This firehouse at 128 Water Street (between Main and West Street bridges - opposite of Albion Street) was built in 1861 to house Protection Engine Company 5 (originally organized in 1832) of the Volunteer Fire Department.
In 1888 the Fire Department was reorganized by a special committee consisting of Aldermen Macdonald, Miller and Kearney, and a paid department 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 call men consisted of eighteen engineers for the engines as well as the chief, and two assistants. The transition from a totally volunteer department to partially paid occurred on March 20, 1890. At that time Protection Steam Fire Engine Company Five became Engine Company 5.
Chronological Listing of Events at Water Street Firehouse
March 20, 1890: The transition from a totally volunteer department to partially paid occurred and at that time Protection Steam Fire Engine Company Five became Engine Company 5.
Apparatus: 1884 second size Silsby in good condition. Sowerbutt hose wagon in good condition with 700' hose, 2 three gallon extinguishers and 1 roof ladder
Initial Roster: Engine Company 5
Captain William Cook
Engineer William Farrell, Drivers John Lair and William Stannard
Callmen: James C. Mills, Jacob Snyder, Peter Bradley, William Fielding, Peter Howden, John Messenger, Henry Snyder
Captain William Cook
Engineer William Farrell, Drivers John Lair and William Stannard
Callmen: James C. Mills, Jacob Snyder, Peter Bradley, William Fielding, Peter Howden, John Messenger, Henry Snyder
April 1, 1895: Chief Engineer Annual Report
Manpower Assignment for Engine 5
Manpower Assignment for Engine 5
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Badge Name Rank
49 Christopher Cubby Captain 50 Frank Blakely Engineer 53 Leonard Hartley Driver 55 Thomas Fish Driver 51 John Lair Hoseman |
Badge Name Rank
56 Peter Bradley Callman 57 Thomas Halliwell Callman 58 Archie Irwin Callman 59 Joseph Mellor Callman 60 John Messenger Callman 34 Henry Snyder Callman 41 James Matthews Callman |
November 15, 1895: Department goes fully paid - callmen eliminated
November 15, 1895: the Fully Paid Department begins:
First Manpower Assignment for Engine 5 (Badge #s listed)
First Manpower Assignment for Engine 5 (Badge #s listed)
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#50 Captain Christopher Cubby
#51 Engineer Thomas Donahue #52 Driver John Lair #53 Hoseman Leonard Hartley |
#54 Driver Thomas Fish
# 55 Hoseman Thomas Halliyell # 56 Hoseman Thomas McGill # 57 Hoseman Frank Conners |
Captain Christopher Cubby
1895: New front on firehouse installed by contractors and stable at rear of house rebuilt by firemen.
April 1897: Roster with badge #s listed in Annual Report: (new name in italics)
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#50 Captain Christopher Cubby
#51 Engineer Thomas Donahue #52 Driver Samuel Close #53 Hoseman Leonard Hartley |
#54 Hoseman William Davis
# 55 Hoseman John Specht # 56 Hoseman Thomas McGill # 57 Hoseman John J Condon |
March 1890: 1884 Second Size Silsby Steam Fire Engine (Serial # 782) with a Sowerbutt Hose Wagon, in good condition, which carried 700 feet of hose, and two 3-gallon extinguishers and one roof ladder.
Some of the men in above photo are Captain Cubby, Jack Gorman, Jim McMullen, Tom Haliwell, Adam Banghart, Buck Standard, Bill Milnes, John Specht.
Early photo of Engine 5 members in front of FF (with the old doors). Captain Cubby is in front second from right
1903: First Size Metropolitan Steam Fire Engine. Note the writing [High Water] above the head of the fireman who stands second from the right. It indicates the height the Passaic River reached during the Great Flood of 1902.
Circa 1903: Seagrave Hose Wagon with a Hart Water pump.
January 30, 1904: Engine 5 steamer pumping at the Ashley Bailey Mill fire
1908: Standing left-right: Thomas Hunt, Edward Ball, William Shane, Frank Boyle, Robert Dunphy, Herbert Croughan, Thomas Donahue, Peter Ihrman. Sitting Robert Wright, Captain Christopher Cubby. Note the high water mark on the firehouse, a remnant of the 1903 flood.
NY Sunday World - also 1909 Ball Book
Scan of original photo
1909: Captain Chris Cubby
February 1912: Nott Propelling Tractor attached to 1903 Metropolitan Steam Fire Engine and a Sampson Auto Chassis was put on the Hose Wagon.
March 9 1912: The now motorized Engine Company 5 and rebuilt Hose Wagon (Sampson autocar) moved to the new Central Fire headquarters at 115 Van Houten Street.
March 10, 1912 - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
March 19, 1912: The Water Street firehouse quartered the newly formed Engine Company 12 which used the combination hose wagon of Engine Company 5. Northside lost its steam fire engine.
The Chronicle June 18, 1911 - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
November 19, 1912: Firehouse put up for auction
Courtesy Jim Eifler
January 10, 1913: The Water Street firehouse closes its doors as Engine Company 12 moved to new quarters at 36 Circle Ave (at intersection of Clinton and North 3rd Streets.
View of 128 Water Street (Presidential Boulevard) in 2017