FDNY and NYC Firehouses and Fire Companies

[1261Truckie]

Thanks, Mack, for the 280/132 history. Like JOR 176, I also grew up in the neighborhood and hung out in the house as a kid. I was an Auxiliary there from 1968 to 1975.
The house, when built, had a wall running down the middle of the building and two of everything (housewatch, kitchen, bunkrooms, etc) except for a coal fired furnace which was on the engine side. In the mid 60's 280 built an addition onto their part of the house for a dining/sitting room leaving the much smaller kitchen/dining area for cooking and washing only. 132 followed their lead in the late 60's/early 70's.
The wall was breached in the late 60's with one hole behind the housewatch desks. Over the years that wall has become like swiss cheese (multiple holes on all three floors). It is now truly one house.
During the 60's 132 was a top relocating company, spending a lot of time at 120. The Ambulance and the Marshalls have been replaced these days with the Collapse rig and 132's SOC truck.
Always good companies and good guys however. Some things will never change.

 

[johnd248]

I did my Auxiliary training at E280/L132 back in 1964.  We learned knots, connections, etc.  Taught by a great old school FDNY Lieutenant.

 

[mack]

Engine 7/Engine 7-2/Ladder 1/Division 1/Hydrant Service 1/Smoke Ejector 1/Relay Hose Wagon 1/Ladder 10/Battalion 1/FDNY Museum firehouse  100 Duane St, Manhattan

    Engine 7 organized 22 Chambers St former vol Engine 22 Protector firehouse    1865
    Engine 7 moved to 12 Centre St w/Ladder 1                                                  1876
    Engine 7 moved to 22 Chambers St w/Ladder 1                                              1877 
    Engine 7 moved to new firehouse 49 Beekman St                                          1903
    Engine 7 moved to new firehouse 100 Duane St w/Ladder 1                            1905

    Engine 7-2 organized 100 Duane St at Engine 7                                            1905
    Engine 7-2 disbanded                                                                                  1939

    Ladder 1 organized 26 Chambers St w/E 7 at former vol Ladder 1 Mutual firehouse  1865
    Ladder 1 moved to 12 Centre St w/Engine 7                                                  1876
    Ladder 1 moved to 26 Chambers St w/Engine 7                                              1876
    Ladder 1 moved to 100 Duane St new firehouse w/Engine 7                                            1905

    Division 1 located at 100 Duane St at Engine 7                    1907-1938  and  1941-1956

    Hydrant Service 1 organized at 100 Duane St at Engine 7                                1936
    Hydrant Service 1 disbanded                                                                        1957

    Smoke Ejector 1 located at 100 Duane St at Engine 7                                    1941-1957     

    Relay Hose Wagon 1 organized 100 Duane St at Engine 7                                1942
    Relay Hose Wagon 1 disbanded                                                                    1945

    Ladder 10 located at 100 Duane St at Engine 7                                        1970-1975

    Battalion 1 moved to 100 Duane St at Engine 7                                              1974

    FDNY Museum located at 100 Duane St active firehouse in spare bay            1959-1981


Engine 7 at 22 Chambers St firehouse:       


Ladder 1 at 22 Chambers St firehouse:


100 Duane St firehouse:







Engine 7 steamer:


Engine 7 members at 100 Duane St:


Ladder 1 at City Hall:


Ladder 1 1914 Seagrave:


Ladder 1 1937 Seagrave:


Ladder 1 1939 FWD:


Ladder 1 1960 ALF:


Tower Ladder 1 1964 Mack:


100 Duane St firehouse history:
http://nyfd.com/history/ladder_1.two.html

Engine Company No. 7/Hook & Ladder Company No.1 Fire Engine Company

Historical Notes: 
    Engine 7 was preceeded by volunteer Protector Engine 22, organized in 1840. Ladder 1 was preceeded by Mutual H & L 1 organized in 1772.  Protector Engine 22 ran a large engine, "Old Junk," and was housed at Chambers and Centre Streets in City Hall Park in the basement of the old Dispensary.  In 1851, the Common Council appropriated money to construct a 3-story building in City Hall Park to house two companies under one roof for the first time: "Protector" Engine 22 then at 22 Chambers Street and "Mutual" H & L 1 then at 26 Chambers St. Both volunteer companies were disbanded in 1865.
    In 1832, the New York Mutual Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 volunteers purchased a horse to pull their engine. One of the reasons may have been due to a shortage of firefighters caused by a yellow fever epidemic. The other stations were unsympathetic. One evening the anti-equine element crept into the stable, shaved the horse?s mane and tail and painted a white stripe down the horse?s back, embarrassing the company. To add insult to injury, the Oceanus volunteers beat the horse-drawn Mutuals to a fire.
    H & L 1 is the only new paid department company to maintain its original number, location, red helmet front pieces and apparatus from the original old volunteer fire department companies.  9 of the original 12 firemen who were members H & L 1 of the new paid department in 1865 were originally volunteer members in the old company.

