71 WAYNE AVENUE: 1890

71 Wayne Avenue

The firehouse at 71 Wayne Avenue (corner of Liberty Street) was built in 1876 to house Lafayette Engine Company 8 (originally organized in 1872) 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 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 the Events and Apparatus at Wayne Avenue

1887: As PFD put horses in firehouses, paid FF (drivers) were needed. John Ellis who served at Lafayette Engine 8 of Volunteer Department was appointed as paid fireman in 1887 as the first driver of Engine 8. He later retired 1914

John Ellis in 1907 photo at Engine 8

March 20, 1890: The transition from a totally volunteer department to partially paid occurred and at that time Lafayette Steam Fire Engine Company Eight became Engine Company 8. The company remained at 71 Wayne Avenue firehouse.

March 20, 1890: The company used the apparatus of Lafayette Company 8, 1874 Harrell and Hayes Steam Fire Engine with a Walker Hose Wagon.

Initial Roster:
Captain William Boyle,
Engineer Thomas Donahue, Drivers John Ellis and Robert Wright
Callmen: Adam Banghart, John Nagle, James Dunkerly, Jas. C. Matthews Jr., John W. LaRue, Chris. Rafferty, Kerrin Keys, James McMullen

March 19, 1890: Engineer Donahue receives gift from previous employer

March 19 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

The inaugural Company Journal of Engine Company 8 from March 1890. For specific entries see history overview page.

March 24, 1890: Aldermen solicit proposals for Engine 8 steamer (3rd size Silsby)

Paterson Daily Press

March 28, 1890: Election of Company Officers

Paterson Daily Press

July 3, 1890: Engine 8's new Silsby steamer (Serial 974) tested at Passaic River. It is a rotary type, third class steamer (of the rotary type) mounted on platform springs and Archibald wheels. Frame is painted vermillion (red-orange) with gold striping and ornamental scroll work. Engine is very similar, but one size smaller, to that of Engine 5.

Morning Call

Generic Silsby Advertisement

July 23, 1890: The department purchases its first new apparatus, A Third size Silsby Steam Fire Engine (Serial # 974). Hose wagon built by Post and Doremus carried 700 feet of hose, two 3-gallon extinguishers and a roof ladder.

July 23 Paterson Daily Press

July 23, 1890: Test of Silsby Steamer

July 24 Paterson Daily Press

August 24, 1890: First run of the new steam fire engine was at Box 62 at 3:04 AM for a General alarm at Thrift and Son's Lumbar Yard on Straight Street near Cedar Street

Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

July 1, 1892: Fire department committee votes to build addition at the rear of Wayne Avenue firehouse

July 2 Morning Call

August 29, 1892: Fire Committee meeting: Engine 8 edition discussed - the addition will be used as a new stable

August 30 Morning Call

Demarcation between original firehouse and new stables to the rear

April 1, 1895: Chief Engineer Annual Report
Manpower Assignment for Engine 8

Badge       Name                           Rank
85         William Boyle                Captain
86         Thomas Donohue            Engineer
87         John Ellis                        Driver
88         RobertWright                   Driver
89        John Cluney                      Hoseman

Badge       Name                           Rank
90           John Nagle                     Callman
91           James Dunkerly              Callman
93           James W. Larue              Callman
94           Kerin Keys                      Callman
95           James McMullin              Callman
96           Chris. J. Rafferty             Callman

Apparatus: 1890 3rd size Silsby Steamer in good condition. Post and Doremus hose wagon in good condition with 700' hose, 2 three gallon extinguishers and 1 roof ladder

At one point, (exact date ?) each Paterson company was assigned its own unique color scheme: specific colored stripes would be on every piece of equipment. Engine 8 color was brown.

July 17, 1891: Fire Committee meeting - sleeping issues at quarters discussed

July 18 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

August 7, 1893: Captain Boyle illness

Paterson Press

November 15, 1895: Department goes fully paid - callmen eliminated

November 15, 1895: the Fully Paid Department begins:
First Manpower Assignment for Engine 8 (Badge #s)

Captain William Boyle #80
Engineer Frank Blakely #81
Hoseman Robert Wright #82
Driver John Ellis #83

Hoseman James McMullin #84
Hoseman Frank Shane #87
Driver John Gorman #88
Hoseman Samuel Miller #89
(detailed as Assistant Chief Driver)

Captain William Boyle

November 23, 1895: Fire Committe agrees to send the bell from the Tower at the Wayne Avenue House to the tower on the new PS #5 being built on Totowa Avenue. The citizens of Totowa had originally paid for the bell at the firehouse when it was built.

