149 Slater Street
This firehouse at 149 Slater Street (near Jersey) was built in 1855 to house the just organized Jackson Engine Company 4 of the Volunteer Fire Department.
In 1888 the Fire Department was reorganized by a special committee consisting of Aldermen 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 and Apparatus at Slater Street
March 20, 1890: The transition from a totally volunteer department to partially paid "Call System" occurred and Jackson Engine Company Four became Engine Company 4.
Apparatus: 1883 second size Clapp and Jones Steamer in good condition. Sowerbutt hose wagon in good condition with 700' hose, 2 three gallon extinguishers and a roof ladder
Initial Roster: Engine Company 4
Captain Patrick Sweeney
Engineer Frank Costello, Drivers John Cluney and Peter Riley
Callmen: John J. Canning, Robert Dunphy, William Marshall, James Cullerton, Hugh Kennedy, William Morrison, John Marshall.
Captain Patrick Sweeney
Engineer Frank Costello, Drivers John Cluney and Peter Riley
Callmen: John J. Canning, Robert Dunphy, William Marshall, James Cullerton, Hugh Kennedy, William Morrison, John Marshall.
April 1, 1895: Chief Engineer Annual Report
Manpower Assignment for Engine 4
Manpower Assignment for Engine 4
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Badge Name Rank
37 Patrick Sweeney Captain 38 Alexander S Thoms Engineer 39 Thomas McGurk Driver 40 John J. Condon Driver 154 James Cullington Hoseman |
Badge Name Rank
42 John J. Cunning Callman 43 Robert Dumphy Callman 44 James Healey Callman 45 Charkes McGinnis Callman 46 Hugh Kennedy Callman 47 William Morrison Callman 48 John Marshall Callman |
November 15, 1895: Department goes fully paid - callmen eliminated
November 15, 1895: the Fully Paid Department begins:
First Manpower Assignment for Engine 4 (Badge #s)
First Manpower Assignment for Engine 4 (Badge #s)
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Captain Patrick Sweeney #40
Engineer George W. Dobson #41 John J. Condon #42 James Cullington #43 |
Michael J. Ryan #44
Engineer Michael Halnan #45 William Laughlin #46 John Delaney #47 |
Captain Patrick Sweeney
March 20, 1890 the company used an 1883 Second Size Clapp and Jones Steam Fire Engine (that used by Jackson 4) with a Hose wagon built by Sowerbutt, that carried 700 feet of hose, and two 3-gallon extinguishers and one roof ladder.
April 1897 Roster with badge #s listed in Annual Report: (new name in italics)
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Captain Patrick Sweeney #40
Engineer George W. Dobson #41 Frank Connors #42 James Cullington #43 |
James Furrey #44
Engineer Michael Halnan #45 William Laughlin #46 John Delaney #47 |
September 29, 1905: Former volunteer FF Richard Moore
Courtesy of Dennis Morrison
December 12, 1905: First Size Nott Steam Fire Engine shown below at a 1910 River Street fire. Note Captain at side of apparatus.
1908 NY Sunday World photo of men outside firehouse - Standing left to right: Thomas Cullington (hoseman), Thomas Dunn (hoseman), Stephen Walls (hoseman), John Walsh (hoseman), James Sweeney (hoseman), John Egan (hoseman), Michael Halnan (engineer), Philip Kearney (driver), Abram Hartley (driver), Sitting (L-R): William Allen (Captain), James Cluney (Lieutenant).
NY Sunday World - also 1909 Ball Book
1909: Captain remains William Allen
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At right are the men of Engine Company 4 with the horses in doorway of quarters. L-R: John Heinzelman, Corneilus "Neil" Kennedy, John Eagan and Bill Smith
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circa 1910-1912 photo
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May 23 1913: First size Metropolitan Steam Fire Engine (former Engine 9) with a Christie Front Drive Tractor
1916: First size Robinson Combination Hose Wagon (former Engine Company 1 wagon)
July 1, 1916: Two Platoon System begins: (Day and Night Shift
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Day Shift
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Night Shift
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Lieutenant William Loughlan
Engineer Walter Mennel Corneilius Kennedy James Rafferty William Smth George Hausen |
Captain John Cluney
Engineer John Egan John Heinzelman William Delaney Charles Townley Robert Summers |
1918: Ball Book Roster
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Captain John Cluney
Lieutenant Michael Comer Engineer Walter Mennel John Eagan William Delaney John Heinzelmann Cornelius Kennedy |
William Smith
James Rafferty Charles Townley Robert Summers John Doherty Geroge Hanson (in US Armed Forces) |
January 1920: Commercial Truck Company Electric Tractors attached to Steamer (serial #19021) and Combination Hose and Chemical Wagon (serial # 19023)
October 15, 1926: Ahrens Fox Model N-S-4 1000 GPM (serial #1669). This was the second Ahrens Fox Pumper purchased by Paterson at a cost of $13,500. It had solid rubber tires and a deluge gun outboard of the left side of the hosebed. It was converted to pneumatic tires in March 1932.
