1950-1954

CHRONOLOGICAL LISTING OF NOTABLE FIRES

1950-1954

1950 Box Time Address Alarm Remarks

February 20, 1950: 523 8:23 PM 428 Main Street 1 alarm Kitchen Fire
Chief's Aide Walter W. Pitkethly (who drove BC Titus) collapsed & died

Journal of Engine 11 re Main Street Fire & FF death announcement -- Hancock Collection

August 13, 1950: 326 10:45 AM 14-18 Hudson Street    3rd Paper Stock Co.
November 24, 1950: 144    1;45 PM 155 Paterson Street 3rd Retail Store
November 25, 1950:    743 7:55 PM 732 Broadway    3rd    Apartment House
November 29, 1950: 734 7:30 AM 105 Broadway    3rd Retail Store

1951 Box Time Address Alarm Remarks

Date ? Hamilton Avenue 4 fatalities

January 3, 1951: 23 & 655 3:43 PM 58 Warren St.    3rd Factory
January 28 1951: 541 7:55 PM 2nd Alarm fire
February 13, 1951 54 11:00 PM 239 Carroll St.    4th Apartment House
April 22, 1951: 567    6:15 AM 7     90 Main Street                    4th            Lumbar Yard
                 (Van Winkle-Bromley)   Also damaged 103 Newark Ave, 236 Atlantic Street

Dayspring Collection

May 3: 195 3:20 PM 133 North 10th Street 4th Crayon Factory

Dayspring Collection

FF John Spruce (supply truck) of 252 Clinton Street who pulled the box

North 10th Street across from fire: FF William Siss & Al Capter in group, kneeling at right Dan Carroll (Capt E1), standing Captain John Hoffman (T2) In rear Father Francis Meyers.

E5 at Jefferson and North 9th Street (1948 Mack pumper)

Engine 4 Fox pumper #1669 - North 11gth Street just west of Clinton Street

Engine 13 Fox Pumper #3334

Engine 3 Fox Pumper - North 11th Street just east of Clinton Street

Engine 6 Fox Pumper

May 15, 1951: Main Street Fire

July 26, 1951: 636 6:29 PM 551-61 1st Ave. 3rd Apex Silk Company
While driving Acting Chief Kennedy to the fire the Chief's Cadillac involved in a collision
at Madison Avenue and Broadway. Chief's Aide Joseph Dow died

Joseph Dow

September 20, 1951: Stations 653 & 625 pulled: 11:23 AM
54 East 11th Street Paterson Iron & Metal Co.

Dayspring Collection

1952 Box Time Address Alarm Remarks

January 11: 23 4:26 AM 388-90 River Street 3rd Tavern

Patrolman James Lawless and E2 Captain Frank Spagnola -- Dayspring Collection

Ahrens Fox Apparatus in front

February 24, 1952: 54 1:30 PM 148 16th Avenue 2nd Dwelling (fatality)

Dayspring Collection

March 9, 1952: 282 12:07 PM 445-447 Union Avenue & 82 Redwood Avenue
3rd Alarm Dwelling, Beauty Shop

Dayspring Collection

E12 is a 1951 FWD pumper

March 9, 1952: 7:06 PM 54 Paterson Street 1 alarm Apartment in dwelling (Fatality)

Dayspring Collection

March 25, 1952: 368 8:00 PM 454 East 41st Street 1 alarm Dwelling

Dayspring Collection

March 26, 1952: 2:50 PM Started as a still alarm for Engine 8 and then two boxes were pulled: Stations 281 (Redwood & Doremus Streets) and 282 (Unuon & Redwood) 2nd alarm sounded for Station 281 Thus 9 Engine companies and all 3 Trucks were at the fire 121-123 Redwood Avenue 6 family Dwelling

Dayspring Collection

March 26, 1952: 323 4:15 PM 53 Benson Street 1 alarm

March 27, 1952: 636 5:55 AM 15-17 1st Ave. 3rd Peerless Finishing Corp

Dayspring Collection

November 6:, 1952 541 3:10 PM 376-380 Graham Avenue 4th Dwellings
November 28, 1952 : 451 & 473 1:43 AM 85 Broadway 4th Star Carpet Store

December 6, 1952: ~9:15 AM 189 Straight Street 2nd Rooming house

In foreground is the wooden aerial ladder of Truck Company 3 1932 75' Ahrens Fox

1953 Box Time Address Alarm Remarks

February 14: 436 2:02 PM 264-74 21st Ave. General Wire Factory
For much more info & photos click here

Captain Joseph Dayspring of Engine 1

Engine Company 4 Ahrens Fox at the fire

February 25, 1953: 731 9;45 AM 232 Broadway 2nd Alarm Old Romaine Mansion

March 1, 1953: 385 11th Avenue 2nd alarm 6 family dwelling
The News article below notes this blaze was the first assignment made by Joseph Dayspring (with his new white helmet and coat) who was sworn in as a Battalion Chief earlier in the day on March 1, 1953

BC Joseph Dayspring

Helmet described in above article

March 2, 1953: 244 9:45 PM 48 Essex Street 3rd Apartment House

Station 244 Battalion Chief Walter L. Titus, Engines #4 - #5 - #6 - Truck #1. Fire at 48 Essex Street, a 3 story frame building with apartments for 4 families. On arrival Chief Titus ordered a second alarm to be sounded.

9:33 PM: Second alarm from station 244. Deputy Chief Joseph Bray and Engines #1 and Truck 3 responded from quarters. On his arrival Chief Bray ordered a third alarm to be sounded.

9:38 PM: Third alarm from station 244. Battalion Chief Joseph Dayspring, Engines #3 - #7 - #8 -#9 - #10 - #11 -#12 responded from quarters. Responding from their homes Chief of Department Hobart Strathearn, Deputy Chief James Chaplain, Battalion Chiefs Rudolph J. Peppinghaus, Joseph L. Devenport, Daniel Carroll, George Walls and George Peppinghaus. Mechanics John

and August Peters. Chaplains Meyers, Melberg, Wilde. Fire of unknown cause (suspect oil stove) started in kitchen rear of first floor occupied by Mrs. Fletcher. Body of Gregory Fletcher age 6 years was found under a large amount of clothing in first floor rear right apartment removed in Truck 1 body wrapper. Pronounced dead by Doctor Richard Zorack, General Hospital. Parents of this child absent at the time of the fire. Only door leading to apartment obstructed by chair. Police investigation by Lieutenant William Ludwig and detective Joseph Dwonack. Electric shut off orders of Chief Strathearn.

Return taps 12:46 AM Tuesday March 3, 1953. Used water. Flames from 48 Essex Street damaged a 2 story frame dwelling for 2 families at 60 Beech Street. Flames from 48 Essex Street damaged a vacant dwelling at 46 Essex Street

March 11, 1953: 23 9:27 PM E. 5th & Warren St. 3rd
Schweid Slaughterhouse.

March 17, 1953 521 7:15 PM 382 Main St. 3rd Pepper Bros Paints

Dayspring Collection

April 26, 1953 552 4:54 AM 96-98 Florida Ave. 3rd Waste Paper Warehouse

Dayspring Collection

June 25, 1953 311 10:48 AM 68 Haledon Ave. 4th Christian Ref Church

August 2, 1953 456 1:30 PM 105 River Street 4th Marcus Furniture

Dayspring Collection

L-R: Truck 3 Ahrens Fox cab, Truck 2 FWD aerial and brand new Engine 2 Seagrave pumper with FF Patsy Fusaro on the deck gun. BC Joe Dayspring at top of ladder.

Sep. 3: 156 8:05 PM 80 Pennington St. 3rd Dwelling