Death Notices and Obituaries
1920 - 1939
March 16, 1920: Retired Chief Patrick Sweeny death. Appointed as a driver of Engine 4 August 3, 1885; Captain March 20, 1890; became PFD's first ever Deputy Chief April 4, 1908 - Retired June 30, 1912. His son James later became a D/C and was a LODD in 1938
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March 22, 1920 - Morning Call - Courtesy Jum Eifler
June 14, 1920: F/F Allison Roswell - Appointed March 1, 1890 - Driver & Stoker Engine 7
June 16 Morning Call
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Allison Roswell
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August 22, 1920: Lieutenant and Engineer John Knaus - An original PFD appointee (1890) -Had 31 year PFD career - Served E1 and E2
August 23 Morning Call
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John Knaus at Engine 2
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November 18, 1922: FF Edward Slingland - Active member of Truck 1 dies at age 51 - Appointed in 1895 - Also served Engine 6, Engine 4 and Truck 2.
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Edward Slingland
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November 20 Morning Call
November 6, 1923: Captain Cornelius Prince of Engine 12 - dies of heart attack after responding to a fire on North 7 North Main Street: this is a Line of Duty Death (Supreme Sacrifice). Appointed July 1, 1905. Served at Engine 2, 3, 5 (Engineer), 9 and as Captain (February 14, 1922) at E1 and then E12
Engine 2 1907
November 7
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Engine 5 1913
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March 21, 1924: Retired Assistant Chief John Gilmore (in command during the great 1902 fire). Was an original 1890 appointee. Retired 1912. Never held any other rank. Was a foremen of Vigilant Engine 6 of Volunteer Department
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April 3, 1924: Engineer Paul Wentink Appointed October 1, 1910
April 4 Paterson News
April 8
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Paul Wentink 1913 E5 photo
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June 23, 1924: Retired Captain and Master Mechanic - Appointed October 25, 1894 - Became Lieutenant and MM on November 5, 1905. Retired September 5, 1922.
June 21 Morning Call
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William Ward
June 23 Paterson News
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November 15, 1924: FF John Brady (former FMBA President) - Appointed July 1, 1905 - Had served at Engine 2
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November 18 Paterson News
July 17, 1925: William Stanard, a Civil War veteran and member of G.A.R. who served at Protection Engine 5 of Volunteer department and in 1886 as paid driver of Engine 5 and then in 1890 to paid PFD at Engine 5
July 20 Morning Call
January 11, 1926: Death of former Chief Engineer John Stagg More details: CLICK HERE
February 13, 1926: Captain John Cluney - appointed in 1890 and promoted to Captain in 1912 and retired in 1920. Dies after a fall - Funeral procession passes Engine 9 quarters (he had served as a lieutenant there).
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Guardian - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison
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Morning Call Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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February 26, 1926: Firefighter John Lynch appointed October 10, 1910. Served at Truck 2 and then in 1912 Truck 1
Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
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John Lynch at Truck 1 in 1913
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January 26, 1927: Captain William Boyle, a former alderman - father of subsequent PFD Captains William and Frank Boyle
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Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
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January 28, 1927: Walter Sonnenschein, a WWI veteran dies at age 38. Appointed to PFD July 1, 1916.
July 29 Morning Call
May 25, 1927: Retired FF Abraham Perrius - Had served as Chief's aide and at Truck 3 and other companies
May 25 Paterson News
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Abraham Perrius - 1907 photo at Engine 9
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July 12, 1927: Thomas J Woods at age 44 Active member of Engine 1 Appointed July 1, 1912 - Central Fire Headquarters mentioned in obituary opened March 12, 1912. Wood's cortege passed by the building
July 5 Paterson News
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Thomas Woods Engine 1 1913
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Paters9n Newsd courtesy dennis Morrison
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September 8, 1927: Retired FF Edward Hepp. Appointed November 16, 1895 -
September 9 Paterson News
Edward Hepp at E9 in 1907
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September 9 Morning Call
September 9, 1927: FF Frank Connors
November 2, 1927: Retired FF John Vesey dies in auto accident. Appointed March 20, 1890 - Served as a tillerman, a driver and at Engine 7
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November 4 Passaic News
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February 4, 1928: Death of famed Captain Stewart Taylor - a member (joined 1873) and Foreman of Vigilant Engine 6 of the Paterson volunteer fire department who went on to be the first Captain of Truck 3 in Paterson's partially paid (1890) and fully paid department (1895). Retired 1910. His son David was also a Paterson F/F.
