36 CIRCLE AVENUE

36 Circle Avenue

Chronological Listing of Events and Apparatus at Circle Avenue

The 36 Circle Avenue firehouse at the intersection of North 3rd and Clinton Streets was opened in January 1913. It was built on the side of a cliff and has five stories, with level 3 being the floor on which the apparatus exited the firehouse. This bizarre occurrence was supposedly featured in Ripley's "Believe it or Not" book.

On the side of the firehouse were a series of steep stone steps to connect upper and lower Clinton street

Stairway at right on Clinton Street

Circa 1981 (79 ALF Pumper in bay)

October 15, 1910: Mayor announces plan for a Temple Hill area firehouse - no horses

Paterson Press

March 8, 1911: City negotiating for lots on North 3rd and Clinton Streets.

Paterson Press

March 11, 1911: Mayor McBride reveals location of new firehouse revealed and states it will have an auto-engine capable of climbing the hills.

Paterson News - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

March 15, 1911: Fire Commissioner, Chief Stag and Master Mechanic travel to Springfield Mass to evaluate a Knox motorized apparatus.

Paterson Press

May 11, 1911: Water Street Firehouse to be moved

Paterson News - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

February 27, 1912: Plans for the unusual architecture of Circle Avenue Firehouse approved

Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

March 2, 1912: Unique construction of the new FH at Clinton and North Third Streets - on the side of a cliff - the floor level is the third floor.

Paterson Press

March 30, 1912: Circle Avenue FH contracts awarded

Paterson Press

April 27, 1912: New FH being constructed - Street side is two stories high and rear is 4 stories. Floor opening on street is the main floor.

Paterson Press

February 27, 1912: Plans for the unusual architecture of Circle Avenue Firehouse approved

April 5, 1912: At request of Mayor McBride the American LaFrance Fire Engine Company brought an apparatus for Paterson fire Department (stops at City Hall and the new central headquarters) to examine - potentially for use at the new Engine 12. Note - the contract did not go to ALF

Guardian courtesy Dennis Morrison

September 6, 1912: New apparatus called "Jumbo" being delivered

Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

September 13, 1912: New Engine 12, Robinson pumper arrives

September 13 Paterson Press

Paterson Bress

September 17, 1912: Testing for new Engine 12 punper

Paterson Press

September 18, 1912: New apparatus tested

Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

Courtesy Steve Huckins

March 17, 2020 Market Street

September 18 Paterson Press

September 19 Fire & Water Enguineering

October 17, 1912: City holding up payment for E12 pumper - issues with shaft

Paterson Press

November 18, 1912: New firehouse to be completed in next day. Apparatus still residing in Water Street firehouse using a chemical apparatus. New Robinson pumper is stored at Van Houten Street Headquarters.

November 18, 1912:

December 12, 1912: Circle Avenue Firehouse ready to open and Engine 12, which had been temporarily located on Water Street will move in. Excellent description of the 5 story firehouse, in which 3 floors are located beneath the apparatus floor. The photo that accompanied this article is posted near top of this page

Guardian courtesy Dennis Morrison

December 31, 1912: Delegations from other towns coming to witness test of new pumping apparatus

Paterson Press

January 10, 1913: Opening of new firehouse

Published December 12, 1912 in the Guardian

Guardian courtesy Dennis Morrison

January 11 Paterson Press

January 12, 1913: Engine Company 12 relocates from the Water Street Firehouse to 36 Circle Avenue. Official opening was at 8:15 PM

Courtesy Dennis Morrison

January 10, 1913; First Size Robinson Combination Motor Hose and Pumping Engine ("Jumbo") pictured below was acquired in September 1912 when Engine 12 was operating out of the Water Street Firehouse. Fore more details regarding this apparatus CLICK HERE and scroll down to September 1912

Apparatus and FF on apron of firehouse

Robinson Pumper in bay at firehouse

Photo courtesy Dennis Morrison

January 20, 1913: Chief of Buffalo, NY FD visits Paterson to inspect Robinson pumper.

