APPARATUS NOTABLES

Nott Steam Fire Engine of Engine 8

The Nott Fire Engine Company went into business in 1904. The board of alderman placed the order for two steamers with the Nott Company in July 1905: Nott steamers had spiral flange tubular boilers. The new first and second size Nott Steamers went into service December 12 1905 as Engine 4 and 8 (register #633) respectively. But within ten years both of the Nott boilers had to be replaced. In November 1915, a $1475 contract was awarded to Ahrens Fox to install a Continental Boiler and band brakes on the 1905 Nott Steamer (#633) of Engine Company 8. The steamer was sent to Ahrens Fox in Cincinnati in January of 1916. A Christie Tractor was also added and it returned to service on March 17, 1916 (see photo below) This Nott Steamer was the only motorized Paterson Steamer that never received an electric tractor. It was retired when a new Ahrens Fox pumper (#3311) replaced it at Engine 8 on December 20, 1927. The steamer was subsequently sold to a coal-mining operation somewhere in Pennsylvania: the Christie tractor was scrapped and the steamer used to pump water out off mine shafts. It was ultimately acquired and restored, converting it back to hores drawn by the Wyckoff, NJ fire department. In actuality, because of its boiler it is now an Ahrens Fox, not a Nott Steamer.

February 5, 1905: Chief devising specifications for two new steamers for fire and water committee

Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

February 5 Paterson Daily Press

July 11, 1905 Guardian

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

Paterson Daily Press

December 6, 1905: Nott Engine tested

December 6 Guardian courtresy Dennis Motrrison

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

Courtesy Dennis Morrison

Hancock Collection

Todd Hollritt photos

1905 Nott Steamer at ~1980 Pompton Lakes Muster - Dayspring Photo

At Croton Muster 1981 - Dayspring Photo

Pompton Lakes Muster - Dayspring Photo

Outsuide quarters at 71 Wayne Avenue with Christie Front Drive Steamer attached

Interesting PFD apparatus relic: on August 12, 1954, a Steamer dedication plaque (were on boilers) was found buried in a dump on Redwood Avenue. Two new horse pulled steamers, manufactured by Nott, were obtained by PFD in 1905 - they went to Engine Company 4 on Slater Street and Engine Company 8 on Wayne Avenue. Note despite what is erroneously stated in article these steamers were horse drawn and not motorized (fueled by gasoline) until Christie front drive tractors were added in 1913. This dedication plaque could be from either one - of bigger interest is the Wyckoff FD obtained and refurbished to 1905 steamer used by Engine 8

Apparatus Auction August 15, 1915

Germania 2 with members at prospect Street FH

Chief Stagg with his driver and gig at Hamilton Street (formerly Hotel Street) firehouse

Paterson's Last Steam Fire Engine

On September 9 of 1913 Engine 3 on Tyler Street (later renamed 12th Avenue) received a new First Size Ahrens Fox Continental Steam Fire Engine with Christie Front Drive Steamer (shown below - note the bell which does look exactly like the Longden bell). This motorized steamer was not horse drawn but propelled by a Christie Front Drive tractor. Amazingly, after an accident in 1915, the apparatus was converted to horse drawn. Two years later in 1917, it was re-motorized when it received a Commercial Truck Company Electric Tractor (shown below) and remained in service at E3 until it became a spare on October 28, 1930. On January 7, 1931 the steamer was transferred to Engine 10 on 17th Avenue where its use at Engine 10. Its existence there was very short lived (1 day) due to a tractor-demolishing accident (news photo below). It was not repaired and never went back in service and was quickly replaced by the acquisition of a new motorized Ahrens Fox pumper in July 1931. This was the last steam fire engine (horse drawn or motorized) that saw service in Paterson.

PFD Apparatus Windshields

June 8, 1932: City of Columbus Ohio inquires of PFD about windshield safety

Dayspring Collection

The first apparatus that Paterson ever ordered with a windshield were the 1948 Mack Pumpers. In 1949 PFD purchased a used Ahrens Fox aerial from Hastings on Hudson that had a windshield. Ahrens Fox also gifted PFD a windshield which was installed on Ahrens fox pumper 2312 (while assigned to Engine Company 4) in 1952.

Engine Company 5

Engine Company 4

1938 Engine Company 9 Accident

Ahrens Fox Register # 3390, an N-S-4, placed in service November 11, 1930 at Engine Company 9 quartered at 586 Main Street

May 5, 1938

Paterson NJ Morning Call - Twenty three persons including six firemen of Engine Company 9, operating out of the 586 Main Street firehouse, were injured shortly before 11 O’clock last night when a Paterson – Passaic bus owned by the Public Service Transportation Company crashed into the side of the apparatus of Engine Co. 9 in front of the fire company’s quarters on Main Street near Van Winkle.

