97 GRAND STREET

PATERSON, NJ FD

97 Grand Street

Chronological Listing of Events and Apparatus at Grand Street

January 3, 1911: Land at Grand Street and West 12th Street to be condemned so the City can purchase it.

Paterson Press

April 12. 1911: Mayor and Commissioners examine Stoney Road fort firehouse locations

Paterson Press

April 18, 1911: Location for new firehouse chosen - Grand and West 12th Street

Paterson Press

April 22, 1911: Commission to purchase lots at 93 and 97 Grand Street.

Paterson Press

May 2, 1911: Mayor McBride announces Stony Road Firehouse lot purchase

Paterson News - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

May 4, 1911: City buys land for Stoney Road Firehouse at 93-97 Grand Street to house a chemical engine.

Paterson Press

May 5, 1911: Plans for the "West Paterson" firehouse.

Paterson Press

May 7 Paterson Press

June 29, 1911: Plans for new firehouse to be presented to Mayor and Fire and Police Commission

Paterson Press

July 22, 1911: Cost of new Grand Street firehouse

Paterson Press

July 27, 1911: Work begins on new Firehouse- at Grand and West 12th Streets

Paterson Press

1911 news clip - Courtesy Steve Hickins

December 1, 1911: New Firehouse at Grand and West 11th Streets

Paterson News

December 20, 1911: New firehouse on Grand Street is just about finished and ready fo its opening and relocation of Engine 11.

Paterson Press

The sign over the door is for the Plumbing and Heating firm that worked on the house

March 12, 1912: Chief Stagg makes preparations for opening of Stony Road Firehouse. A Captain is sent to be at the quarters a month before the apparatus is transferred

Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

 March 18, 1912: The Firehouse at 97 Grand Street (corner of Quinn Street) opened less than one month after the Titanic sank on April 15, 1912. Engine Company 11 relocated to this house from its 10 Hotel Street quarters.

Photo Courtesy of Assistant Chief Joseph Forbes

March 18, 1912: Used the Autocar Automobile the company had in the Hotel Street location.

April 1, 1912: Mayor McBride announces opening of Grand Street Firehouse - Parade and flag raising planned

Paterson Press

May 25, 1913: Article # 12 in the Chronicle Series on PFD Companies - Engine No. 11

Courtesy Dennis Morrison

Left to right: Captain John Crowley, John Walsh, James Brady and Lieutenant Thomas Hunt in front of their motorized chemical wagon.

If you blow up the photo and look closely at the hat badges you will see the officer on the far right has a single horizontal trumpet: that is a lieutenants' hat badge: he is Thomas Hunt. The Captain (John Crowley) at the far left has two vertical trumpets on his cap badge. The firefighters (Walsh and Brady) have Maltese cross PFD badges on their caps. Note also that the two firefighters (non-officers) in the middle have a single row of coat buttons whereas the two officers (Captain on the left and Lieutenant on the right) have a double row of buttons. Also the Captains lapel pins are larger than the lieutenants. The two firefighters have no lapel pins. Also seen on the apparatus is the E11 helmet with a white shield with 2 vertical trumpets at its tip, belonging to the Captain.

August 1, 1914: Annual report of the Chief Engineer - Engine Company 11

September 4, 1914: Still alarm for Engine 11

Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

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

Day Shift

Night Shift

Captain John Crowley
William Walsh

Lieutenant Thomas Hunt
James Brady

October 1916 photo: Commercial Truck Company Combination Hose and Chemical Wagon with Electric Motor (Serial #7102)

1917: Engine 11 gets a electric (battery) powered apparatus from Commercial Truck Co of Philadelphia.

Behnke Collection

1918 Ball Book Roster

Captain John J. Crowley
Lieutenant William Loughlin

John Brady
William Walsh

November 7, 1922: Chief suspends E11 firefighter

Guardian courtesy Dennis Morrison

1929: City of Paterson Manual lists Engine 11 Captains as: James Troy and Edward Cusick

1930 Company Roster

A Shift
Captain James Troy (future Chief)
John Dougherty
Isaac Reigotti
Robert Summers

B Shift
Acting Captain John Hess
Robert Campbell
Hubert O'Connor
John Reardon

January 1935: Ball Booster Program: Captain Edward Cusack Sr.

