PATERSON FIRE HISTORY
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  • GREAT 1902 CONFLAGRATION
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  • NOTABLE EVENTS INDEX
    • APPARATUS NOTABLES
    • APPTS & PROMOTIONS
    • AWARDS
    • DEATHS / OBITUARIES
    • FIREMEN STORIES
    • 1960 CHIEF SELECTION
    • GRAND STREET RIOT 1917
    • GROUND ZERO
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    • HISTORY by CHIEF STAGG
    • JOSEPH DAYSPRING
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    • SISTER LORETTA
    • SPORTS
    • THEATRE DETAIL
  • MEMORABILIA
  • PATCHES DECALS LOGOS SHIRTS
  • WALLPAPER
  • DEPARTMENT DOGS
  • TRAINING
  • VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENT
    • 1821 - 1854 HISTORY
    • VOLUNTEER HISTORY
    • ANNUAL REPORTS
    • VOLUNTEER CHIEFS
    • VOLUNTEER PROFILES
    • ANDREW MOSER
    • VOLUNTEER COMPANIES
  • EXEMPT ASSOCIATION
  • EXEMPT HOME & RELICS
  • FMBA / PFA
  • BALLBOOKS
    • 1909 BALL BOOK
    • 1916 BALL BOOK
    • 1918 BALL BOOK
    • 1923 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1928 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1935 PFD BOOSTER
    • 1936 JANUARY PICTORIAL
    • 1936 DECEMBER PICTORIAL
    • 1937 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1938 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1939 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1941 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1942 ANNUAL BALL
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    • 2003 ANNUAL BALL
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    • 2005 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2010 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2011 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2014 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2016 ANNUAL BALL
  • AUXILIARY FIRE DEPARTMENT
  • CITY OF PATERSON
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  • ORAL HISTORY
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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. ​
​
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​​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.​
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1907 photo - part of a post card series
​March 20, 1890: 1883 Second Size Jeffers Steam Fire Engine and a John Post Hose Wagon
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Jeffers Steam Fire Engine (wgen it was Neptune Engine Co. 2 - : John Breen Driver
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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
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Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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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.
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September 15 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
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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.
​
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​Initial Roster:  Chemical One

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


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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
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Circa 1894: Hotel Street was renamed as Hamilton Street. Firehouse remains as #10​
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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
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Guardian courtesy Dennis Morrison

Follow up articles
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January 19 Paterson Daily Press courtesy Jim Eifler
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January 19 Morning Call courtesy Jim Eifler
January 3, 1895: Chemical One statistics for last year
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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 ​
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March 6 Morning Call
March 6, 1895:  Value of Chemical Company
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Morning Call

