77 Prospect Street
The firehouse at 77 Prospect Street (between Ellison and Market Streets) opened in 1856 to quarter Washington Engine Company 3 and Eagle Hook and Ladder Company 1 of the Volunteer Department. In 1873 Eagle H & L 1 moved to Jackson Street and Germania Hook and Ladder Company 2 moved into the Prospect Street quarters.
Below is a photo of how the former firehouse appears in 2015
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1980s Dayspring photo
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.
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Older map of Prospect Street |
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The transition from a totally volunteer department to partially paid or "Call System" occurred on March 20, 1890. At that time Washington Engine Company Three became Engine Company 3 and Germania Hook and Ladder Company 2 became Truck Company 2.
Chronological Listing of the Events and Apparatus at Prospect Street
March 20, 1890: Engine Company 3 used the apparatus of Washington Fire Engine Company 3, specifically a second-class double pump Amoskeag steam engine purchased in 1881. It also had a Four-wheel hose cart built by Silsby Manufacturing Company which carried 700 feet of hose.
The initial Roster of Engine Company 3 was
Captain William Ford
Engineer Harry Reid, Drivers Leonard Hartley and Daniel Leonard
Call men: Edward Kiernan, James Irwin, Thomas G. Murphy, Richard Cubby, Neil Jordan, James B Healey, Morris Rossel, John Campbell
March 20, 1890: Truck Company 2 had an apparatus built by the Reading Fire Apparatus Company in 1881 which carried one 65-foot extension, one 35-foot, two 30-foot, one 26-foot, one 19-foot, one 12-foot, one 9-foot and one 6-foot roof ladder; two 5-gallon extinguishers, poles, hooks, ropes, etc.
The initial Roster of Engine Truck 2 was:
Captain John Weber
Tillermen John Specht and George Pfitzmeyer and Driver Martin Brandt
Callmen: Gustave Specht, Samuel Close, George Muth, Albert Mercier, Jospeh Miller, Thomas Armstrong, Albert Weber
November 17, 1890: Captain William Ford of Engine 3 dies four weeks after exacerbating an illness at the October 14, 1890 stable fire from Box 145 (West & Ryerson Streets) at 12:36 AM
Guardian
November 25, 1890: Committee on Fire Department choose Captain Christopher Cubby to command Engine 3
Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
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May 11, 1891: Company election
Paterson Press
January 11, 1892: Call men of Truck 2 serenade newly married tillerman John Vesey
January 12 Paterson Press
April 19, 1892: Captain Cubby of Engine 3 wedding
April 20 Morning Call
April 30 Paterson Press
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April 30, 1892: Station 125 (Straight & Ellison) 2:00 PM Stiles Lumbar Yard
Engine 3 has accident at Main & Ellison
Engine 3 has accident at Main & Ellison
May 4, 1892: Social held by Engine 3 and Truck 2, both quartered at Prospect Street house
May 5 Morning Call
May 25, 1892: ~2:00 PM Station 125 (Straight and Ellison) Building along Erie RR. Rear axle of Engine 3 broke, dropping engine to the ground and damaging boiler while responding
May 26 Paterson Press
December 21, 1892: Driver Richard Cubby of Truck 2 (quartered in Prospect Street Firehouse) was kicked by one of the horses resulting in injured ribs.