1935: Men of Engine Company 11 A Shift: Captain James Troy, John Dougherty, Isaac Reigotte, Luke Cannon

1936 Ball Book Photo

1935: Men of Engine Company 11 B Shift: R Campbell, Acting Captain John Hess, Hubert O'Connor, John Reardon

1936 Ball Book Photo

November 30, 1932: 1922 chain-driven second size American LaFrance Triple Combination Hose and Pumping Engine (500 GPM), Serial # 5030) acquired from Haledon NJ Fire department: this apparatus had been severely damage, in an accident. The Ahrens Fox representative had it repaired and gifted it to Paterson. In PFD records this is referred to as either a type 12 or type 75 model. The apparatus is seen in this 1942 fire scene photo.

WW II era photo of Auxiliary Firemen on E 11 ALF apparatus

May 5, 1938: Captain John Holly of Engine 11 receives ward for a heroic rescue. In photo are Chief Coyle, F/F of Engine 11 and their ALF apparatus in the background

Paterson Evening News courtesy Dennis Morrison

Captain Holly

1940 Paterson Evening News Golden Jubilee - Engine Company 11 Roster

Dayspring Collection

1944 Annual Report Roster

A Shift
Acting Captain Isaac Reigottie
Robert Summers
John Dougherty

B Shift
Captain John Holly
James Rafferty
John Reardon
Edward Westhoven

November 15 1948: 1927 Ahrens Fox Model N-S-4 1000 GPM (Serial 331) pumper formerly used by Engine Companies 3 and 1

1948 Engine Company 11 Journal with Roster and Badge Numbers

1949 Ball book photo of Engine Company 11 "A Shift" Captain James Coyle, John Dougherty, James Rafferty, and Issac Reigotti

1949 Ball book photo of Engine Company 11 "B Shift" Captain John Holly, John Kedash, Basil Brosnan and Robert Magee

July 15, 1950: Paterson Evening News lists early 1950 Rosters of Engine 11

March 1953: 1930 Ahrens Fox Model H-P-4 1000 GPM pumper (Serial #2312) formerly used by Engine Companies 1 and 4. Photo below is as Engine Company 4. This apparatus was retired in March 1958 and sat in a field in West Milford NJ before being sold in 1961 to Community Fire Company of Wayne, NJ where it was restored.

September 18, 1953: ENGINE COMPANY 11 - From the Morning Call Series of PFD Companies.

Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

September 18, 1953 and 1954 FMBA Ball Book

Front row L-R: Roger Brosnan, George Reid, Jack Nargiso, Joseph Raneiri. Rear row L-R: Captain George Findlow, John Dougherty, John Cichon, George Kilgour, Captain Elia D'Addario. The Ahrens Fox pumper (originally E1 and E4) is in the background.

June 2, 1954: Auto collides with Engine 11, driven by FF Jack Nargiso, as it was backing into quarters just before midnight. Company had responded to a fire on Union Avenue at 10:12 PM.

June 3 Paterson News

June 3 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

January 23, 1958: Engine 11 receives a 1953 Seagrave 750 GPM formerly used by Engine Company 3 (serial G3793)

E 11 quarters with Pellegrino "Bill" Vitale, Patsy Fusaro, Pat Giglio and Bob Lenoy in front of Seagrave pumper

October 21, 1963: Engine 11 log book for the General Alarm at Franklin Finishing Corp on Keen Street (Station 656). Company responded on 4th alarm. Performed several functions including scavenging equipment from the incinerated Truck 3 aerial. FF who responded to recall including an auxiliary FF are listed.

1967: Men of Engine Company 11 with 1953 Seagrave: Front row L-R: Captain Patsy A. Fusaro, Captain Fred Armona (LODD), Robert Lenoy, Nick Ricciardi, and Joseph Mendillo In rear on apparatus are John Minardi, Leonard Saia, Patsy J. Giglio.

Courtesy J Behnke & Sellitto Family

1967: Men of Engine Company 11 with 1953 Seagrave: In front L-R: John Alexander, Edward W. Hunt, Captain Joseph O'Neill, Vito Tiritilli, and Captain David R. Pickels and at top George Reid and John Donohue.

