VOLUNTEER ERA BADGES (pre 1890)
April 14, 1858: Earliest description of a Paterson Fire Department badge.
Guardian courtesy Dennis Morrison
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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
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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.
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Dayspring Collection
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Jim Eifler Collection
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Jim Eifler Collection
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Above badge type can be seen on Foreman (standing) of Columbia Hose Company #1
Germania Hook and Ladder 2 (77 Prospect Street)
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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 |
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Neptune Engine Company 2
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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
(Exempt F/F badges are silver and Non-exempt Brass
Courtesy Jim Eifler
Courtesy Jim Eifler
Passaic Engine Company 1
Exempt FF of Passaic Engine 1 Eifler Collection
Neptune Engine Company 2
Nonexempt Firefighter Badge
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Exempt Firefighter Badge (Eifler Collection)
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Washington Engine Company 3
Non-exempt FF Badge
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Exempt FF Badge
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Nonexempt Badge 17 ? Thomas Richmond -- Eifler Collection
Jackson Engine Company 4
Exempt FF Badge
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Exempt FF Badge - not numbered - Dayspring Co;;ection
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Exempt and Nonexempt Badges from Protection Engine 5
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Vigilant Engine Company 6 |
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Non-exempt FF Badge
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Liberty Engine Company 7
Non-exempt FF Badge - Jim Eifler Collection
Lafayette Engine Company 8
Nonexempt Badge of James McMullen
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A rather worn Exempt FF badge - Jim Piatti Collection
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Paterson Steam Fire Engine Company 9
Nonexempt Badges
Hose Companies - Note the circular hose around the Company Number
Nonexempt
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Exempt
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Columbia Hose Company 1
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Hibernia Hose Company 3
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Nonexempt FF Badge
Cataract Hose Company 2
Eagle Hook and Ladder Company 1
Nonexempt
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Eifler Collection
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Exempt FF Badge
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Germania Hook and Ladder 2
Nonexempt
Trio of Company 1 Badges
Columbia Hose 1 ----------------- Eagle Hook and Ladder 1 ------ Passaic Engine Company 1
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
Presentation badge of Chief Andrew Moser
Dayspring Collection
August 10, 1888: Description of badge presented to Chief John Stagg
Guardian courtesy Dennis Morrison
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Presentation Badges: of Foreman of Cataract Hose 2 & James Kearney Jr. of Eagle H&L 1
Dayspring Collection
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Dayspring Collection
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Exempt Association Badges of Charles Moore who served on Neptune Engine Company 2 of the Volunteers and later (1890) as a paid PFD fireman
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Badge of James Kearney
1889 Souvenir Badge from Protection Steam Fire Engine Company 5
Eifler Collection
Date ? Passaic 1 Presentation Badge to Henry Schoonmaker
Eifler Collection
April 25, 1910: Souvenir medal issued to W. Borneman
James Piatti Collection
Presentation medal to Thomas Condron from Washington Steam Fire Engine Company 3
Eifler Collection