Paterson Press

June 1, 1913: The Chronicle Series on PFD Companies - Engine No. 12

Courtesy Dennis Morrison

Left to right: Lieutenant Thomas Halliwell, Peter Sanford, and Captain John McGuirk. Second row: William McKelevry, Peter Ihrman, William Shane, and Aaron Kamerling. In rear is the Robinson apparatus.

June 15, 1913: Engine 12 responded to the West Paterson (then Totowa) High Bridge fire over the Passaic river and broke a shaft drafting water and had to go out of service for 2 weeks. CLICK HERE FOR FIRE DETAILS (scroll to June 1913)

August 1, 1914: Annual report of the Chief Engineer - Engine Company 12

1918 Ball Book Roster

Captain John McGurk
Lieutenant Peter J. Breen
William McKelvey
William Shane
Peter Ihrman

Aaron Kamerling
Ralph Miller
Harry Dews
Carl Rose (in Armed Forces)

July 1, 1916: Two Platoon System begins: (Day and Night Shifts)

Day Shift

Night Shift

Captain John McGuirk
William McKelvey
Ralph Miller
Carl Ross
Harry Dews

Lieutenant Peter Breen
William Shane
Peter Ihrman
Aaron Kamerling
Peter Sanfird

November 4, 1922: New ALF apparatus being showcased in Paterson, strikes and kills a boy at Haledon Avenue and North 7th Street

November 4 Guardian

October 8, 1923: New American LaFrance (ALF) 1000 GPM "Leviathan" Triple Combination" pumper to be delivered and tested on October 9 as PFD recreates the 1902 burning of City Hall.

Paterson News

Courtesy of Mariani Family

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.

November 7 Passaic Herald

Cornelius Prince at Engine 5 in 1913

November 7 Morning Call

November 7 Paterson News

1923: First Size American LaFrance Triple Combination Hose Chemical and Pumping Engine (Serial # 4415) with booster pump pictured below at a 1928 parade on Broadway (note solid rubber tires). Driver is William "Big Bill" McKelvey.

1923 ALF on apron at Circle Avenue, now with pneumatic tires.

Cowl of above ALF apparatus

1930 Company Roster

A Shift
Captain Joseph Mariani
George Probert
Ray Thompson
William McKelvey
Herbert Dodds
Watson Lauder

B Shift
Captain Peter J. Breen
James Sturrock
Henry Donaldson
Nicholas Attema
George Walls
Paul Ihrman

Second from left is "Big" Bil McKelvey and nest to him is Captain Joe Mariani.

1935: Men of Engine Company 12 A Shift: Engine 12 crew: (L to R) Captain Joseph Mariani, George Probert, Ray Thompson, William McKelvey, Herb Dodds and Watson Lauder

1935: Men of Engine Company 12 B Shift: Captain Peter J. Breen, James W. Sturrock, H Donaldson, Nicholas Attema, George A. Walls, Peter Ihrman

1936 Ball Book

Front view, apparatus was housed on the 3rd floor, as the firehouse was built into the cliff

L-R Ray Thompson, Watson Lauder, Bill Mckelvey, Herbert Dodds and Captain Joe Mariani

Watson Lauder and Herb Dodds

Top Left Ray Thompson, Top Center Herbert Dodds, Top Right Bill McKelvey, Front left Ernie Wildermuth, Front center Captain Joseph Mariani, Bottom Right Watson Lauder

December 30, 1935: E12 has accident on icy Haledon Avenue

Paterson News

1940 Paterson Evening News Golden Jubilee - Engine Company 12 Roster

Dayspring Collection

December 13, 1943: F/F Albert Hormanski, appointed March 1, 1943 is celebrated at Engine 12 prior to entering military service.

Paterson News

F/F Hormanski

Circa mid 1940s: Left to right: Firemen Bill McKelvey, Ernie Wildermuth, Edward Westhoven and Howard Probert.

