Engine 167                                        1972

    Foam 84 organized 3730 Victory Blvd at Engine 154                                                        1984
    Foam 84 became Foam 154                                                                                            1998
   
    Brush Fire Unit 530 organized 3730 Victory Blvd at Engine 154                                        1996
    Brush Fire Unit 530 became Brush Fire Unit 4                                                                  1997

    Division 8 located at 60 Hannah St w/Engine 154                                        1939-1940, 1941-1951


60 Hannah St Engine 154 firehouse - Tompkinsville, SI:

   


60 Hannah St former firehouse:

   

    http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/realestate/17habi.html?_r=0


3730 Victory Blvd firehouse:

   

   

   

   


Engine 154:

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   


Engine 154 members:

   


Relay Hose Wagon:

   


Foam 154:

   

   

   

   


Brush Fire Units:

   

   

   


BFU 4 damaged by hurricane Sandy

   


Engine 154 Medal:

    LT Frank Pelligrino, March 24, 1996,  Tuttlemondo Medal

       


Engine 154 LODD:

    Captain William O'Keefe, World Trade Center, September 11, 2001

         

          http://www.silive.com/september-11/index.ssf/2010/09/william_okeefe_48_runner_newly.html

          http://bravestmemorial.net/html/members/okeefe_william_cpt_div015.html


    RIP.  Never forget.


60 Hannah St firehouse MLB baseball history:

    There is a piece of baseball history associated with this firehouse.  Bobby Thompson, the baseball player who hit the famous "Shot Heard Around the World" home run to win the 1951 pennant for the NY Giants, lived on Staten Island.  He went to this firehouse to celebrate immediately after he won the NL championship at the Polo Grounds.

    The walk off home run, one of the most famous in baseball, won the third game of a rare NL pennant playoffs (no playoff system back then). The Giants, were down 13 1/2 games in August and were trailing 4-1 in the 9th inning. It became the "Miracle of Coogan's Bluff."  After he hit the walk off home run, Thompson took the SI ferry to celebrate with his brother Jim, who was on duty with E154.  Jim Thompson's son, Jimmy, also became an FDNY captain.


Travis, Staten Island:

    Engine 154 protects a large area of western SI.  It is first due in the Travis and Bulls Head sections of SI. Travis was originally called Linoleumville - the site of America's first linoleum factory in the 1860s.  It was the location of a ferry to NJ at the end of Victory Blvd.  The area was renamed Travis in 1930 after an original area settler. 

      1981 movie scenes from "Splendor in the Grass" were filmed in Travis, vicinity of E 154 quarters

    http://www.statenislandhistory.com/travis.html

    http://forgotten-ny.com/2006/03/travis-staten-island/


Bulls Heads, Staten Island:

      Neighborhood was named after a 1700s tavern at intersection of Richmond Ave and Victory Blvd:

   


   

   

   

   

 

[guitarman314]

Lt. Frank Pellegrino is a fellow musician who I've worked on DooWop shows with. He played tenor sax for Reperratta and the Del-Rons. Last time I saw him was a few years back, when he was promoted to Captain of E91 in "El Barrio". 

 

[memory master]

Lt. Frank Pellegrino is a fellow musician who I've worked on DooWop shows with. He played tenor sax for Reperratta and the Del-Rons. Last time I saw him was a few years back, when he was promoted to Captain of E91 in "El Barrio". 

Not trying to change the thread, but regarding "Reparata" aka Mary Alese, they had a few great tunes back in the 60's i.e. "Whenever a teenager cries", "I can hear the rain", "Tommy" and others.

 

[t123ken]

Mack,
Natalie Wood's character's house in Splendor in the Grass (1961) was at the southeast corner of Victory Boulevard and Roswell Avenue, less than a mile west of Engine 154's quarters.
It's now an empty lot.

 

[mack]

Ken - Natalie Wood is not here any more either.  Too bad.  I always liked Travis neighborhood.  A lot of older classic homes.  Friendly small shops.  The house she lived in for movie scenes was on top of a small store I think? Too bad it is gone.