Paterson Daily Press

November 23 Paterson News

PS 5 with tower in center

February 27, 1896: Horses ran away during exercise period

Paterson Daily Press

May 25, 1899: Captain changes at Engines 3 and 8 and Chemical 1

Paterson Daily Press

May 8, 1900: FF Toms misplaces his badge (#89)

Paterson Daily Press

December 19, 1902: Methodist Church in Little Falls - 2:30 PN - Engine 8 dispatched and saves the village

December 19 Paterson Daily Press

December 22 - Paterson Daily Press

July 24, 1903: The old hose wagon of Engine 5 transferred to Engine 8 on Wayne Avenue

February 12, 1904: Report of Chief Stagg on apparatus - Engine 8

Paterson News - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

February 5, 1905: Chief devising specifications for two new steamers for fire and water committee for Engines 6 and 8 (ultimately went to 4 and 8).

Paterson Daily Press

March 25, 1905: F/F Gorman drunk on the job

Paterson Daily Press

October 20, 1905: Engine 8 quarters being remodeled

Paterson Daily Press

December 2, 1905: Two new Nott Steamers arrive - will go to Engine 8 and Engine 4

Paterson Daily Press

December 12, 1905: First Size Nott Steam Fire Engine (Serial # 633) with a Robinson Combination Hose Wagon.

Photo below is of the restored apparatus. Full story of the restoration is on the Notable Events page.

February 7, 1906: Station 16 - First response of Nott Steamers of Engine 4 and 8 - Enterprise Silk Mill at Market and Spruce Streets

Paterson Daily Press

April 10, 1907: Company election

Paterson Daily Press

June 8, 1907: Journal entry: documenting an order from Chief John Stagg

August 3, 1907

October 26, 1907: Company Roster - Captain Thomas Halliwell, Lieutenant William Farrell, Engineer William Milnes, FFs James McMullen, John Ellis, James Thomas, John Condon, Chris Firstbrook

October 27, 1907: From the PFD series published in the Guardian

Courtesy Dennis Morrison

Paterson Daily Press

1908: NY Sunday World photo of men standing outside firehouse - Standing left to right: James Thomas (driver of engine), James McMulllen (hoseman), John Condon (hoseman), William Farrell (engineer), Charles Firstbrook (hoseman), William Milnes (driver of wagon).
Sitting (L-R): Thomas Halliwell (Lieutenant), William Boyle (Captain).

NY Sunday World - also 1909 Ball Book

Colorized by Jim Eifler

December 1909: Journal of Municipal & Public Works - Chief Stagg report of E8 Nott Steamer

1909: Captain is William Boyle

July 30, 1909: Wortries and issueswith sending engine 8 steamer to downtown fires

Paterson Press

October 18, 1910: Captain Boyle goes to the new Engine 10 with its auto-engine on 17th Avenue and is replaced by Captain Charles Simonton (of the Chemical 1 Company)

Courtesy Dennis Morrison

January 14, 1911: Wayne Avenue firehouse because of extra stables serves as a horse hospital or convalescing ward. Firefighter Charles Firstbrook becomes the unofficial "Doctor."

Paterson Press

April 13, 1911: Company elections

Paterson Press

April 1913: Christie Front Drive Tractor planned for attachment to the Nott steamer

May 4, 1913: Article # 9 in the Chronicle Series on PFD Companies

Left to right: Front row - Captain William Boyle, James Thomas, John Ellis. William Lieutenant Robert Wright. Rear row - James McMullin, Harry Lister, Engineer William Farrell and Louis Hassard. To the rear is horse drawn hose wagon (Note ladder on top).

March 11, 1914: Liberty Street and Wayne Avenue Fire Horse electrocuted at Engine 8

March 12 Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison

May 20, 1914: Call for full motorization by Fire and Police Commission

Morning Call - Courtesy Jim Eifler

August 1, 1914: Annual report of the Chief Engineer - Engine Company 8

January 1916: A new Christie Front Drive Tractor attached to a new Continental Boiler from Ahrens Fox (shown below)

Match 16, 1916: Second class engine pumps 750 GPM

Evening News - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

May 24, 1916: Joseph Greer made Lieutenant at Engine 8

Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

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

Day Shift

Night Shift

Captain Josiah Barton
Engineer James McMullen
Charles Firstbrook
Louis Sassar
John Davenport (Supreme Sacrifice)

Lieutenant Thomas Haliwell
Engineer John Bowden
Edward Tuohey
Harry Lester
Edward Walsh