1946: Ernie Wildermuth (appointed 1927) next to fence at 36 Circle Avenue (retired 1953)

October 4, 1948: Engine Company 12 receives a new 1000 GPM Mack Model 95 pumper

Courtesy Dennis Morrison

Engine Company 5 is in background and grill of Engine Company 12 is at right. L-R are Meyer Jaffe (clerk Board Police & Fire Commissioners), Harry B Haines (publisher Paterson Evening News), Jack Stern (Fire Commissioner), Mayor Michael Devita, ?, Chief James Troy and ? The drive in E5 is William Comer (a future Chief)

1949 Ball book photo of Engine Company 12 "A Shift" Captain Nicholas Attema, William McKelvey, Robert Marion, Paul Horomanski and Ernest Wildermuth

1949 Ball book photo of Engine Company 12 "B Shift" Captain Thomas Scholfield, Edward Peters, Henry Borgman and Albert Horomanski. Mack pumper is behind the doors

1950: Crew of E12 B-shift in front of Mack pumper at 36 Circle Ave quarters: Top L-R is Robert Marion, Captain Thomas Schofield, Patsy Fusaro and Henry Borgman. In front L-R are Ernie Wildermuth, Al Horomanski and Ed Peters.

July 15, 1950: 1950 Roster published in Paterson Evening News

Courtesy Dennis Morrison

September 20, 1950: Old 1923 ALF Pumper sold to Packanack Lake (Wayne NJ) Fire Company

Paterson News

May 3, 1951: E12 Mack pumper parked at Clinton and North 10th Streets during 4 alarm fire at the Crayon Factory on North 10th Street. Station 195 located Clinton & North 10th Streets, which can be seen on telephone pole at left side of picture was pulled at 3:20 PM.

Richard Edelman photo

December 26, 1951: Arrival of Engine 12's new FWD pumper - at 115 Van Houten Street headquarters. Shown in bay with FF William Comer in driver seat and Chief Strathearn and BC Joe Bray

January 1952: 1951 FWD Waukesha, Model 145 GKB, 6 Cylinder, 1000 GPM pumper: shown blow at 115 Van Houten Street when brand new. Company number not yet affixed in photo below. Fore more information visit the FWD page

Apparatus Dedication Plaque -- Pumper ordered in 1951, but entered service in 1952. Dayspring Collection

Courtesy Jim Eifler

Drafting/pump drill at Westside Park - Courtesy Jim Eifler

March 9, 1952: Engine 12 at intersection of Union and Redwood Avenues (3rd Alarm)

Dayspring Collection

August 13, 1952: Charitable actions by PFD at Engine 12 on Circle Avenue. F/F Henry Borgman, Captain Tom Schofield, F/F John Darakjy and F/F Ed Peters.

Paterson Evening Newsd

August 1953: FF Henry Borgman sliding pole and driving, Captain Thomas Schofield climbing into cab and FF on rear step (Staged photos)

September 18, 1953: ENGINE COMPANY 12 - From the Morning Call Series of PFD Companies.

September 18, 1953 Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

September 18, 1953 Morning call and 1954 FMBA Ball Book

L-R: Captain Nicholas Attema, Captain Thomas Scholfield, FF Pelligrino Vitale, Edward Peters, Albert Horomanski, Henry Borgman, John Darkjy, William Gallagher, Robert Marion and William "Big Bill" McKelvey (in his 42nd year of service). FWD pumper (parked on FH apron) in rear. Photo also in 1954 Ball Book.

