CHIEF GIGS

Of course when the paid Paterson Fire Department began inn 1890 all apparatus including the vehicles used to transport Chief Engineers were horse drawn. The term "GIG" originally refered to a light two-wheeled carriage pulled by one horse. However, the term has withstood time and continues to be applied to motorized vehicles used to transport Chiefs.

1890: Initial Chief's Driver: David Murray
1894: Drivers: Chief - George Pfitzenmeyer;
Assistant Chief - William Stannard & Samuel Miller
Supply Wagon - George Singerland

Chief John Stagg and driver George Pfitzenmeier in their gig in from of the 10 Hotel Street (Later renamed Hamilton Street) Headquarters (early 1900 photo). Notice Dietz Fire King Lantern at rear.

March 18, 1911: A Buick Touring Car, Model 26 automobile was purchased for Chief Engineer Stagg

This was the first motorized Chiefs automobile and never again was the Chief Engineer transported by horses. At right is a 1912 photo with Chief Thomas Coyle sitting in car

Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

July 1, 1916: Two Platoon System begins: (Day and Night Shifts) goes into effect

Chief's Drivers are: James Campbell, John Anderson, Leo Kane, Edward Ball, Abe Perrius and Michael Comer

Below: From rear to front: Deputy Chief, Chief and Battalion Chief Cars
at 115 Van Houten Street Headquarters. Chief Coyle is in the center car.

1929 photo oh Headquarters at 115 Van Houten Street with apparatus and gigs

Type 61 Cadillac Phaeton -- Chief Coyle and Driver

December 4, 1929: Below is a proposal from Brogan Cadillac-LaSalle for a new LaSalle Fleetwood Phaeton for $3010. The car is pictured below.

Type 61 Cadillac Phaeton

1935 photo of A Shift Battalion Chiefs Charles Nolan, Michael Comer, and drivers John Murphy, James Smith, and Edward A. Hancock. Below is B Shift drivers John Anderson, Richard Hickerson and Joseph Dow. 115 Van Houten Street.

1936 Ball Book Photos

Battalion Chief, Deputy Chief and Head Chief Engineer gigs circa 1936 parked outside Headquarters at 115 Van Houten Street. This photo was in the 1936 Ball book.

Deputy Chief Michael Comer at left below

Major purchase of Police Cars and Gigs (note bells on grills) lined up at Fire Headquarters

Chief Thomas Coyle in a 1939 LaSalle with white-wall tires and bell and siren mounted on a special front bumper mount.

January 21, 1939: Accident report from Battalion Chief Michael Comer

Dayspring Collection

1944 Annual Report -
Chief Car: LaSalle Sedan
2 Chevrolet Roadsters One for Deputy Chief and one for Battalion Chief

List of gigs purchased since January 1945. List composed in 1953

Dayspring Collection

Chief Engineer James Troy and Driver Joseph Dowd with Cadillac (received May 17, 1946 from Brogan Cadillac at a cost of $2734)) parked on apron at 37 23rd Avenue, Home of Engine Company 13, whose Ahrens Fox is seen in background. Photo is late 1940s. This car was quartered at Engine Company 4 on Slater Street as late as 1951.

1947: Dodge coupe Deputy Chief gig at unknown location

Note 3 crossed trumpets on door side panel

Front of the '47 Dodge Coup gig, showing bell and siren is at left in this October 1950 bus accident at Slater and Marshall Streets

1950 Ford Deluxe sedan parked outside 115 Van Houten Street at right

Circa 1950: Chief's Cadillac outside 115 Van Houten Street. Note Truck Company 2 Ahrens Fox aerial in its center bay.

The above Cadillac was involved in a fatal accident at Broadway and Madison Avenue in which Driver Joseph Dowd was killed while driving Acting Chief Kennedy to a fire

Post 1952 photo: Meeting of the Chiefs of Clifton (left) and Paterson (Hobart Strathearn) with Commissioner Jack Stern in between. PFD gig driver: ? Ed Hancock

April 4, 1952: Chief's gig with driver John B. Murphy

1954 Ball book photo of Chiefs aides outside headquarters at 115 Van Houten Street. Left-right: Mario Colatarci, Joseph Leitner, John B. Murphy, Edward Westhoven, Edward Hancock, William Evans, Charles Wullard, William Comer (future Chief Engineer), James Kelley, Raymond Carr.

