78 Gould Avenue
Citizens had been petitioning Paterson authorities for a tenth fire company and as is seen on the stone slab above the door on the firehouse below: the PFD Engine No 10 Committee finally got their new firehouse at 78 Gould Avenue (corner of Pacific Street), but they did not get the new (meaning Paterson's tenth engine company) fire company.
Chronological Listing of Events and Apparatus at Gould Avenue
September 19, 1895:
Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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September 24, 1895: The new firehouse was christened not as Engine No. 10 but rather Engine Company 7 (the number formerly associated with the 298 Tyler Street Firehouse). The men of Engine Company 3 (and their 1876 Clapp and Jones Steam Fire apparatus) which had been at 298 Tyler Street simply moved into the new Gould Avenue quarters. The 298 Tyler Street quarters now housed and was renamed as Engine Company 3. The new Gould Avenue firehouse had a hose tower.
April 1, 1895: Chief Engineer Annual Report
Manpower Assignment for Engine 7
Manpower Assignment for Engine 7
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Badge Name Rank
73 William Allen Captain 74 William Farrell Engineer 75 John Bowden Driver 76 Adam Perrius Driver 81 Henry Harding Hoseman |
Badge Name Rank
77 John Clark Callman 78 David Devine Callman 80 William B. Pohlman Callman 82 Joseph Hardy Callman 83 George Carr Callman 84 Joseph Rogers Callman |
November 15, 1895: Department goes fully paid - callmen eliminated
November 15, 1895: the Fully Paid Department begins:
First Manpower Assignment for Engine 7 (Badge #s)
First Manpower Assignment for Engine 7 (Badge #s)
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Captain William Allen #70
Engineer Henry L. Reid #71 Driver Henry Hepp #72 Driver John Cluney #73 |
Hoseman William B. Pohlman #74
Hoseman John W. Bowden #75 Hoseman Henry Kelley #76 |
Captain William Allen
View of the firehouse after closure.
September 24, 1895: Using the 1876 Third Size Clapp and Jones Steamer and John Post Hose Wagon the company used while at 298 Tyler Street quarters. The hose wagon had 700' of hose, 2 three-gallon extinguishers and one roof ladder.
March 31, 1896: Chief Engineer Annual Report
Manpower Assignment for Engine 7
Manpower Assignment for Engine 7
Badge Name Rank
70 William Allen Captain
74 Henry Reid Engineer
72 Edward Hepp Driver
73 John Cluney Driver
74 William Pohlman Hoseman
75 John W.Bowden Hoseman
76 Harvey Kelley Hoseman
70 William Allen Captain
74 Henry Reid Engineer
72 Edward Hepp Driver
73 John Cluney Driver
74 William Pohlman Hoseman
75 John W.Bowden Hoseman
76 Harvey Kelley Hoseman
December 4, 1896: Drinking issues at Engine 7 quarters
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Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
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June 19, 1899: Brawl at Engine 7
Courtesy Dennis Morrison
Captain William Campbell
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May 27, 1903: Engine Company 7 receives the 1891 third size Silsby Steamer formerly used by Engine Company 9 at 586 Main Street. The 1876 Clapp and Jones Steamer is retired
1904: Engine 7 receives 1886 Second Size Button Steam Fire Engine (serial #176) formerly used by Engine Company 9, 1 and Passaic Engine 1 of Volunteer Department.
February 12, 1904: Report of Chief Stagg on apparatus - Engine 7
Paterson News - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
December 12, 1905; Clapp and Jones Steamer of Engine 4 sent to Engine 7. Engineer Hanlon transferred from Engine 4 to Engine 7. Note the beds by windows on second floor in photo below.
Captain William Allen at left
December 1905: Engine 7 receives 2nd Size Silsby Steamer formerly used by Engine Company 5
March 13, 1906: Engine 7 hose wagon and trolley in accident causing death of fire horse
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March 14 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
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September 27, 1908: Engine 7 was once again given the 1886 Button Steamer which was formerly used by Passaic Engine 1 of Volunteer Department and Engine 3 of paid department - shown below on January 30, 1909 while operating at River and Putnam Streets at the Ashley Baily mill fire.