Engine 7:


Tower Ladder 1:



100 Duane St firehouse:



New York FDNY - Engine 7, Ladder 1, Battalion 1 - everybody goes! (HD-VIdeo)

FDNY A full house response Ladder 1, Engine 6,7 and battalion 1

FDNY Engine 7, Ladder 1, Battalion 1

Centennial:


Never forget:

 

[68jk09]

I did my Auxiliary training at E280/L132 back in 1964.  We learned knots, connections, etc.  Taught by a great old school FDNY Lieutenant.

Was it Lt Frank Guthy ?

 

[JOR176]

I did my Auxiliary training at E280/L132 back in 1964.  We learned knots, connections, etc.  Taught by a great old school FDNY Lieutenant.

Was it Lt Frank Guthy ?

I was an Aux Lt. in E 280 but moved when I got married in 1963,The Lt. that had been in charge was Lt. William (Wild Bill ) Mulligan. 

 

[mack]

Engine 234/Battalion 38/Salvage 1/Rescue 2  firehouse  1472 Bergen St  Crown Heights, Brooklyn

    Engine 34 Brooklyn Fire Department organized 1472 Bergen St                              1893
    Engine 34 BFD became Engine 34 FDNY                                                                1898
    Engine 34 became Engine 134                                                                              1899
    Engine 134 became Engine 234                                                                            1913
    Engine 234 moved to 1352 St Johns Place at Ladder 123                                        1979

    Battalion 38 located at 1472 Bergen St at Engine 234                                        1948-1977

    Salvage 1 located at 1472 Bergen St                                                                  1979-1985

    Rescue 2 moved to 1472 Bergen St                                                                      1985

Engine 234 at 1472 Bergen St firehouse:


1472 Bergen St 1980s:



December 18, 1884 - St John's Orphan Asylum fire (St Marks between Albany and Troy) occurred 21 children and 5 adults.  The nearest BFD firehouse was the distant Ladder 2 (FDNY L 102) on Bedford St.  Engine 234 was organized in the years following this fire and others in the area.  St John's Park, vicinity of the 1472 Bergen St firehouse is named for the orphanage.

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9F05EED6113EEF33A2575AC1A9649D94659FD7CF
 
St Johns Orphan Asylum:


St John's Orphan Asylum fire:  http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2010/03/walkabout-the-l-1/#st-johns-orphanage-bigstory5-1

St. John's Park:  http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2012/08/walkabout-bklyns-small-parks-st-johns-park/


Engine 34 BFD organized:



1472 Bergen St Rescue 2 firehouse:






Crown Heights:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_Heights,_Brooklyn

http://www.brooklynpix.com/catalog30bk.php?locality_no=11251

 

[mack]

Engine 206/Foam 86/Foam 206  firehouses  East Williamsburg, Brooklyn

    Engine 6 Brooklyn Fire Department organized 14 High St former volunteer firehouse  1869
    Engine 6 BFD moved to new firehouse 189 Pearl St                                                1892   
    Engine 6 BFD became Engine 6 FDNY                                                                    1898
    Engine 6 became Engine 106                                                                                1899
    Engine 106 became Engine 206                                                                            1913
    Engine 206 moved to new firehouse 1196 Metropolitan Ave                                    1915
    Engine 206 moved to new firehouse 1201 Grand St                                                1976

    Foam 86 organized 1201 Grand St                                                                        1978
    Foam 86 became Foam 206                                                                                  1998
   
Engine 6 BFD 14 High St:   


Engine 206 1959:


Engine 206 1196 Metropolitan Ave:


Engine 206 former firehouse 1196 Metropolitan Ave:






Engine 206 former 1296 Metropolitan Avenue location:


Engine 206 1201 Grand St:


Engine 206 1201 Grand St location:


Engine 206 old vs new firehouse locations:


Engine 206:






Engine 206:
FDNY Engine 206 responding

Foam 206:




FDNY 1988 Mack Alcohol Foam Engine 206 start-up


Newtown Creek tour on fireboat John J Harvey:
http://forgotten-ny.com/2004/05/newtown-creek/


East Williamsburg: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Williamsburg,_Brooklyn

East Williamsburg Industrial Park: http://www.ewvidco.com/about01.htm

Newton Creek: environmental problems  http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/npl/newtowncreek/

 

[3511]

Shows where city government was in 1976. In the midst of The War Years, When both firefighters and equipment were being run into the ground, the new fire house was built. The old building still stands, as do many of its contemporaries that remain in service. What was the point? No wonder the city was on the verge of bankruptcy.

As a matter of record, I was asked by the Koch campaign a year later to submit a report on the FDNY capitol building program. I recommended that the existing buildings be renovated and the money saved be diverted for men and equipment.