An immediate investigation was launched by Police and Fire officials with Fire Chief Thomas Coyle. An alarm of fire was sounded from station 522, Main Street and 21st Avenue at 10:57 PM for a reported gas explosion. What turned out to be a working fire located at 79 21st Avenue. Engine 9 responded with Captain Hobart Strathern (38) and Driver Stephen Walls (54) plus four other firefighters William McCorry, Daniel Stevens, David Quakenbush and Joseph Carr standing on the rear step.

As the engine started to respond from the firehouse Captain Strathern stated he began to sound the siren mounted on the apparatus as they left quarters, Just as they pulled onto Main Street driver Walls spotted a bus coming southbound on Main Street at a high rate of speed, firefighter Walls turned Engine 9 north and applied the brakes so the bus could pass them heading toward Passaic. Instead there was a sickening crash as the gas electric bus slammed directly into the center of the fire apparatus.

Captain Strathern and driver Walls were thrown from the front seat and the four firemen on the rear were hurled to the pavement. Captain Strathearn became wedged between the front of the bus and his fire apparatus. After freeing himself the first thing he did was shut off the ignition switch on Engine 9 to prevent a fire. Thirty five gallons of gasoline are stored in a tank located directly behind the front seat. Just recently he recalled that firefighters in New York City were injured when their gas tank exploded in a crash. Captain Strathearn received injuries to his left leg and hip, also injured in the crash were driver Walls with a fractured arm and FF. Stevens with knee injuries. FF. Quakenbush had lacerations to the chest and head and FF. Carr received bruises to the body and legs. All were treated at Saint Joseph’s Hospital by honorary Fire Surgeons. All 23 injured civilians on the bus only received minor bruises and most suffered shock.

In the collision Engine 9, weighing 16,800 pounds, was pushed sideways approximately three feet by the force of the impact. The chassis was broke and the driveshaft damaged. The Fox had to be towed away from the scene. At the time the odometer showed only 1200 miles. The pumper was shipped back to the Ahrens Fox plant in Cincinnati, Ohio, to be rebuilt before it was returned to service with Engine 9 three months later on August 8, 1938. Captain Strathearn became Chief of the Department in 1952.

Engine 9 carried the dubious distinction of being the first Paterson Ahrens Fox pumper to be involved in a major accident. Ultimately after its Paterson career ended it was sold to and restored by the West Paterson, NJ Fire Department.

May 8, 1939: Report of Captain Hobart Strathearn

Dayspring Collection

Paterson's Snorkel Apparatus

Paterson Fire Department operated two Snorkels, obtained in 1964 and 1965

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Aerial Truck Peculiarities

December 20, 1954: Truck Company 2 received an aerial truck consisting of a new 1954 FWD Tractor (Serial #8042) attached to the 1932 Ahrens Fox aerial (#2058). The 1954 tractor is seen below on left and the 1952 tractor on right. Most prominent visible distinction is the "FWD" emblem below the radiator on the 1954 cab and the chrome strips on the "52.".

1952

1954

1954 (Natoli Collection)

June 1962: Truck Company 2 at 155 Van Houten Street received a new Pirsch 100' aerial shown below

In the late 1980s, this 1961 Pirsch aerial, at Chief Comer's command, was refurbished and a roof was added creating an enclosed tractor. Joe Guerrieri, Jim Tasca & to a lesser degree Charlie Coleman worked on the conversion. Two firemen who have driven it, described it as a piece of junk and both hated it. It saw service as Truck 3 when the 1975 Pirsch fell apart (see below)

It is shown below without markings at Northside Firehouse (serving as a spare) and then as Ladder 3.

The above restored 1961 Pirsch is often confused with the closed cab 1975 Pirsch 100' aerial (painted yellow) that went to Truck 2 at 115 Van Houten Street (seen in following photos).

During the second Mayor Graves era all apparatus were painted white. In 1987 Truck 2 1975 Pirsch was transferred to Northside Firehouse on Temple Street

At Northside Firehouse

The 1975 Pirsch later saw service as Ladder 3 at Riverside Firehouse

August 16, 1993, at 10:21 AM the 1975 Pirsch aerial that Ladder 3 was using ended its career when the tractor collapsed at Governor and East 16th Streets. Ladder 3 was on inspection when the box came in. EMS reported a working fire on Broadway. Steve Hatfield was the driver, Joe Murray (the elder) was the captain & Lynn Tolbert was the tiller. Ladder 1 replaced Ladder 3 at the fire.