10 HOTEL / HAMILTON STREET

10 Hotel / Hamilton Street

This firehouse at 10 Hotel Street (in 1894 renamed Hamilton Street) was built in 1842 to house Neptune Engine Company 2 (originally organized in 1820) of the Volunteer Fire Department. The house was on the west side of Hotel Street very near Market Street.

In 1888 the Fire Department was reorganized by a special committee consisting of Aldermen Macdonald, Miller and Kearney, and a partially paid department or "Call System" succeeded the volunteer system on March 20th, 1890, with four permanent men in nine engine and three hook and ladder companies, and eight call men to each. The fulltime men consisted of Captains, Engineers, Drivers and Tillermen as well as the chief, and two assistants.

Chronological Listing of Events at Hotel / Hamilton Street Firehouse

March 20, 1890: The transition from a totally volunteer department to partially paid "Call System" occurred and Neptune Engine Company Two became Engine Company 2.

10 Hotel Street house was also the first fire headquarters used by the paid department and Chief Stagg operated out of this house. He is seen below in his gig stationed outside of the firehouse with his driver George Pfitzenmeier.

1907 photo - part of a post card series

March 20, 1890: 1883 Second Size Jeffers Steam Fire Engine and a John Post Hose Wagon

Jeffers Steam Fire Engine (wgen it was Neptune Engine Co. 2 - : John Breen Driver

View of Firehouse Location

Initial Roster: Engine Company 2

Captain Floyd King
Engineer George Dobson, Drivers Henry Nagle and George Sheldrake
Callmen: Samuel Simonton, William Butterworth, William Davis, JohnMcGill, John Shaw, George V. Brower, Peter Dahlinger, William H. Ward

June 21, 1890: New Chemical Engine ordered

Courtesy Dennis Morrison

September 13, 1890: Chemical Engine Tested and to be quartered at Engine 2 house on Hotel Street and Engine 2 Steamer being run out of Hose House until Highland Street FH is completed. Engine 2 Hose cart to relocated temporarily at Engine 9 and the Gig of Chief Murphy will be at Hotel Street with the Chemical Company and this FH will serve as Fire Headquarters.

September 15 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

September 14, 1890: Engine Company 2 was transiently put out of service and Chemical Engine Company One entered service using a Babcock Chemical Engine with double 60 gallon tanks and 400' of hose.

Initial Roster: Chemical One

Captain William Campbell
Extra Engineer Charles Wiley
Drivers John Breen and Charles Moore

William Campbell

December 1, 1890: Engine Company 2 (with apparatus) relocated to the newly built Firehouse at 77 Highland Street. Chemical 1 remains at quarters.

April 1, 1895: Chief Engineer Annual Report
Manpower Assignment for Chief's Office

Badge       Name                               Rank
145         George Pfitzenmeyer        Chief Driver
52           William Stannard              Assistant Chief Driver
4             Samuel Miller                   Assistant Chief Driver

October 11, 1891: Report of Chief Stagg re Chemical 1

Circa 1894: Hotel Street was renamed as Hamilton Street. Firehouse remains as #10

April 1, 1895: Chief Engineer Annual Report
Manpower Assignment for Chemical No. 1

Badge       Name                           Rank
151         Peter Riley                   Captain
150         Michael Halnan             Engineer
149         John Breen                    Driver
148         James Thoms                Driver
146         George Slingerland       Driver

Apparatus: 1890 Babcock Engine, double 60 gallon with 400' hose in two lines in good condition

January 16, 1894: F/F Andrew Knauss of Chemical 1 severely injured by horse at firehouse

Guardian courtesy Dennis Morrison

Follow up articles

January 19 Paterson Daily Press courtesy Jim Eifler

January 19 Morning Call courtesy Jim Eifler

January 3, 1895: Chemical One statistics for last year

Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

March 5, 1895: Station 42 ~ 2:30 PM 19 Elm Street Carpenter Shop Chemical 1 loses a wheel at Main and Market Streets while responding

March 6 Morning Call

March 6, 1895: Value of Chemical Company

Morning Call

August 7, 1895: Balloon escapade

Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

November 15, 1895: Department goes fully paid - callmen eliminated

November 15, 1895: the Fully Paid Department begins:
First Manpower Assignment for Chemical 1 (Badge #s)

Captain Peter Riley #140
Driver John Breen #141

Hoseman John Specht #142
Hoseman John Vescey #143

Captain Peter Riley

April 1897 Roster with badge #s listed in Annual Report: (new name in italics)

Charles Simonton #142, John Vesey #143

May 14, 1897: Neighborhood distractions

The Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Martin

April 1, 1898: Roster in Annual Report: (changes from 1897 in italics)

Thomas Hallwell #141

September 7, 1898: Captain Peter Riley ill: gets leave of absence

September 8 Paterson News

October 17, 1898: Horse escapes from Fire Headquarters

October 18 Paterson News

December 24, 1898: New "Trip" device set up at Hamilton Street Headquarters

Paterson News

March 18, 1899: Captain Peter Riley of Chemical Engine 1 (not 5). had served at Jackson 4 of Volunteer Department and became its paid driver in 1885. Became Captain in 1891 and served at E4, E9 and Chemical 1. Was an Exempt firefighter.