 

[68jk09]

Shows where city government was in 1976. In the midst of The War Years, When both firefighters and equipment were being run into the ground, the new fire house was built. The old building still stands, as do many of its contemporaries that remain in service. What was the point? No wonder the city was on the verge of bankruptcy.

As a matter of record, I was asked by the Koch campaign a year later to submit a report on the FDNY capitol building program. I recommended that the existing buildings be renovated and the money saved be diverted for men and equipment.

Yes i agree that new FH's in some cases were unecesary...many could have been renovated at that time as is being done a lot more today ....when i was in LAD*108 on Siegel St we where moved to Union Av in Aug '71....we were busy  but at the time we thought the work on the Southside might be more (not to disrespect the guys on the Southside ) but after moving & loosing boxes East in Bushwick that area ( Bushwick)  really took off after we moved ( a difference being 2nd Due or Second alarm)...in those days there was plenty of work for everybody in BKLYN but we wanted more  ....even if our FH was not renovated maybe  moving to a temporary site might have worked & having a new FH  built on the original spot ....the strange part of the 108 equation is that the FH plot @ 112 Siegel St still sits vacant to this day ? .....as far as the original post on 206 ...they were in the 35*BN back in the day when they were on Metropolitan Av as a single ENG w/a Hosewagon into the '70s...the FH was at times inundated w/mosquitoes from the creek....the house had a wall in between...the other side had the 1st fl containing old hand drawn pumpers stored there & later transferred to the Museum....the 2nd Fl had a ton of 4/5 gallon stirrup pump hand water extinguishers.....the 3rd fl was covered w/old steel pot WW2 Civil Defense Helmets......    when the FH was built it was lettered for ENG*206 & LAD*133.....133 was never organized until 1998 in the qtrs of 275 ....as far as the lettering from the 133 side....it remained in place until the early '70s ...SQ*3 got the 3's ....as far as the rest of the letters (other than the K).... i dont know where they went ?....after the New 206 FH was built a block over the original FH was purchased by a basket weaving & sales business....after huricane sandy the new FH was flooded & rigs damaged so i guess the old FH was damaged also since it was closer to the creek.     

 

[mack]

3511 and the Chief make good point about firehouse decisions made as neighborhoods were being incinerated during the late 1960s and early 1970s. 

- The firehouse for Engine 17/Ladder 18 /Bn 4  on Broome St, only 30 years old at the time and still in good condition, was abandoned for new, costly quarters on 25 Pitt St. The Lower East Side was very busy (Alphabet City) then. Squad 5 was planned to occupy the big new firehouse - but never made it - went to the Bronx instead.  The vacated firehouse on Broome St in still standing.

Old Broome St firehouse - (Squad 5 operated from here 1966-1969):


Pitt St firehouse - 1973 - "E 17/L 18/Squad 5/Bn 4" above doors (E 17 disbanded in 1991; E 15 relocated to Pitt St in 2001)

Firehouse built for 3 companies and BC - Squad 5 operated at 55 E Broadway and then moved to the Bronx in 1974


- Engine 245 / Ladder 161 / Bn 43 had their Coney Island firehouse on W 8th St razed to build a new firehouse in 1971.  The old firehouse had housed 2 engine companies, a truck and the chief effectively.  At a time when Coney Island also became busy, Engine 244 on W 15th St was shut down and money was spent on construction while Coney Island burned down without a 3rd engine.

 

[3511]

Which is not to say that some firehouses did not eventually need replacement.

In the Bronx, Engines 48 and 50 were in vintage houses from the 1880s. They had already been rebuilt at least once and could really not accommodate modern apparatus. Engine 68 (just a single bay for both an engine and truck) and engine 71 ( too difficult for access for a truck on Park Avenue) probably necessary also. Engine 63 needed for consolidation with L39.

Engine 75? Doubtful. Same design as E82 and similar to engine 79, both renovated and going strong.

E46/L27 old house recently designated with landmark status. NYPD Would love to have 46/27's new house. Why not accommodate them? With Rescue 3 now in new quarters, renovate the old house and move 46 / 27 back.

Housebound on a snowy day in the metropolitan area. Guess I have nothing better to do then rebuild the FDNY.
Sno

 

[mack]

There were many new firehouses built mid-1950s to 1960.  FDNY still had many old single company firehouses built by volunteer companies in Manhattan and the BFD in Brooklyn as the War Years began. A lot of new firehouses were built from 1967-1977.  These companies moved to new quarters:

Engines 3, 9, 13, 16, 17, 24, 35, 37, 48, 50, 53, 54, 63, 85, 96, 154, 206, 207, 209, 216, 219, 222, 225, 232, 238, 241, 245, 248, 262, and 283
Ladders 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 18, 19, 20, 27, 40, 43, 58, 102, 105 and 712. 

