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.  In 1912 Engine 5 relocated to 115 Van Houten Street and Engine Company 12 entered service at the Water Street Firehouse.
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​​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
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​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
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April 1, 1895: Chief Engineer Annual Report
Manpower Assignment for Engine 5

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
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November 15, 1895: the Fully Paid Department ​begins:
First Manpower Assignment for Engine 5 (Badge #s listed)

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

#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
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March 11, 1911: Captain Cubby passes away

Guardian - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

Guardian - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

July 1911:  Steam apparatus shipped via railroad to Nott Company in Minneapolis, MN to be motorized.

August 24, 1911:  Horses run away from fire scene at 2AM at 196 Water Street - heading toward Ridgewood. 

Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

March 9 1912: Engine Company 5 relocated to the new Central Fire headquarters at 115 Van Houten Street. Awaiting them was a rebuilt Hose Wagon (Sampson autocar) and the 1903 Metropolitan steamer with a Nott Propelling tractor​

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

September 6, 1912:  New Robinson apparatus on the way

September 13, 1912:  New motorized apparatus- Made by Robinson Fire Engine Company of St. Louis, MO.   6 cylinder  110 HP  700-800 GPM  4 chemical tanks, 1250' 2.5 inch hose, two 12' ladders and one roof ladder, crow bars, axes

Captain John McQuirk Paterson Press - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

September 13, 1912: Mischievous boys pull false alarm (Station 232 and Bridge Street and Hamilton Ave) so as to see new fire engine

Paterson News - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

September 17, 1912:

Paterson News - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

Paterson Press - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

Engine Co 12 Robinson Apparatus - Paterson Press Courtesy Dennis Morrison

Paterson Press - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

October 2, 1912: New apparatus enters service at Water Street Firehouse - Made by Robinson Fire Engine Company of St. Louis, MO.   6 cylinder  110 HP  700-800 GPM  4 chemical tanks, 1250' 2.5 inch hose, two 12' ladders and one roof ladder, crow bars, axes

October 10, 1912:  New Robinson Pumper - Apparatus issues

Paterson News- Courtesy Dennis Morrison

October 26, 1912: 

November 3, 1912: Robinson apparatus (Engine 12) returns to duty but operates out of Central Headquarters at 115 Van Houten Street -  the motorized hose wagon of Engine 5 is transferred to and operates out of the Water Street Firehouse

Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

November 11, 1912: Firehouses at Water and also Prospect Streets  put up for auction

Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

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.
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January 2, 1957: ~12 Noon  128 Water Street    2nd Alarm    2 1/2 Story Building
                     Building was once home of Protection Engine 5 and Engine 5

Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

2017 View of the lot where firehouse once stood

View of 128 Water Street (Presidential Boulevard) in 2017