This firehouse at 72 Jackson Street (between Green and Slater Streets) was built in 1873 to house Eagle Hook and Ladder Company 1 (organized March 22, 1839) of the Volunteer Fire Department.  In July, 1880, the house, apparatus and furniture were burned up and their house was immediately re-built in the same location.

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.

1915 Sanborn Map

​​Chronological Listing of Events and Apparatus at 72 Jackson Street

September 20, 1889: Purchase of aerial ladder - just prior to establishment of Paid Department

Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

Courtesy Dennis Morrison

March 20, 1890: The transition from a totally volunteer department to partially paid "Call System" occurred and Eagle Hook and Ladder Company One became Truck Company 1. 
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Apparatus:  1891 Truck built by Babcock Fire Extinguisher Company of Chicago which carried one 85 foot extension ladder, one 25 foot, one 20 foot, one 14 foot, one 12 foot, 2 three gallon extinguishers, poles, hooks, ropes, etc.  Also a Rawson water attachment with 50 feet of 3 inch hose. A three horse hitch was also purchased.
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​Initial Roster:  Truck Company 1
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​Captain Joseph Kearney
​Tillerman Thomas Elvin and John Vesey, Driver Davis McAllister
​Callmen: James Jones, Richard Duffy (Supreme Sacrifice), Joseph Hutton, William Lendrim, James O.Neil, Timothy Phalon, William Stewart, Edward Kilpatrick

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

Badge       Name                            Rank
​109         Joseph Kearney           Captain
110         Thomas Elvin              Tillerman
​111         Martin Brandt              Driver
​156        Michael Ryan               Ladderman
​102        William Marshall         Ladderman

Badge       Name                            Rank
​113           James Jones               Callman
114           Thomas Hardiman     Callman
115           Joseph Hutton            Callman
116           Thomas Fanning        Callman
117           Richard Moore           Callman
118           Timothy Phalon          Callman
​119            William J. Stewart     ​Callman

November 15, 1895: Department goes fully paid  - callmen eliminated
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November 15, 1895: the Fully Paid Department ​begins:
First Manpower Assignment for Truck 1 (Badge #s)
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Captain Joseph Kearney #110
Driver Martin Brandt #111
Tillerman Thomas Elvin #112
Ladderman James Thoms #113

​Ladderman William Marshall #114
Ladderman John Madden #115
Ladderman Robert Dunphy #116
​Ladderman William Stannard #117
​(Detailed as Assistant Chief Driver)

Captain Joseph Kearney

March 20, 1890: An 1889 Babcock Aerial Turntable Truck built by Babcock Fire Extinguishing Manufacturing Company of Chicago, which carried one 85-foot extension aerial ladder, one 55-foot extension ladder, one 38-foot, one 30-foot, one 25-foot, one 20-foot, one 14-foot, one 12-foot ; two 3-gallon extinguishers, poles, hooks, ropes, etc.  A Rawson Water Tower Attachment was added. 

September 1904: New 75' LaFrance Aerial (shown below). On the side is Captain Edward Cusack wearing his summer hat. 

Captain Ed Cusack on side wearing straw hat. Jackson Street Firehouse

1908: La France Aerial of Truck 1 on parade (Van Houten Street)

1908: Men of Hook and Ladder 1: Standing left-right: Luke Cannon, Eugene Murphy, James Downey, Edward Singland, Leonard Hartley, Michael Slattery, John Heinzelmann. Sitting Lieutenant Felix McCann, Captain Edward Cusack.