There were maybe a few more, and I am sorry for missing battalions and special units which moved or were relocated.  There was a lot of money spent building new facilities during this period of high fire activity, arson, false alarms in a city experiencing major budget problems. 

 

[memory master]

Nice photo of the "new" 17/18/4 quarters with the '72 Plymouth green & black and the new blue/white color scheme on the '73 Plymouth. The 72's had 6 cylinder 225cid engines and the 73's now came with 318cid engines.

 

[mack]

Engine 201  firehouses

    Engine 1 Brooklyn Fire Department organized 633 4th Avenue former volunteer firehouse  1869
    Engine 1 BFD moved to 5113 4th Avenue                                                                      1891
    Engine 1 BFD became Engine 1 FDNY                                                                            1898
    Engine 1 became Engine 101                                                                                        1899
    Engine 101 became Engine 201                                                                                    1913
    Engine 201 moved to 5011 7th Avenue                                                                          2007
    Engine 201 moved to new firehouse 5113 4th Avenue w/Ladder 114                                2009
                                                                                                                                                       
Engine 201 history:  http://www.nyfd.com/brooklyn_engines/engine_201.html

Engine 1 BFD at 633 4th Avenue:

Formerly firehouse of volunteer Putnam Engine 21

633 4th Avenue original firehouse - current picture:


5113 4th Avenue firehouse:





5011 7th Avenue firehouse: 

Former quarters Engine 278

5113 4th Avenue new firehouse:

With Ladder 114

http://rktb.com/projects/institutional/fdny-engine-company-201/

http://www.officenewswire.com/9183

Ribbon cutting - January 1, 2009:  http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/events/2009/011309a.shtml



Engine 201:


Engine 201/Ladder 114 Box 2637 510 61st St Medal Day:
Medal Day: Engine 201 and Ladder 114

Sunset Park, Brooklyn: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunset_Park,_Brooklyn

http://forgotten-ny.com/2007/11/sunset-park-brooklyn-part-1/

 

[STAjo]

Wow ! RKTB Architects did a Great Job on that FH for 201/114 & 40 !

Thanks Again, Mack !

 

[kidfrmqns]

Regarding E17/TL18 firehouse, on the Delancy Street side of the firehouse are more large garages (I think 3 bays). I was told in the early 90's that these were built for ESU, but they never moved. Anyone else hear this?

 

[68jk09]

Many if not all Police Precints built in NYC from the '60s on have those type bays in the bldg not ESU related.

 

[mack]

NYPD 7th Precinct - adjacent to Engine 15/Ladder 18/Battalion 4 firehouse  19 1/2 Pitt St, Lower East Side








http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/precincts/precinct_007.shtml

The 7th Precinct serves the Lower East Side of Manhattan. It is the second smallest precinct in the city consisting of only .62 square miles. The population is enhanced during working hours due to the thriving businesses on Orchard St. and the large transient population utilizing the Williamsburg Bridge and the 2 subway stations at Essex Street and Delancey and Essex St. and E. Broadway.



Old 7th Precinct:


Old Manhattan South precincts:
http://www.policeny.com/thehousemanhattansouth1.html

Old Manhattan North precincts:
http://www.policeny.com/thehousemanhattannorth1.html

Old Bronx precincts:
http://www.policeny.com/thehousethebronx1.html

Old Queens precincts:
http://www.policeny.com/thehousequeens1.html

Old SI precincts:
http://www.policeny.com/thehouserichmond1.html

Old Brooklyn North precincts:
http://www.policeny.com/thehousebrooklynnorth1.html

Old Brooklyn South precincts:
http://www.policeny.com/thehousebrooklynsouth1.html

Old HQ buildings:
http://www.policeny.com/thehouse1.html

** NYPD history links: (excellent historical links)
http://www.policeny.com/sitemap.html

 

[mack]

FDNY Firehouses/NYPD Precincts    Side-by-Side

FDNY Engine 245/Ladder 161/Battalion 43 and NYPD 60th Precinct 
W 8th St Coney Island, Brooklyn


Engine 248/Battalion 41 and NYPD 67th Precinct
Snyder Avenue, Flatbush, Brooklyn




Engine 216/Ladder 108/Bn 35 and NYPD 90th Precinct
Union Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn


Engine 76/Ladder 22/Battalion 11 and NYPD 24th Precinct
W 100th St Upper West Side, Manhattan






FDNY Engine 266 and NYPD 100th Precinct
Rockaway Beach Blvd, Rockaway





Engine 15/Ladder 18/Bn 4 and NYPD 7th Precinct
Pitt St Lower East Side, Manhattan

 

[memory master]

Don't forget E8/L2/Bn.8 and the 17th Precinct on E.51 street between 3rd & Lexington Aves. in Manhattan.