Rescue Company 3 1947-1948

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I recently reviewed Rescue 3's company journal from 5/7/47 to 4/6/48 similar to the 1944/1945 journal posted previously.

As a first installment, it might be useful to look at the historical antecedents and experience of the members on the 1947 company roster. The roster consisted of three officers and twenty-four firemen. With one interesting exception, all were appointed to the FDNY in the 1930's during The Great Depression. They all lived in the Bronx. So, they all were probably born before World War I and grew up in the Bronx- likely the South Bronx.

At that time, New York City was barely twenty years old. Cars and electricity were still kind of a novelty. People from "the old country" were easily found. Maybe an older brother would become a doughboy and see " Gay Paree " under command of General Pershing in The Great War. Neighbors remember the "General Slocum " fire and were still shocked by the sinking of the Titanic. That old-timer that lived on the block could have even have an underage member of the Grand Army of the Republic and saw the July, 1863 draft riots in Mid-town Manhattan.

In the early 1900's the population of the Bronx exploded with the expansion of rapid transit (first the IRT) starting in 1904. The concept of a commuter was born with the emptying of the Lower East Side and a huge influx of immigrants from Europe who still worked down in the City.

The Bronx population:

1904- 200,000
1910- 437,000
1930- 1,200,000
1950- 1,451,000

FDNY

10/1/20- two platoons start
12/20/23- last horse response
2/1/24- Bronx Central Office on East 180th Street opens
11/1/30- Assistant Chief "Smokey Joe" Martin retires
6/1/31- Rescue 3 established
3/1/37- three platoons start

What the Bronx looked like in the 1910s through Fascinating Historical Photos

The 1910s marked a significant period of growth and change for the Bronx, a borough of New York City. This decade was characterized by rapid urbanization, demographic shifts, and substantial infrastructural development

seeoldnyc.com

 

[8060rock]

I recently reviewed Rescue 3's company journal from 5/7/47 to 4/6/48 similar to the 1944/1945 journal posted previously.

As a first installment, it might be useful to look at the historical antecedents and experience of the members on the 1947 company roster. The roster consisted of three officers and twenty-four firemen. With one interesting exception, all were appointed to the FDNY in the 1930's during The Great Depression. They all lived in the Bronx. So, they all were probably born before World War I and grew up in the Bronx- likely the South Bronx.

At that time, New York City was barely twenty years old. Cars and electricity were still kind of a novelty. People from "the old country" were easily found. Maybe an older brother would become a doughboy and see " Gay Paree " under command of General Pershing in The Great War. Neighbors remember the "General Slocum " fire and were still shocked by the sinking of the Titanic. That old-timer that lived on the block could have even have an underage member of the Grand Army of the Republic and saw the July, 1863 draft riots in Mid-town Manhattan.

In the early 1900's the population of the Bronx exploded with the expansion of rapid transit (first the IRT) starting in 1904. The concept of a commuter was born with the emptying of the Lower East Side and a huge influx of immigrants from Europe who still worked down in the City.

The Bronx population:

1904- 200,000
1910- 437,000
1930- 1,200,000
1950- 1,451,000

FDNY

10/1/20- two platoons start
12/20/23- last horse response
2/1/24- Bronx Central Office on East 180th Street opens
11/1/30- Assistant Chief "Smokey Joe" Martin retires
6/1/31- Rescue 3 established
3/1/37- three platoons start

What the Bronx looked like in the 1910s through Fascinating Historical Photos

The 1910s marked a significant period of growth and change for the Bronx, a borough of New York City. This decade was characterized by rapid urbanization, demographic shifts, and substantial infrastructural development

seeoldnyc.com

photo #82 - Proby Mac getting ready for house inspection, cleaning top floor windows
photo #116 - someone from 68/49 went home for lunch with his turnout gear on - just in case!

 

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In May of 1947, the war had been over almost two years, the Bronx was beginning a transition from Europeans to Blacks and Puerto Ricans in the South Bronx , and Rescue 3 had been in business for 16 years.

What The Bronx looked like in the 1940s through Stunning Historical Photos

The 1940s in the Bronx were a time of contradictions: wartime prosperity followed by postwar struggles, vibrant culture amidst social unrest.

seeoldnyc.com

Over a year prior, Rescue demonstrated their expertise at Box 55-2314 St Anns and East 157th Street. On February 11th, Ebling's Brewery caught fire. There was an explosion and collapse which trapped a member of Engine Co. 41. Using masks in the collapse covered with leaking ammonia, Rescue 3 extracted the injured, burned member who spent several months in the hospital.

The company consisted of a Captain- Henry Eberle, two Lieutenants- Thomas Phelan and John J. Kelly (7), and 24 firemen. The two senior guys were appointed on 7/7/31, the youngest two on 9/1/39. All were happy to land a spot in FDNY during the Great Depression. There was one curious exception....Fireman 2nd Grade Howard J. Wanser appointed 1/7/46 (18 months on the job). How did that happen? Who did he know? I know he was subsequently a mentor to Dick Hamilton when he got into Rescue several years later. The Matron Mary Charboneau (Appt 1/19/32) was still playing subway straphanger from 427 West 24th Street.

Everybody lived in the Bronx, Their most common recall company was Engine 64. Lt. Phelan lived at 1155 Hoe Ave (recall E94) and Stan Scarbeck, the elder lived at 1406 Merriam Ave (Ladder 49).

When they got on the job, obviously they all attended drill school behind Headquarters on East 68th St. A bunch were probably assigned to companies outside of the Bronx after graduation. Maybe one ended up on theatre detail in Midtown on "The Great White Way". Hollywood movies were now "the talkies"!

 

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Compared with what was to come, I would describe fire duty in the Bronx in 1947-48 as quiet.

During that time, work groups were in three platoons. Shift changes were at 8:00 am, 4:00 pm, and Midnight (I saw one midnight roll call supervised by the 14th Battalion- what prompted that?). The officer worked a 24 starting at 8:00 am. Outdoor drill (a ladder drill, usually with H & L 17) was every Monday morning at 8:30 am. Every day except Sunday from 4:30 to 6:00 pm was indoor drill. The 14th Battalion or the Deputy sometimes supervised.

The response district of Rescue 3 was the Bronx, Islands from Randall's and those further north, and the Borough of Manhattan from Inwood down to- but not including- 96th Street

The company journal only records the signal and time of Rescue response, time of in service taps back in quarters, and a few words about the nature of the call.

For example: 9/14/47
4:21 (am): Received alarm by telegraph signal 2291 Company responded
4:31 (am): Company returned from station 2291. In Service signal 4-4-4-10-3 transmitted. Received 2-3 in reply. Fire at 756 Westchester Ave

I would observe that for the majority of calls, Rescue was tapping in service in 12 to 15 minutes.

It looked like they answered 2100, 2200, 2300, 1400, and a few 2500 series boxes. Everywhere else in their district they answered signal 10, 2-2, or 3-3 (North Bronx). Signal 10 responses were fires, inhalator calls, with the occasional refrigerator leak. I guess ESU took care of auto accidents.
It also seemed that they had a lot of fires two or three blocks north or south of 125th Street.

July, 1947 runs-64 MFA- 13 Vehicle fires- 5 Multiple 33- 3746 5628-40 Broadway out 2 hours

March, 1948 runs=47 MFA-9 Vehicle fires- 8 No multiples