1954:

Don Salmanowitz (appointed February 1954) and daughter

June 14, 1954: Engine Company 12 and Truck Company 2 were both damaged in a collision at Main Street and Broadway at 12:54 AM. Photo below shows the accident (as they were returning to quarters from a car fire at Cross and Passaic Streets). Fireman William Gallagher was sent to St. Joseph's Hospital and Captain Joseph Nardella treated at scene. In the columns below there is a typo (misprint) - Deputy Chief Day is actually Chief Joseph Bray

June 14 Paterson News

Here is the official, very detailed report from Chief Hobart Strathearn

April 1958: a lion receives rabies vaccine at Engine 12 quarters

Morning Call clip courtesy Richard Davenport

June 22, 1958: Captain Nicholas Attema of Engine Company 12, appointed June 1, 1928 died while on duty in firehouse

June 23 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

Hancock Collection

December 8, 1958: Responding to a fire at 22 Temple Street E12 driven by F/F William Savage, slides on icy road into traffic light at Water and Temple Streets

December 9 Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison

January 1959: a second alarm at 2:40 PM for a dwelling fire at 144 East Main Street

Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

December 16, 1959: 9 year old lawsuit against Robert Marion of PFD Engine 12 dismissed by court

Robert Marion

1967: Men of Engine 12 in quarters with FWD pumper: Front row L-R: Michael Fleming, Joseph Ozene, Leonard Bremus, Captain George Kilgour, and Captain Donald Salmanowitz. On apparatus L-R: Edward R. Kane, William Rasp, John A, Cichon, Anthony Lott.

Courtesy J Behnke & Sellitto Family

1967: Men of Engine 12 in quarters with FWD pumper: Front L-R: Kenneth Doland, Captain Henry Borgmann, Captain Anthony Corbo, Albert Roth; at top Harold T. Morcom, William C. Filippelli, Harold Nicholas, Theodore C. Galus.

Courtesy J Behnke & Sellitto Family

Pre 1968 fire scene photo

Engine 12 in bay - FF Pasy Giglio. Al Roth and Charlie Gorla

FF Patsy Giglio at rear of Engine 12 in quarters

1968: Plywood riot roofs installed: cropped and full views below

Frank Malzone photo

circa 1969-70: FF Charlie Gora of Engine 12 and citizen at the Circle Ave and North 3rd Street box with CCP in background

FWD Out of service photos - stored for years at an autobody place on Goffle Road

After being junked

Quarter's Interior

May 2, 1970: Apparatus stoned while responding to Bergen Street fire

May 4 Paterson Evening News courtesy Dennis Morrison

June 22, 1971: 1971 Hahn 1250 GPM pumper (Serial HC523127121)

Fulton Street Fire April 30, 1978

Captain Don Salmanowitz & FF Bobby Baker standing on top and FF Charles L Walker standing behind door

Charlie Gorla, Bob Woodruff, Craig Christen at Circle Avenue

November 5, 1979: 1979 American LaFrance Model 1250 Century pumper painted yellow (Serial CE6621). Detroit in-line 6, Allison Transmission HT-740D

Serial CE6621

September 3, 1982: Engine Company 12 put out of service and renumbered as Engine Company 9

1979 ALF (CE6621)

Engine 9 FF Armindo Cortez and Joe Pelliccotti

Drilling along Passaic River (River & Bridge Streets)

1979 ALF #CE6221 (Natoli Collection)

Empty bay of the third floor with Engine Company 9 out on a run

December 4, 1984: Because of structural issues the large pumper had to vacate 36 Circle Avenue and Engine Company 9 relocated to 77 Highland Street and the Satellite Company was created.

Engine 9 using a 1969 Seagrave, 1250 GPM pumper (serial R4476)

December 5 Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison

December 4, 1984: Satellite 9 ran out of 36 Circle Avenue using 1976 Ford Crewcab (formerly used by Squad 1) with two 1200 gallon deluge guns and hose. Two men manned the Satellite while the Captain and two firefighters were assigned to the actual pumper on Highland St. Circle ave was not the best of areas...It could somewhat unnerving with only 2 firefighters in that house in a high crime area.

While the actual Engine engine was located on Highland St, quite a distance away, if the squad pulled up first due, they stretched the line and waited for the first arriving Engine to pull up and hooked into them....Other than that they connected with the "Mothership" at a fire scene.

January 13, 1985 at 39 Lafayette Street fire