Courtesy J Behnke & Sellitto Family

E11 Seagrave at Fire Scene

circa 1968 - Engine 11 Seagrave at fire scene - with Captain & FF putting on Scott acks

December 1, 1969: 1957 FWD Special 1000 GPM (Serial D80294) formerly used by Engine Company 1.

Early 1972 photo

FF Eddie Hunt. parked on Redwood Ave -- Front plate is 1976 Centennial Plate -- Vince Marchese Photo

Engine 11 FWD (built 1957 - former E1)

AT Newark FD parade -- Dayspring photo

E11 FWD - John D'Ascensio photo adjusted by Vincent Marchese

Circa 1973: In quarters photo of Captain Fred Armona holding his grandson Greg, who is wearing an Engine 11 Captains helmet (posed in front of apparatus)

Captain Fred Armona with his grandson Greg - Courtesy of Fred Armona Jr

April 1975: Firemen assembled at Engine Company 11 for the funeral cortege of Captain Fred Armona (Supreme Sacrifice). L-R: Captain John Walton, Vincent Zito, Captain Robert Woodruff, James Ramundo, Nicholas Ricciardi, James O'Neill, Captain Terry Pelligrino, and Gary Knorr

February 1, 1978: Company receives a 1971 Hahn 1250 GPM (Serial HC523127120) formerly used by Engine Company 1 and 6.

circa 1978-1982

Interior views of quarters: Note gasoline tank - apparatus would be filled through window while parked on street

F/F Vito Tiritilli

Hahn pumper

September 3, 1982: Department renumbers the Engine Companies (see official order at Overview Page). Engine Company 11 ceases to exist but the company becomes Engine Company 7

Engine 7 on sign - 1971 Hahn Pumper (HC523127120)

Drivers side

Captains side of apparatus

1971 Hahn Pumper (HC523127120) on apron of Firehouse

Parked at Little Falls Engine 2 on Paterson Avenue - John D'Ascensio photo adjusted by Vincent Marchese

November 30, 1983: 97 Grand Street Firehouse closed for repairs and Engine Company 7 relocates to the Hillcrest Firehouse - This came about starting with a Saturday inspection Assistant Chief Joseph Forbes discovered evidence of a floor collapse due to the weight of the Hahn Pumper. A report was sent to Chief Kane and Mayor Graves did a follow up inspection and approved the repair funds.

Assistant Chief Joseph Forbes

AC Forbes with cracked floor beam in cellar

AC Forbes & Mayor Frank Graves

Firehouse Closed and Engine Company 7 moves to Hillcrest Firehouse

Ventimiglia Collection

December 3 Paterson News - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

Partially refurbished FH photo (note new door frame)

Post 1984 Photo when Engine 7 was the occupant

August 4, 1984: The refurbished firehouse reopens and Engine Company 7 (note new sign on FH) now operates here using a 1971 Hahn 1250 GPM pumper which had been painted white)

L-R: FF Joseph Rivera, Robert Salmanowitz & Patsy Giglio. Kenneth Hayden (City Councilman), Joseph LaNeve and Mayor Graves)

April 1989: Engine 7 receives a new Emergency One / Spartan 1500 GPM pumper

Michael McLean photo

1989 Ball Book Photo

Courtesy Armindo Cortez

Circa 1999: Engine 7 L-R: F/F Jake Rozell, Captain Kevin Hancock, F/F Gabe Aboyoun, F/F Art Reda, and F/F Joe Statuto

97 Grand Street Firehouse with a West Paterson FD pumper on Mutual Aide assignment

Interior view with West Paterson apparatus in bay and spiral stircase

Sliding pole looking upwards

Captains Equipment Rack

Todd Hollritt photo

2006: Engine 7 receives a new Emergency One 1500 GPM pumper painted red

January 26, 2006: FF at Grand Street FH discuss new firehouse quarters

Herald Courtesy Dennis Morrison

January 2006 - New Jersey Division of Fire Safety Report of Inspection of Grand Street Fire House for the Paterson Fire Department Final Report

April 19, 2013: 9th. The 97 Grand Street firehouse closes because of structural weaknesses of the apparatus floor and the Engine Company and apparatus moves to the Hillcrest Firehouse on Union Avenue. Below is April 16th order closing the FH