Paterson Press
May 5, 1893: Officers of Truck 2 elected
Paterson Press
June 12, 1893: Driver of Truck 2 McAllistor has sudden illness
Paterson Press
June 16 Paterson Press
November 8, 1893: Silsby heater place in Prospect Street firehouse
Paterson Press
April 19, 1894: Truck 2, responding to Box 52 at main and Ward Streets collides with electric vehicle at Marker and Main Streets - Several people and also firemen thrown from the vehicle and apparatus. The truck overturned and lost ladders
April 20 Paterson Press
September 29, 1894: Engine 3 Callman George Waesmer falls from hose wagon and is injured
October 1 Paterson Press
February 3, 1895: Truck 2 driver John Thomson dies of illness
April 1, 1895: Chief Engineer Annual Report
Manpower Assignment for Engine 3
Manpower Assignment for Engine 3
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Badge Name Rank
25 William Cook Captain 26 Charles Wiley Engineer 27 Richard Cubby Driver 28 Daniel Leonard Driver 36 Henry Kelly Hoseman |
Badge Name Rank
29 Binard Sherlock Callman 30 James Irwin Callman 31 Thomas G Murphy Callman 32 Joseph Mellor Callman 33 George Wassmer Callman 34 Thomas Armstrong Callman 35 Morris Rozell Callman |
Apparatus: 1881 Second size Amoskeag Steamer in good condition Four wheeled Silsby hose cart with 700' feet of hose in good condition
April 1, 1895: Chief Engineer Annual Report
Manpower Assignment for Truck 2
Manpower Assignment for Truck 2
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Badge Name Rank
120 John Weber Captain 123 John Vesey Tillerman 122 John Grotty Laddernan 124 Adam Banghardt Driver |
Badge Name Rank
125 Gustav Specht Callman 126 Charles Fahrenbach Callman 127 Samuel Close Callman 128 George Muth Callman 129 Albert Mercier Callman 130 Felix McCann Callman |
Apparatus: 1881 Truck built by Reading Fire Apparatus carrying one 65 foot extension ladder, one 35 foot, one 30 foot, one 26 foot, one 19 foot, one 12 foot, one 9 foot, one 6 foot ladder and two six gallon extinguishers, poles, hooks and pipes.
September 24, 1895: Engine Company 3 (men and Amoskeag apparatus) relocates to the Firehouse at 298 Tyler Street (which had been housing Engine Company 7). Truck 2 remains at Prospect Street quarters. Prospect Street firehouse no longer quarters an engine company.
November 15, 1895: Department goes fully paid - callmen eliminated
November 15, 1895: the Fully Paid Department begins
First Manpower Assignment for Truck 2 (Badge #s)
First Manpower Assignment for Truck 2 (Badge #s)
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Captain John Weber #120
Tillerman John Crotty #122 Ladderman Adam Banghart #123 Driver William J. Post #124 Ladderman Felix McCann #126 |
Captain John Weber
July 15, 1896: Euthanasia for Truck 2 horse
Paterson Daily Press
October 1, 1896: FF Post loses alarm box keys
Paterson Daily Press
April 1897: Roster with badge #s listed in Annual Report: (new name in italics)
No changes
May 4, 1897: Truck company election
April 1, 1898: Roster in Annual Report: (changes from 1897 in italics)
No changes
July 21, 1898: Unmanageable team of horses pulls Truck 2 into a saloon at Prospect and Ellison Streets
Paterson Daily Press
April 1, 1899: Roster with badge #s listed in Annual Report: (new name in italics)
John Grotty is now a tillerman; Louis Haaser #123 a driver; Ladderman are Robert Dunphy #124, Charles Harrison #125, Morris Rozelle #127
June 28, 1899: Temporary relocation of Truck 2 to car sheds on Broadway as Prospect Street and the Firehouse are repaired
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Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
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August 7, 1889: News reports state company will be back at Prospect Street in two weeks
Paterson Evening News
June 28, 1899: With Prospect Street being paved, Truck moves to car stables on Broadway
Paterson Daily Press
June 30, 1899: Truck 2 and Engine 1 breaks in new horse
Paterson Daily Press
August 15, 1899: Truck 2 has fire safety net drill at Pope Mill
Paterson Daily Press
July 20, 1900: Report of repairs to Truck 2
Paterson Evening News
April 8, 1901: Annual meeting of Hook and Ladder Company 2 Officers elected
February 10, 1902: Engine Company 1 relocated to 77 Prospect Street because its quarters at 112 Van Houten Street were severely damaged in the Great Paterson Conflagration.
December 21, 1902: FF John Crotty returns to duty after injury recovery
Paterson Daily Press
1903: Engine Company 1 returned back to its rebuilt quarters at 112 Van Houten Street.