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February 4 Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison
Captain Taylor
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Truck 3 circa 1907
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Laurel Grove Tombstone
February 10, 1928: Captain William Bloom was appointed July 1, 1905 and served at Engine 6. Appointed as Captain July 18, 1916.
February 11 Morning Call
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William Bloom as a FF at Engine 6 in 1907
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September 28, 1928: FF Leonard Chadwick appointed April 1, 1908 - Served at Engine Companies 4 and 7
Press Guardian courtesy Dennis Morrison
Leonard Chadwick at Engine 4 in 1913
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September 28 Morning Call
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March 3, 1929: Deputy Chief - Ernest Fields - Served Volunteer Department - Appointed to paid PFD March 1890 - Served as Lieutenant and Captain at Engine 1 - Became 1st BC (probationary) June 1, 1912 (permanent B/C on October 19, 1912) - Deputy Chief September 17, 1916 - Retired 1926
March 4 Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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May 23, 1929: Captain Felix McCann was originally with the Paterson Volunteer Department. Appointed paid PFD in November 1895 but still active on job, passes away. Initially served Truck 1 - appointed Lieutenant July 17, 1908
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Felix McCann as Lieutenant T1 in 1913
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May 22 Guardian courtesy Dennis Morrison
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March 26 Morning Call
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September 21, 1929: Edward Moore- former Volunteer fireman of Lafayette Engine 8
September 24 Paterson News
November 17, 1929: Lieutenant Robert Wright - Appointed as an original member of paid PFD on March 20, 1890 - Appointed Lieutenant E8 June 1, 1905. Served Engine 5 and 8
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November 18 Morning Call
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Lieutenant Wright Engine 5 1907
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Lieutenant Wright Engine 8 1913
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Lieutenant Wright at Training School
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December 7, 1929: Edward Kerwin - Served at Washington 3 in Volunteer Department - Was a callman on E3 and E6 in early 1890s - Called a "Hero" of the 1902 fire (came back that night as a volunteer)
December 8 Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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May 29, 1930: Retired FF Dennis Toomey - Appointed July 1, 1905 - Served Engines 7 and 9 - Father of Paterson FF John Toomey
May 29 Morning Call
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Dennis Toomey Engine 19 1907
Dennis Toomey Engine 7 1913
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July 7, 1930: Retired FF Thomas Fish - Appointed March 1, 1894 - Retired 1922
July 8 Morning Call
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Thomas Fish Engine 2 1907
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July 8 Paterson Evening News
October 29, 1930: Captain John Weber, the first Captain of Truck 2 (March 1890). Served at Germania 2 of Volunteer Department and hired in 1885 as the company tillerman. Was PFD's first drillmaster and ran training school at almshouse. Retired in May 1920.