April 27, 1928: Fireman Edward Tribe and Marinus Baker of Engine Company 4 make the Supreme Sacrifice at the Linn Department Store at 133-135 Main Street (Station 451 at 2:33 AM - a third alarm fire).
Edward Tribe
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Marinus Baker
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Originally the apparatus had a one piece bumper which was replaced later with a two piece bumper after a collision with a bus on February 9, 1950 as seen below.
Register 1669 Not Detroit Door Opener on front running board -- Dick Adelman Photo
November 22, 1928: Re-roofing proposal
1930 Company Roster
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A Shift
Captain Joseph Greer Jess Kithcart August Schneider (Supreme Sacrifice) Samuel Hess David McGrady Joseph Recca |
B Shift
Captain John Gaynor Horace Warr Thomas Petty James Rafferty John Spruce Thomas Matthews |
1935: Engine Company 4 A Shift: Captain Joseph Greer, Robert Summers, Jess Kithcart, August Schneider, Sam Hess, David McGrady, Joseph Recca
1936 Ball Book Photo
1935: Engine Company 4 B Shift: Acting Captain Horace Warr, Thomas Petty, James Rafferty, John Spruce, Thomas Matthews, Frederick Haycock
1936 Ball Book Photo
1940 Paterson Evening News Golden Jubilee - Engine Company 4 Roster
On August 19, 1942 the 1926 N-S-4, #1669 of Engine Company 4 collided with a car at Grand and Mill Streets while responding to a brush fire. Fireman August Schneider and Auxillary Fireman William Conklin were both thrown from the apparatus and fatally injured.
1944 Annual Report Roster
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A Shift
Captain Joseph L. Devenport David McGrady James McKelvey John Sisco |
B Shift
Captain Joseph Carr John Spruce Charles McGee George Peppinghaus |
1949 Ball Book photo of Engine Company 4 "A Shift" Captain Joseph (Lester) Devenport, Richard Walmsley, Ernest Biggs and Francis Dalton
1949 Ball Book photo of Engine Company 4 "B Shift" Captain George Peppinghaus, Earl Plavier, Michael Weiss and John Cartwright
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Engine 4's Dalmatian was called Fritz. On his collar he wore a special badge engraved with his and the Company's name. This made the Dal "official" to accompany the men as they worked. Pictured at right on the seat of the Ahrens Fox is the Dalmatian called Princess who was purchased after Frtiz passed away.
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In June of 1952 the Fox pumper (#1669) became a spare.
1953 21st Avenue Wire Factory General Alarm Fire Captain Joseph Dayspring (of E1 at that time) at right without helmet
In next 2 photos Engine 4 in action at the 1951 North 10th Street Crayon Factory 4 Alarm Fire (apparatus photographed from each side is parked at corner of Clinton and North 11th Streets).
January 1952: Received a 1930 Ahrens Fox Model H-P-4 1000 GPM (Serial # 2312) which was formerly that of Engine Company 1. The Ahrens Fox agent Frank Griesser donated a windshield which was installed, making this pumper (#2312) the only Paterson Fox pumper to have a windshield (seen below).
Apparatus parked on Temple Street outside of Verps Bakery
March 1953: A new 1953 Seagrave 750 GPM (Serial # G3790). Had a 150 gallon booster tank. It was received in Paterson on February 5, 1953. The cost was $15,754 (1/2 of the cost paid by Civil defense).
1954 Ballbook photo: A and B shifts of Engine Company 4: Top L-R: Captain Harold Kane, Tommy Watterson, Earl Plavier, Captain J.Cartwright, William Willocks. Bottom L-R: Battalion Chief & Drill Master Solomon Reines, Ernie Biggs, Joe Bauer, J.Thompson, F. Dalton.
January 23, 1958: Received a 1957 FWD Special 1000 GPM pumper (Serial #D80293) pictured below. This photo is 1968 or later after the plywood riot roof was installed.
Below is a 1961 photo of the watch desk of the Slater Street firehouse. Left to right are Walt Nicklaus, Ernie Biggs and Vic Diddio.
The Slater Street firehouse was closed on July 2, 1962 and then demolished to make room for Route 80 as it was constructed in Paterson. Engine Company 4 went out of service at that time.