May 9, 1960: A 1960 Ford Ranch Wagon (OE62W205232) Photo below is a 3rd alarm fire at Trinity Methodist Church (143 Carroll Street). This gig saw service as Car 71 (Assistant Chief), on Match 20, 1963 as Car 72 in 1st Battalion, on February 2, 1964 as Fire Alarm Superintendent. Iy went out of service in July 1971

Hancock Collection

1964 Fire: Chevrolet Wagon acquired February 9, 1961 - originally used by Car 74 in 3rd Battalion. Transferred to Fire Prevention February 1964 and sold March 10, 1973.

Hancock Collection

1964: Car 72 (Battalion Chief Gig) a 1964 Chevrolet Biscayne 4 door sedan at 16th Avenue 2nd alarm (#412697184407). In 1969-70 this gig was used by community relations and then sold in 1973

R Salmanowitz/Natoli Collection

Mid 1960s: Gig pulling float in parade

1967: Several Chiefs and their aides seen below with the car (Chevrolet) used by the Assistant Chiefs (Car 71) inside Headquarters at 115 Van Houten Street:

Left: Front to back: Assistant Chiefs Joseph Dayspring and Dan Carroll, Deputy Chiefs George Findlow, Michael Weiss and Leo Fitzsimmons. Right side rear to front: Chiefs aide Charles Simpson, Ray Carr, John Palonis, Eddie Westhoven, Joe McCabe, William Savage and Tony Mercadante.

Assistant Chief Theodore Tice, Deputy Chief Michael Fleming, Assistant Chief Gerard Dugan, Assistant Chief William Comer. Chief Aides John Rankin, Fred Ricciardi, Joseph Leitner, James Johnstone, Thomas Ottavino, Pellegrino Vitale

Chief's Office: posed in front of 962 Pirsch Aerial at Headquarters. First row: Captain Ferdinand Pelleschi, Deputy Chief Al Capter (drillmaster), Deputy Chief Solomon Reines, Chief Harold Kane, Captain Joseph Bauer; Standing L-R Captain William Flynn, Francis R. Moore, Antohny J. Corsetto, Carmine J Grossi, Russell Stephenson

Second Battalion: Deputy Chief Alfred Micozzi, Deputy Chief Howard Schoonmaker, Deputy Chief Richard Walmsley. Chief's Aides Carmine Caposella, Joseph C. Perricelli at Lakeview Firehouse

1967: Third Battalion Chief Aides John Mauro, Joseph Ranieri, Deputy Chief Joseph R. Cucci, Deputy Chief Salvatore Madama at Southside Firehouse. 1964 Chevrolet

1967 Third Battalion: Deputy Chief Jessie McCavitt, Deputy Chief Wilbert Mariani. Chief's Aides Tommy Waterson Richard Tullo, John Maccanico at Riverside FH

Gig at the shop. Angelo Contini at left and Vince Valois on right

Shown is a Paterson Chief's Car Bell circa 1960s: few gigs after 1960s had bells

Drill Masters car at a fire scene in 1970s

Early 1970s Ford LTD Wagon

Car 70 (a 1970 Mercury) at an October 1973 3rd Alarm on Union Ave

November 7, 1974: The position of Chiefs aides are eliminated for Assistant and deputy Chiefs.

1976 Ford Gig destroyed at the Fulton Street Fire April 30, 1978

Car 70 with driver Tony Ziza 1978

Assistant Chief Dayspring and Gig (Car 71) - 1981

May 11, 1981: Aide for Chief Engineer (Car 70) is discontinued

October 1983: Chief's (Car 70) gig parked at Municipal Safety Complex on Broadway

At Madison Ave - but no longer top Chief gig

1983: Second Battalion Chief's Gig at Riverside Firehouse

2nd Battalion Car 73 -- E10 and T3 in their bays

1983 Photo

90th Anniversary Parade (Hancock Collection)

Chief Gig at Madison Avenue House - William Comer era (Anthony Natoli collection)

1985 Parade: Chief's Gig

Chiefs Gig Antonio DeFranco photo

1985 photo of Tour Commander gig at Hillcrest FH with ambulance 91

1985 photo of Tour Commander gig at Madison Avenue Headquarters

1985: Third Battalion at Hillcrest Firehouse

Engine 8 in background

First Battalion Gig at a winters fire scene

Madison Avenue Headquarters

Circa late 1980s: Madison Avenue FH: First Battalion Chief's Gig

1990: Chief Gig (Chief John Mauro)

May 1991: PFD purchased four Chevrolet Suburbans: 3 going to battalion chiefs 1 to ambulance supervisor. This ended the era of chief's using station wagons.

1995 100th Anniversary Parade: Tour Commander gig