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October 30 Morning Call
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January 10, 1932: Retired FF Daniel Gregory - Served Liberty Engine 7 in Volunteer department and as a Callman in Engine 7 and then Engine 1 of paid department in 1890-1895
January 11 Morning Call
February 16, 1932: Retired Lieutenant William Marshall Appointed March 21, 1894 Lieutenant at Truck 2
February 16 Morning call
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Lieutenant Marshall at Truck 2 1907
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July 15, 1932: Captain William Laughlin Appointed 1895 - Promoted to Lieutenant July 17, 1905 at Engine 4 -
July 15 Morning Call
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Lieutenant William Laughlin 1913 E4
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September 28, 1932: Death of Joseph Titus appointed November 6, 1909. Retired August 1932. [Uncle of FF and future DC Walter (Lester) Titus]
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Joseph Titus at Engine 6 in 1913
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October 3 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
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November 23, 1932: FF Michael Ryan - Was a Paterson Volunteer firemen and an early driver for Chief Stagg - also served as Engineer in Engines 6, 9 and 7. An FMBA president
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Michael Ryan
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November 25 Morning Call
November 27, 1932: Retired FF James Cullington - 32 years with PFD. Appointed March 13, 1892 and served at Engine 4 and retired in 1923
November 28 Morning Call
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Thomas Cullington at Engine 4 1907
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March 7, 1932: John J Canning - Served Paterson Volunteer Department
March 8 Morning Call
May 7, 1933: Retired FF John Daly - Appointed July 1, 1905 - Served 27 years at Truck 3 - Retired February 15, 1933
May 8 Paterson News
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May 22 Morning Call
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May 11 Morning Call
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John Daly Truck 3 1907
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June 13, 1933: Michael Gueterman (active member of Engine 2) Appointed July 1, 1905
June 13 Paterson News
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Michael Gueterman (listed as Ginterman) in 1907 E2 photo
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June 19 Paterson News
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December 12, 1933: Charles B Townley - Appointed July 1, 1916 - Served at Truck 3 and Engine 4
September 13 Paterson News
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March 31, 1934: William Morrison Served at Jackson Engine 4 of the Volunteer Paterson Fire Department - Served as Callman at Engine 4 March 20, 1890 - 1895
April 2 Morning Call
April 3, 1934: Fireman David Taylor - Appointed March 4, 1903 - 31 years of service - Served Engines 1, 5, 6 and Theater Detail. Son of Truck 3 original (1890) Captain Stewart Taylor
April 4 Morning Call
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David Taylor Engine 1 1907
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Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
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April 24, 1934: Matthew Ferguson last rites - Appointed September 11, 1905 - Served Truck 3
Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
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April 28 Paterson News
Matthew Ferguson Truck 3 1907
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October 13, 1934: FF John J Kelly Appointed July 1, 1908 -
Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
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April 24, 1935: FF John H Kedash - Foreman Lafayette Engine 8 in 1885
April 26 Paterson News
March 2, 1936: Joseph Dolan of Truck 1 - served 26 years - Appointed July 1, 1910
March 3 Paterson News
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Joseph Dolan 1913 Truck 1
March 4 Morning Call
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October 16, 1936: FF John Hill 17 year PFD veteran Engine 9
Paterson News
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John Hill 1936 Ball Book Engine 9
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December 8, 1936: William J Dale
December 9 Morning Call
January 14, 1937: Retired Captain Thomas Bush - Appointed June 4, 1904 - Served at Truck 3 - Promoted to Lieutenant, January, 20, 1911 & Captain at Engine 10 July 1, 1912 and then drillmaster
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January 22, 1937: Firefighter Richard Haley Appointed July 1, 1912 - Engine 9
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Richard Haley Engine 9 1936
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January 31, 1937: William Farrell Appointed March 20, 1890 Served as Engineer at Engine 8
February 1 Paterson News
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William Farrell - Engineer Engine 8 1907
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March 6, 1937: John Ellis - Served at Lafayette Engine 8 of Volunteer department - Appointed as paid fireman in 1887 as the first driver of Engine 8 Retired 1914
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March 8 Morning Call
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March 10 Paterson News
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John Ellis Engine 8 1907
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March 18, 1937: John J Condon Served Volunteer (Paterson Steam Fire Engine Company 9) and Paid Departments - Appointed March 1, 1893) - Retired 1923 - Served as Engineer at Engine 8 and FMBA President
March 19 Morning Call
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John Condon
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April 19, 1937: Retired Captain James O'Neill - Served as Volunteer and Paid PFD (as Call man & FF, Lieutenant and Captain 33 years of service Retired 1920
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April 20 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
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April 23, 1937: William Smith Appointed October 1, 1910 Engine 4, Engine 2
April 26 Morning Call
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William Smith 1936 BB Engine 2
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June 14, 1937: Harry Lister former Volunteer and Paid Paterson fireman Appointed March 20, 1890 as a Tillerman of Truck 3
July 15 Morning Call
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June 16 Morning Call
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July 5, 1937: Captain William Boyle Jr of Engine 10 Appointed July 1905 - First PFD firefighter promoted to Lieutenant - Served Truck 3, Engine 9 and Engine 1 - Brother of Captain Frank Boyle and son of original 1890 PFD Captain (E8) William Sr.