Engine 7 Hose Wagon
FF Martin Brand second from left - Steamer in bay at left and hose wagon at right
Chief John Stagg is sitting second from left below
Steamer in bay at left and hose wagon at right. FF Martin Brand standing at right
August 3, 1907: Hose cart in a Gould Avenue and Main Street accident. Lieutenant Patrick Kearney injured
Courtesy Dennis Morrison
October 16, 1907: New Robinson Combination Hose Wagons with 60 gallon chemical tanks for Engines 7 (and 6).
October 27, 1907: From the PFD series published in the Guardian
September 27, 1908: 10:40 AM While responding to a false alarm at Box 25 (Straight and Peach Streets) the engine was struck by an Erie Locomotive at a Getty Ave crossing and put out of commission. FF John Vesey (sustained multiple fractures) and Engineer John Breen were on apparatus when crash occurred.
Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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September 28 Guardian courtesy Dennis Morrison
1908 Fire and Water Engineering courtesy Dennis Morrison
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September 27, 1908: Second Size 1886 Button Steam Fire Engine with a Fox Boiler installed in 1905 (Serial # 176) (former E1, E9 and E3)
September 30, 1908: FF Vesey, driver of Engine 7 is on the bend from his serious injuries.
Morning Call - courtesy Dennis Morrison
1908: Standing left - right: John Vesey, John Kelly, John Netz, Frank Shane, John Breen, Thomas Elvin, Thomas Bush, John W Bowden. Sitting: Captain Charles Nolan, Lieutenant Patrick Kearney.
NY Sunday World - also 1909 Ball Book - Note spiral staircase to right inside door
1909: Captain was Charles Nolan
March 1, 1910: Court ruling on 1908 steamer/railroad crash
August 20, 1910: Bids form new hose wagon
Morning Call - Courtesy Jim Eifler
April 4, 1911: Apparatus (horse drawn) accident while responding to Paxton Street fire
Paterson News - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
July 1, 1911: Life net training at Gould Avenue quarters
Morning Call - Courtesy Jim Eifler
August 3, 1912: Seagrave Combination Hose Wagon, formerly used by Engine Company 1 to be attached (by Leonard Tynan of Paterson) to a Sampson Auto Chassis,
Morning Call - Courtesy Jim Eifler
October 19, 1912: New automobile combination wagon
Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
April 11, 1913: Issues with Engine 7 steamer - old Steamer no longer reliable
Guardian courtesy Dennis Morrison
April 27, 1913: Article # 8 in the Chronicle Series on PFD companies
Courtesy Dennis Morrison
Left to right: First row - Captain William, Allen, John Bowden, James Cullington, and Lieutenant Patrick Kearney. Second row - Engineer Michael J. Ryan, Eugene Murphy, Dennis Toomey and Martin O'Rourke. Hose wagon behind the firefighters.
May 5, 1913: 2:30 AM 434 East 21st Street Cement Construction plant barn
First run of new Engine 7 auto hose wagon
First run of new Engine 7 auto hose wagon
Morning Call Courtesy Jim Eifler
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September 6, 1913: Second Size 1886 Button Steam Fire Engine with a Fox Boiler installed in 1905 (Serial # 176) is transferred from Engine 3 on 298 Tyler Street (12th Ave) to Engine 7 on Gould Avenue
July 1, 1916: Two Platoon System begins: (Day and Night Shifts)
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Day Shift
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Night Shift
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Lieutenant Patrick Kearney
Engineer Michael Ryan James Cullington Charles Gall Abraham Shouger |
Captain William Allen
Engineer John Kelly Denis Toomey Edward Singland William Ramsden |
August 5, 1916: PFD reports motorization (electric powered) of department. Engine 7 to get first size steamer and tractor
1917: Commercial Truck Company Electric Combination Chemical and Hose Wagon: Serial #7101
April 3, 1918; First Size Metropolitan Steam Fire Engine with Commercial Truck Company Electric Tractor (Serial # 7093)
1918 Ball Book Roster:
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Captain William Allen
Lieutenant Patrick Kearney John Kelly Charles Gall William Ramsden |
James Cullington
Dennis Toomey Edward Singland Abram Shouger (in US Armed Forces) |
April 25, 1918: ~2PM Straight and Clay Streets 3 alarms - While responding to the second alarm the new electric engine 7 being driven by a demonstrator was in collision
Guardian - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
1930 Company Roster
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A Shift
Captain James Campbell Cornelius Kennedy William Flynn Albert Lupinski Joseph O'Donnell Edward Moore |
B Shift
Captain Walter Menni Walter Gallagher William Ramsden Reinhold Ratzlaff John Heffran Frank Von Webern |
November 13, 1930: Ahrens Fox Model N-S-4 1000 GPM pumper (Serial # 3389)
August 26, 1932: Daily Engine Company report from Engine 7 including roll call, meals and activities. Signed by Acting Captain John Heffran.