​August 7, 1895: 
Balloon escapade
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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
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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
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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
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September 8 Paterson News
October 17, 1898:  Horse escapes from Fire Headquarters
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October 18 Paterson News
December 24, 1898:  New "Trip" device set up at Hamilton Street Headquarters
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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
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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
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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
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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​
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Courtesy Dennis Morrison
February 12, 1904: Report of Chief Stagg on apparatus -  Chemical 1
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Paterson News - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
October 30, 1906: Chemical engine was rebuilt and repainted and equipped with 500' of hose
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October 3 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
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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
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1908 photo of the men of Chemical Company: Standing: George Muth, Robert Giebelhausen, Martin Gleason. Sitting: Captain Charles Simonton, Lieutenant John Gaynor.
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May 19, 1908: Wheel falls off chemical wagon during response to Station 474
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Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
1909: Captain was Charles Simonton
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!
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Hancock Collection
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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
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Hancock Collection
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Hancock Collection
July 12, 1910 - Fire where company responded to Station 425 and reported Chief John Stagg and Assistant Chief Gilmore
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Hancock Collection
August 23, 1910:  Van Kirk lumbar yard fire: as often was the case the Chemical Company just stood fast.
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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.
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Hancock Collection
November 16, 1910:  Assisted companies 1 and 8 and used ladder at East Jersey Pipe Works
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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.
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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.
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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)
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Hancock Collection
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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.
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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
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Press Guardian - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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Press Guardian - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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Company (manufacturer) assigned chauffer Albert Rice
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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.
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Paterson News - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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Above clip states: No time was set nor penalty placed for delay in finishing the work and no one knows when the engine will be ready for delivery 
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February 2, 1912: Chemical Company (Engine 11) sets record for number of monthly responses (month of January 1912)
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Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
March 10, 1912:  Chief Stagg discusses firehouse location move
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Chronicle - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
March 19, 1912: The apparatus relocated to the new "Stony Road" firehouse at 97 Grand Street where it continued service as Engine Company 11.
Picture
Courtesy Jim Eifler
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Courtesy Jim Eifler
June 23, 1916: Firehouse sold
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Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
July 31, 1916: Old firehouse being renovated as a restaurant
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Morning Call courtesy Pat Henderson
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  • HOME
  • OVERVIEW
    • FIRST CENTURY
    • EVENTS 1890-1894
    • EVENTS 1895-1899
    • EVENTS 1900-1910
    • EVENTS 1911-1919
    • EVENTS 1920-1939
    • EVENTS 1940-1959
    • EVENTS 1960-1979
    • EVENTS 1980-99
    • EVENTS 2000-2019
    • EVENTS 2020-2021
  • FIREFIGHTERS
    • MASTER MECHANICS
  • THE SUPREME SACRIFICE
    • MEMORIAL SERVICE
  • CHIEF ENGINEERS
    • ASSISTANT CHIEFS
    • DEPUTY CHIEFS
    • BATTALION CHIEFS
    • CHIEF GIGS
  • GREAT 1902 CONFLAGRATION
  • TAKING THE HEAT BOOK
  • 1893 PFD HISTORY BOOK
  • 1940 HISTORICAL REVIEW
  • 1950 HISTORICAL REVIEW
  • NOTABLE FIRES/INCIDENTS
  • EMS
    • EMS ROSTER
  • FIREHOUSE PHOTOS / FACTS
  • COMPANY & FH HISTORY
  • COMMUNICATIONS / FA
    • FIRE BOX LISTS
    • EVRS STATION LIST
  • SPECIAL OPERATIONS
  • SPECIAL OP EVENTS
  • FIRE VIDEOS 1991-2011
  • FIRE VIDEOS 2014-2020
  • DOCUDRAMAS
  • APPARATUS
  • APPARATUS VIDEOS
  • NOTABLE EVENTS INDEX
    • APPARATUS NOTABLES
    • APPTS & PROMOTIONS
    • AWARDS
    • DEATHS / OBITUARIES
    • FIREMEN STORIES
    • 1960 CHIEF SELECTION
    • GRAND STREET RIOT 1917
    • GROUND ZERO
    • HANCOCKS
    • HISTORICAL REVIEWS
    • HISTORY by CHIEF STAGG
    • JOSEPH DAYSPRING
    • KEARNEY-FAMILY
    • MILITARY
    • PARADES
    • RED MASS
    • RESCUES
    • RETIREMENTS
    • SISTER LORETTA
    • SPORTS
    • THEATRE DETAIL
  • MEMORABILIA
  • PATCHES DECALS LOGOS SHIRTS
  • WALLPAPER
  • DEPARTMENT DOGS
  • TRAINING
  • VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENT
    • 1821 - 1854 HISTORY
    • VOLUNTEER HISTORY
    • ANNUAL REPORTS
    • VOLUNTEER CHIEFS
    • VOLUNTEER PROFILES
    • ANDREW MOSER
    • VOLUNTEER COMPANIES
  • EXEMPT ASSOCIATION
  • EXEMPT HOME & RELICS
  • FMBA / PFA
  • BALLBOOKS
    • 1909 BALL BOOK
    • 1916 BALL BOOK
    • 1918 BALL BOOK
    • 1923 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1928 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1935 PFD BOOSTER
    • 1936 JANUARY PICTORIAL
    • 1936 DECEMBER PICTORIAL
    • 1937 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1938 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1939 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1941 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1942 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1943 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1944 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1945 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1946 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1947 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1948 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1949 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1950 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1951 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1952 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1953 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1954 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1955 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1956 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1957 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1958 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1959 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1960 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1961 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1962 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1963 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1964 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1965 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1966 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1967 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1968 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1969 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1970 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1971 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1972 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1973 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1975 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1976 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1977 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1979 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1980 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1981 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1982 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1983 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1984 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1985 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1986 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1987 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1988 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1989 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1990 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1991 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1992 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1993 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1994 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1995 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1996 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1997 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1998 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1999 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2000 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2001 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2002 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2003 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2004 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2005 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2010 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2011 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2014 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2016 ANNUAL BALL
  • AUXILIARY FIRE DEPARTMENT
  • CITY OF PATERSON
  • PFH CONTRIBUTORS
  • ORAL HISTORY
  • STATISTICS
  • CONTACT