July 11, 1903: Seagrave Ladder Company has delay in providing new 75' aerial truck
Paterson Evening News
August 27, 1903: New Seagrave aerial shipped by Seagrave
Paterson Daily Press
Truck arrives on September 4
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September 5 - Paterson Daily Press
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September 12, 1903: One week after arrival the new Seagrave Aerial is tested by PFD on Colt Street
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Truck Company 2 75 foot Seagrave Aerial with a Hose Tower attachment pictured below in front of the Prospect Street Firehouse
November 12, 1903: Stations 45 and 451 plus a 2nd alarm - 7:00 PM 67 Main Street Broomhead Mill. New Hart water Pipe - used on Truck 2 used for first time.
Eifler Collection
1904 Fire and Water Engineering Magazine
February 12, 1904: Report of Chief Stagg on apparatus - Truck 2
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Paterson News - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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June 15, 1904: New floor in firehouse
Paterson Daily Press
April 6, 1905: Trucks 1 and 2 tested at City Hall
July 20, 1905: on a practice drill, Truck 2 crashes into small ice wagon.
Paterson Dail Press
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April 16, 1906: Drill of Truck 2 and its aerial at Colt Building - the 75' aerial reached to the top floor
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May 16, 1906: Bizarre shooting episode at Prospect Street firehouse
May 22 Paterson News
July 27, 1906: Captain Weber receives a special woven rope for the doors of Truck 2 quarters from the Providence RI fire department
Guardian courtesy Dennis Morrison
January 8, 1907: Captain Weber receives presentation helmet from Passaic Hook and Ladder Rescue Truck
January 10 Guardian courtesy Dennis Morrison
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March 6, 1907: Truck 2 rescues dog from icy Passaic River
March 7 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
April 1, 1907: Truck 2 election
April 2 Paterson Daily Press
April 22, 1907: Annual department inspection by commissioners - Chief requests abandonment of Prospect Street firehouse - tillerman is in danger when apparatus exits quarters
Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison
October 26, 1907: Company Roster - Captain John Weber, Lieutenant John Gorman, FFs Frank Shane, Charles Harrison, John Crotty, William Ward, Peter Breen, John Daly, John Brady, Martin Gleason
October 27, 1907: PFD series published in the Guardian
NY Sunday World - also 1909 Ball Book
May 6, 1908: Truck 2 has drill/exhibition at Citisien's Trust Building
Paterson Press
May 16, 1908: Test of steamer of Engine 1 and water tower of Truck 2
Guardian courtesy Dennis Morrison
Chief Stagg
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1909: Company Captain was John Weber
September 7, 1909: Lieutenant William Marshall is presented with a helmet courtesy of other company members and Captain Weber.
Paterson News
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July 2, 1910: Truck 2 aerial at work at River and Bridge Street mill fire
August 12, 1910: From the Paterson Press
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August 11 Paterson Press - Courtesy Jim Eifler
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March 10, 1911: City negotiates with Seagrave for a new motorized aerial truck
Paterson Press
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May 11, 1911: Note at right a contract was signed for the Combination Ladder Company to supply 90 horsepower motor to the current Seagrave aerial. The company failed to deliver and the order was cancelled. A new contract was given to C.J. Cross Company which delivered the tractor on November 15, 1912. (see below)
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Chronicle June 18, 1911 - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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March 19, 1912: Seagrave promises new motorized tractor will be on time
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Newspaper March 19, 1912 - Courtesy Jim Eifler
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April 20, 1912: Seagrave not delivering on its promise to motorize aerial truck
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July 8, 1912: Plans to sell the Prospect Street Firehouse
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Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Mortrison
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September 11, 1912: Issues with new ladder truck ordered in June
Paterson News - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
October 29, 1912: End of Prospect Street Firehouse is near
Paterson News - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
Morning Call - courtesy Dennis Morrison
November 11, 1912: Water Street and Prospect Street Firehouses to be auctioned
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November 22, 1912: Price for Firehouse sale - sold to Paterson Musical Union
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Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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In December 1912 the Truck motorized with a Christie Front Drive Tractor and relocated to the new central fire headquarters at 115 Van Houten Street.
December 13 photo from the Guardian - courtesy Dennis Morrison
1913: The Prospect Street Firehouse was closed and sold for $6,700.
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October 2023: Firehouse photo by Todd Hollritt