Dayspring Collection
1935: Men of Engine Company 7 A shift posing outside Pacific Street side of firehouse. L-R: Captain James Campbell, Neil Kennedy, William Flynn, Albert Lupenski, Joseph O'Donnell, Edward Moore
1935 Ball Book Photo
1935: Men of Engine Company 7 B shift posing outside Pacific Street side of firehouse. L-R: Captain Walter Mennell, Walter Gallagher, William Ramsden, Rhinholt Ratzlaff, John Heffran, Frank Von Webern
1936 Ball Book Photo
Rear view of Apparatus -- Dayspring Collection
1940 Paterson Evening News Golden Jubilee - Engine Company 7 Roster
Dayspring Collection
1944 Annual Report Roster
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A Shift
Captain James Campbell Horace Warr Frank Von Webern Joseph O'Donnell |
B Shift
Acting Captain John Heffran William Ramsden Stanley Kecmer Frances Moore |
May 11. 1944: Acting Captain John Heffran injured at Straight Street fire.
May 12 Morning call courtesy Dennis Morrison
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John Heffran
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December 31, 1942: Certificate of War Necessity, by US Office of Defense Transportation for Engine Company 7 1930 Ahrens Fox #3389
Dayspring Collection
1949 Ball book photo of Engine Company 7 "A Shift" Captain James Campbell, Horace Warr, Thomas Sisco and Reinhold Ratzlaff
1949 Ball book photo of Engine Company 7 "B Shift" Captain Joe Carr, John Heffran, William Ramsden and Frank Moore
Engine 7 at fire scene -- Dayspring Collection
July 15, 1950: Paterson Evening News lists early 1950 Rosters of Engine 7
August 14, 1953: ENGINE COMPANY 7 - From the Morning Call Series of PFD Companies. For more accurate details of Engine 7 during Volunteer Era CLICK HERE
Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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From Morning Call and also in 1954 FMBA Ball Book
Photo of Engine 7's 1930 Ahrens Fox and A and B shift. Left side: Captain Eugene Fredericks, Arsene Nunnick, Edward Ristan, John Alexander. Right side: Captain John Whitecroft, John Heffran, William Ramsden, George Kulich, Francis Moore. Note spiral staircase to right inside the door.
PFD Historians (see Morning Call news clip above)
William Ramsden
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John Heffran
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October 18, 1955: Serious apparatus accident - Pacific Street and Bloomfield Avenue
October 19 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
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January 21, 1958: The 1948 Mack used by Engine 5 transferred to Engine 7 and the Ahrens Fox pumper goes out of service
January 23, 1958: 1948 Mack Model 95 1000 GPM pumper formerly used by Engine Company 5 seen below at fire scene. (Plywood riot roofs added in 1960s)
Below is the Firehouse "Running Board" from 78 Gould Avenue that lists all of the First Alarm assignments of Engine Company 7. For example, note Station 261 was for Court and Pacific Streets and 56 was for Gould Avenue and Dakota Streets. Station 268 was St. Joseph's Hospital. It now is located in the NJ Fireman's Museum at the Fireman's Home in Boonton, NJ.
November 13, 1963: Mayor announces that the city to sell two and lease one of the older firehouses. The quarters of Engine 7 on Gould Avenue will be leased to the South Paterson Boys Club.
Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
January 27, 1964 The 78 Gould Avenue Firehouse closed and Engine Company 7 relocated to the new Southside Firehouse at 130 Getty Avenue.
July 25, 1995: City sells the Gould Avenue Firehouse
Herald courtesy Dennis Morrison
2016: Former Engine Company 7