Paterson News

April 1, 1899: Roster with badge #s listed in Annual Report: (new name in italics)

Abraham Perrius #143

November 16, 1899: Comical rescue of cat in a tree on Hotel Street

Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

December 16, 1899: Box 165 at 6:35 AM at Paterson Sanitary Works on Leon Street. The chemical wagon unknowingly transports the company's pet cats (in the hose reel) to the fire

December 17 morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

January 12, 1901: ~10PM Chemical Engine 1 has accident while responding to Station 45 for a fire at Hamilton Ave & Washington Street. FF injuries

January 17 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrisonm

February 8, 1902: During the great conflagration when the entire downtown area was engulfed in flames, the entire eastern side of Hamilton street was lost but because of winds the firehouse was spared major damage.

July 14, 1903: 24 8:20 PM Madison and Essex Streets FF Thomas Halliwell injured again

Courtesy Dennis Morrison

February 12, 1904: Report of Chief Stagg on apparatus - Chemical 1

Paterson News - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

October 30, 1906: Chemical engine was rebuilt and repainted and equipped with 500' of hose

October 3 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

Captain Charles Simonton seated to the right, next to driver

1907 Post Card Series showing Assistant Chiefs James Mills and John Gilmore with drivers and gigs at Hamilton Street Headquarters

1908 photo of the men of Chemical Company: Standing: George Muth, Robert Giebelhausen, Martin Gleason. Sitting: Captain Charles Simonton, Lieutenant John Gaynor.

May 19, 1908: Wheel falls off chemical wagon during response to Station 474

Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

1909: Captain was Charles Simonton

Circa 1910 - F/F George Muth at Hamilton Street Firehouse - F/F on right with summer cap could be Lieutenant Lieutenant John Gaynor.

Muth family photo

1910- 1911: Below are the April 1910 to June 1911 Company Journal and its inside cover page listing the roster with badge numbers and age of firefighters. Compared to other companies Chemical 1's roster was small. Note the names of the horses "Kid and Buster" as well as their numbers!

Hancock Collection

May 6, 7, 8th and June 27, 1910 Journal entry - typical days with members taking meal leaves, chiefs visiting quarters as well as a fires where chemical extinguishers used

Hancock Collection

July 12, 1910 - Fire where company responded to Station 425 and reported Chief John Stagg and Assistant Chief Gilmore

Hancock Collection

August 23, 1910: Van Kirk lumbar yard fire: as often was the case the Chemical Company just stood fast.

Hancock Collection

October 18, 1910: List of supplies received Note horse bibs, harness and 280 pounds of oats, 225 pounds of hay, "shewing" for 2 horses, barrel of carbonate of soda, package of matches, and a rubber mat for Chief Sweeney gig.

Hancock Collection

November 16, 1910: Assisted companies 1 and 8 and used ladder at East Jersey Pipe Works

Hancock Collection

October 18, 1910: The new firehouse for the newly organized Engine Company 10 was about to open. It was to house the first gasoline powered PFD apparatus, 1910 Howe Autocar Fire Engine. There was a major shifting of firemen to staff Engine 10. Note the journal entry below from Chief Stagg reassigning men (as soon as possible). Captain William Boyle of Engine 8 got the prestigious assignment to be the Captain of the new company and Chemical Captain Charles Simonton was reassigned to Engine 8. Lieutenant (and future Chief Engineer) Thomas Coyle was transferred from Engine 1 to 10.

Hancock Collection

June 16, 1911: Chemical Company was ordered "off duty" by Chief Stagg and the apparatus was shipped to James Boyd of Philadelphia, PA. Journal entry is below.

Hancock Collection

With the apparatus out of service the horses [#15 (Kid) and #65 (Buster)] were transferred to Engine Company 7. One of Engine 7's horses went to Engine 8 and one went to Engine 3. The company's hose, hose mender and pipe was sent to Truck Company 3. The men were transferred by order of Chef Sweeney to other companies (listed in journal entry below) on June 16 and 17th. Finally bedding items went to the Hose House (on Bridge Street)

Hancock Collection

The components were rebuilt and motorized: with old equipment mounted on a Boyd auto-body chassis. It was marked as Engine Company 11 in anticipation of a relocation to a new Firehouse being built on Grand Street. The apparatus is shown below at the factory and then after its return outside of the Hamilton Street Firehouse. Notice the crank below front grill.

August 14, 1911: Chemical Engine 1 reorganized as Engine Company 11. In photo below is Chauffer Rice (not a Paterson fireman), Lieutenant John Gaynor, F/F Joseph Hughes, F/F James Sweeney and F/F John Roche. Apparatus is positioned along the bank next to the firehouse on Hamilton Street

Press Guardian - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

Company (manufacturer) assigned chauffer Albert Rice

December 26, 1911: Delay in Engine Company 11 moving to new Grand Street Firehouse due to stalled delivery of chemical/hose wagons to Engine 1 and 5. A chemical company was needed in the downtown section of the city.