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William Boyle Jr 1908 photo
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July 6 Paterson News
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July 5, 1937: Thomas Woods Appointed July 1, 1912
Paterson News
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Thomas Woods 1913 Engine 1
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July 7, 1937: Philip Kearney, former FMBA President appointed in 1902. Served at Engine 4, Hose House, Chief Stagg Driver and Theater Detail
July 8 Paterson Evening News
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July 8, 1937: Thomas J Graves dies at age 32 - Marine Corps veteran - Appointed PFD October 1, 1927 - Served at Engine 3 - Uncle of future Mayor Frank X Graves
July 10 Morning Call
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Thomas Graves Engine 3 1936
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July 10 Paterson News
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September 3, 1937: Captain Martin Gleason Appointed June 21, 1899 - Lieutenant July 1, 1912 - Retired 1927
September 8 Morning Call
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Martin Gleason (as a Lieutenant) - 1913 Engine 9
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September 14, 1937: John Burrell Gray - US Navy Veteran - Appointed June 1 1923 - Retired 1933- Served Engine 10 and at Headquarters
September 14 Morning Call
October 13, 1937: James Howe - Served Volunteer - Lafayette Engine Company 8 - Was a Paterson Exempt fireman
Morning Call
November 13, 1937: Adam Berghorn Sr. - Served Volunteer Department at Paterson Steam Engine Company 9
March 11, 1938: Thomas Petty - Appointed April 1, 1922
March 12 Morning Call
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Thomas Petty Engine 4 1936
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March 12 Paterson News
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March 24, 1938: William Walsh - Appointed October 1, 1913 - Served Truck 1 and Engines 2, 10 and 11. Brother of Paterson LODD FF Edward Walsh.
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March 24 Paterson News
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William Walsh 1936 Engine 10
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March 25 Morning Call
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May 2, 1938: John Glass - firemen during Volunteer Era (Paterson Steam Fire Engine 9)
July 1, 1938: Retired FF Jacob Smith
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July 2 Paterson News
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October 6, 1938: Adam Berghorn former volunteer FF
October 7 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
October 13, 1938: Appointed 1916 - A Popular FF of Engine #13. FMBA officer and veteran Elmer Probert dies at young age. Two brothers George T. and Howard F. were also Paterson firefighters.
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October 17 Morning Call
November 3, 1938: retired FF Edward Ball - Appointed January 24, 1905 - Served Engine 5 and as Aide to BC John Specht and then Engine 8. Retired October 1, 1934.
November 3 - Paterson News
November 4 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
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Edward Ball at Engine 5 in 1907
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January 25, 1939: FF John Chapman served Volunteer & paid PFD - Served several companies and as a lineman at FAO. Appointed March 20, 1890.
Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
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January 27 Paterson News
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February 11, 1939: Retired FF Robert Giebelhausen appointed 1903
Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
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May 25, 1939: FF Dennis Toomey served PFD 30 years
Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
June 12, 1939: Retired Captain Charles Simonton - Civil War Veteran - Appointed March 21, 1894 and assigned to Engine 1 - 1897 - assigned to Chemical Company 1 - Appointed Captain at Engine 3 in 1899 - Later served as Captain at Chemical Company 1, Engine 8 in 1910 and then in 1912 Engine 6. Brother of famed Captain Sam Simonton.
June 12 Paterson News
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Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
Captain Charles Soimonton
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June 12, 1939: Captain Thomas Hunt 33 year PFD service
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Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison
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August 12, 1939: FF James DaCosta, a WWI vet, still on the job, dies
Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
October 6, 1939: William Fielding former Volunteer FF and a Call Man in early paid department
Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
December 22, 1939: William Shane a 36 year veteran FF
Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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December 23 Morning Csll
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