July 4, 1916: Retirement of Hoseman Robert Wright

Evening News - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

August 5, 1916: PFD reports motorization (electric powered) of department. Engine 8 to get combination chemical and hose wagon to get a tractor for steamer

1918 Ball Book Roster

Captain Josiah Barton
Lieutenant Thomas Halliwell
Engineer John Bowden
James McMullen
Charles Firstbrook
Peter Sanford

John Summers
Harry Lister
Edward Touhey
John Devenport (in US Armed Services)
Edward Walsh (in US Armed Services)

1919: Received a Mack Combination Chemical and Hose Wagon (formerly of Engine Company 1)

December 2, 1922: Accident involving Engine 8 at Totowa and Wayne Avenue while responding to Station 344 at :26 AM

Evening News - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

July 6, 1923: Apparatus accident on Spruce Street bridge

July 6 Paterson Evening News

December 20, 1927: New Ahrens Fox Model N-S-4, 1000 GPM (Serial # 3311). Apparatus had a dual bumper and pneumatic tires. Received a new transmission in 1942.

January 13, 1928: Last response of Engine 8 Captain Joseph Barton - Returning from Station 514 (Cross and Passaic Streets) which was sounded at 10:18 AM

Press Guardian

Press Guardian - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

Press Guardian - Dennis Morrison

January 13, 1928 - Paterson News

Courtesy Dennis Morrison

Funeral Clip

1929: City of Paterson Manual lists Captains of Engine 7 as John McGurk and Thomas Halliwell

1930 Company Roster

A Shift
Captain Thomas Hunt
Christopher Garrity
Joseph Grayson
Charles Firstbrook
Leo Kane
Charles Bobrowski

B Shift
Acting Captain Carl Rose
Edward Tuohy
Arthur Lutz
Harry Dews
Charles Gall
Frank Corr

1935: Men of Engine Company 8 A shift: Captain Thomas Hunt, Christopher Garrity, Joseph Grayson, Charles Firstbrook, Leo Kane. Standing on Liberty Street side of firehouse

1936 Ball Book Photo

1935: Men of Engine Company 8 B shift: Captain Carl Rose, M O'Rourke, Edward Tuohy, A Lutz, Harry Dews, Charles Gall. Standing on Liberty Street side of firehouse

1936 Ball Book Photo

1940 Paterson Evening News Golden Jubilee - Engine Company 8 Roster

Dayspring Collection

1944 Annual Report Roster

A Shift
Captain John Hess
Leo Kane
Christopher Garrity
Frank Di Barri

B Shift
Captain Edward Heitzman
Carl Rose
Arthur Lutz
Frank Carr

1949 Ball book photo of Engine Company 8 "A Shift" Captain John Hess, Henry Westphal, Frank Brocco and Leo Kane

1949 Ball book photo of Engine Company 8 "B Shift" Captain Ed Heitzman, Frank Corr, Michael Hader and William Blakeley

July 15, 1950: Paterson Evening News lists early 1950 Rosters of Engine 8

1952: Firehouse remodeled under Mayor Lester F. Titus

March 1953: A new 1953 Seagrave 750 GPM Model 400 B (Serial # G3794). Had a 150 gallon booster tank. It was received February 5, 1953. The cost was $15,754 (1/2 of the cost paid by Civil defense). Below are the specifications and the equipment carried

August 21, 1953: ENGINE COMPANY 8 - From the Morning Call Series of PFD Companies. For more details on the Volunteer Era CLICK HERE

August 21, 1953 Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

Morning Call August 21, 1953 and 1954 FMBA Ball Book

Left: Front to back - Sabias Recca, Captain Edward Heitzman, Michael Hader, Fallous Baker, William Blakely. Right side: Front to back - Leo Kane, Reginald Ripley, Captain John Hess, Alfred Micozzi

Mid 1950s fire scene: Morningside Florist fire at West Broadway and Katz Avenue

Hancock Collection

Engine 8 on Cumberland Avenue

Fire House Sign

Frank Malzone photo

1967: Men of Engine 8 in quarters with 1953 Seagrave pumper: Front L-R: Captain Reginald Ripley, Joseph Guerrieri, Allan De Ritter, Captain Joseph J. Carr. Rear L-R: William McMaster, Armondo S. Botti, Sabias Recca, Henry Kettmann.

Courtesy J Behnke & Sellitto Family

1967: Men of Engine 8 in quarters with 1953 Seagrave pumper: In front L-R: Robert Gabriel, Ludwig Lentino, Arthur Salmanowitz, Bruce Greenough, Captain William Gallagher, Captain Anthony Laraia. Up top L-R: Francis J Murray, Anthony Ziza, John Cetrano.