NY Sunday World - also 1909 Ball Book

1909: Captain: Edward Cusack

March 7, 1910: Truck 1 and Engine 9 Hose Wagon collide at Main and Grand Streets responding to Station 162 for a fire at Roger's Locomotive factory

Courtesy of Dennis Morrison

Courtesy of Dennis Morrison

Courtesy of Dennis Morrison

Courtesy Dennis Morrison

Paterson Guardian report of accident

Courtesy Jim Eifler

​August 1, 1913: Christie Front Drive Tractor attached to LaFrance aerial

​Captain Edward Cusack, appointed March 1, 1896. Was also a trustee of the Pension fund

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

Day Shift 

Night Shift

Captain Edward Cusack
Luke Cannon
Hubert Croughan
James Downey
Frank Von Weber
​

Lieutenant Felix McCann
John Lynch
Edward Singland
Frank Shane
​Joseph Dolan

1918 Ball Book Roster

Captain Edward Cusack
Lieutenant Felix McCann
Hubert Croughan
​James Downey
​Frank Von Weberen

John P. Lynch
Edward Singland
​Frank Shane
Joseph Dolan 

 
​~1919 - 75' Aerial Truck [Electric (battery) powered] built by the Commercial Truck Company of Philadelphia (Serial #19026). This replaced the Christie front Drive Tractor LaFrance aerial.

1930 Company Roster

A Shift
Captain Frank Dowdall
Edward McEwen
​Frank Dalton
Paul Shaw
​Arsene Nunick
​Frank Brocco

B Shift
​Captain William Van Kirk
​William Blanchfield
Edward Walsh
George Dorman
Thomas Walsh
​Frederick Haycock

December 28, 1931: A 1929 Ahrens Fox 85-6-1 aerial truck formerly used by Truck Company 2 (Serial # 2046). The apparatus is shown below on Jackson Street with Dalmatian on cab. The electric (battery) powered aerial went out of service. Note solid rubber tires on rear of tractor.

What does the 85-6-1 mean?  They are Ahrens Fox Company codes: -1 means aerial ladder, -6 means a Fox tractor and 85 is the length in feet of the largest ladder

1935: Men of Truck Company 1 A Shift: Captain Frank Dowdall, Edward McEwan, Frank Dalton, Paul Shaw, Arsene Nunnick, Frank Brocco, James Kehoe

1936 Ball Book Photo

1935: Men of Truck Company 1 B Shift: ​Captain William Van Kirk, William Blanchfield, William Walsh, George Dorman, Edward Walsh

Truck 1 apparatus preparing to back up. Note a Vescey Searchlight has been added to drivers side of tractor. Firemen wearing "High Eagle" Helmets

(Anthony Natoli Collection)

​1940  Paterson Evening News Golden Jubilee - Truck Company 1 Roster

Dayspring Collection

1944 Annual Report Roster

A Shift
Captain Frank Dowdall
Edward McEwan
Paul Shaw
Frank Brocco
​Frank Dalton

B Shift
​Acting Captain William Blanchfield
Aresene Nunnick
George Dorman
​Charles Mins

September 1, 1948: While parked in quarters the motor self-ignited and the rig was severely damaged in the fire. The department was forced to operate with only two Truck Companies. After repair aerial 2046 became a spare and was ultimately dismantled for parts in June 1953 and what was left sold on June 29, 1954. Below is the report of Acting Captain Edward McEwan​

Dayspring Collection

1949 Ball book photo: Truck Company 1 "A shift" Captain Solomon Reines, Edward McEwan (tillerman), Frank Dalton, Paul Shaw, John Rankin.

1949 Ball book photo: Truck Company 1 "​B Shift" Captain Charles Mina, Arsene Nunnick, Douglas Laux, George Dorman, John Whalen

Men with Dalmation: John Kedash at right

(Anthony Natoli Collection)

December 12, 1949: Truck 1 received a used 1929 Ahrens Fox 75-6-1 Aerial which was purchased for $600  (see receipt below) from Hastings on Hudson, NY. It was came with a windshield which was straight (not curved) across the top. In the photo it is pictured on the apron at the 23rd Avenue Firehouse.

Dayspring Collection

Dayspring Collection

1952:  Truck Company 1 relocated to the 23rd Avenue firehouse and the Jackson Street quarters was closed.

April 14, 1953: Firehouse put up for sale

Dayspring Collection