BADGES: Volunteer Era

VOLUNTEER ERA BADGES (pre 1890)

April 14, 1858: Earliest description of a Paterson Fire Department badge.

Guardian courtesy Dennis Morrison

March 17, 1862: Ordinance re regulations of Paterson Fire Department. Badges must state "Paterson Fire Department" and each to bear a distinct white metal raised number from dies that are property of the department. Badges to remain property of department, not the firemen.

Courtesy Jim Eifler

Issues developed with return of badges

Courtesy Jim Eifler

January 18, 1867: Amendment to the Paterson FD Rules and Regulations pertaining to badges

Guardian - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

The following badges can date to the early 1860s. The numbers in the center are specific to a given fireman. The hose border suggests (not definitively known) they may have been hose company badges.

Dayspring Collection

Jim Eifler Collection

Above badge type can be seen on Foreman (standing) of Columbia Hose Company #1

Germania Hook and Ladder 2 (77 Prospect Street)

Shield shaped badges were use by all of Paterson's Volunteer Companies starting in the 1870s and continuing until the department became paid in 1890. Exempt firemen used "silver" (nickel plated) color and non-exempts the brass ones. The badges all have a steam fire engine on the bottom, the company number in the center and the fireman's badge number at the apex. Hook and Ladder Companies had crossed ladders around the Company Number and Hose Companies display a circular hose around the Company Number.

At right are men of Germania Hook and Ladder Company 2 with badges outside of the 77 Prospect Street Firehouse

Neptune Engine Company 2

No. is the abbreviation for number. There never was an Engine Company 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 in the Volunteer PFD. The proper terminology was Passaic No. 1, Neptune No. 2, Washington No. 3, Jackson No. 4, Protection No. 5, Vigilant No. 6, Liberty No. 7, Lafayette No; 8, Paterson Steam Fire Engine (SFE) No. No 9, Columbia Hose No. 1, Cataract Hose No. 2, Hibernia Hoe No. 3, Eagle H&L No. 1, Germania H&L No.2. Once an Engine company obtained a steam fire engine the names changed to Passaic Steam Fire Engine (SFE) No. 1, Neptune SFE No. 2, etc. If one states Engine 4, that immediately refers to the paid department starting in 1890.

Complete Engine Company Shield Shaped Badge Collection of Jim Eifler
(Exempt F/F badges are silver and Non-exempt Brass

2021 Eifler Collection

Courtesy Jim Eifler

Passaic Engine Company 1

Exempt FF of Passaic Engine 1 Eifler Collection

Neptune Engine Company 2

Nonexempt Firefighter Badge

Exempt Firefighter Badge (Eifler Collection)

Washington Engine Company 3

Non-exempt FF Badge

Exempt FF Badge

Nonexempt Badge 17 ? Thomas Richmond -- Eifler Collection

Jackson Engine Company 4

Exempt FF Badge

Exempt FF Badge - not numbered - Dayspring Co;;ection

Exempt and Nonexempt Badges from Protection Engine 5

Vigilant Engine Company 6

Non-exempt FF Badge

Liberty Engine Company 7

Non-exempt FF Badge - Jim Eifler Collection

Lafayette Engine Company 8

Nonexempt Badge of James McMullen

A rather worn Exempt FF badge - Jim Piatti Collection

Paterson Steam Fire Engine Company 9

Nonexempt Badges

Hose Companies - Note the circular hose around the Company Number

Nonexempt

Exempt

Columbia Hose Company 1

Hibernia Hose Company 3

Nonexempt FF Badge

Cataract Hose Company 2

Eagle Hook and Ladder Company 1

Nonexempt

Eifler Collection

Exempt FF Badge

Germania Hook and Ladder 2

Nonexempt

Trio of Company 1 Badges
Columbia Hose 1 ----------------- Eagle Hook and Ladder 1 ------ Passaic Engine Company 1

Exempt

Vigilant Engine Company VI was located at 304 Market Street - Not known what "Junior" refers to on badge but it may represent a child "mascot"

Eifler Collection

January 21, 1871: Gold presentation badge for Ex-Foreman of Passaic Engine 1 John Regner. In 1875 he became Chief of Department

Presentation badge of Chief Andrew Moser

Dayspring Collection

August 10, 1888: Description of badge presented to Chief John Stagg

Guardian courtesy Dennis Morrison

Presentation Badges: of Foreman of Cataract Hose 2 & James Kearney Jr. of Eagle H&L 1

Dayspring Collection

Exempt Association Badges of Charles Moore who served on Neptune Engine Company 2 of the Volunteers and later (1890) as a paid PFD fireman

Badge of James Kearney

1889 Souvenir Badge from Protection Steam Fire Engine Company 5

Eifler Collection

February 12, 1883 - Passaic 1 presentation Badge to Henry Schoonmaker - presented at Passaic Fire Co. fair

January 27 Paterson Press

Eifler Collection

Presentation medal to Thomas Condron from Washington Steam Fire Engine Company 3

Eifler Collection (note misspelling of Paterson)