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.

December 12, 1908: Collision at Van Houten and Washington Streets between gig of Assistant Chief Gilmore (driven by Frank Shane) and DC Patrick Sweeney (driven by his son James)

Paterson Press - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

Paterson News

Courtesy Dennis Morrison

August 8, 1910: ~ 12:00 PM Gig axle breaks at Holesman and Water Streets responding to alarm

Paterson News - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

November 28, 1910: Crash as gig responds to Station 521

Paterson News - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

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

Early 1912: Chief's gig given to Deputy Chief Sweeney and new gig ordered for Chief

June 8, 1912: Department reorganizes from 1 chief, 1 Assistant Chief and 1 Deputy Chief to one Chief and two Battalion Chiefs. A new motorized gig ordered so that all 3 Chiefs now have motorized vehicles.

June 17, 1912: Upon retirement DC Patrick Sweeney wants to buy horse that pulled his gig

Morning call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

March 1913: BC Charles Nolan, Chief Thomas Coyle and BC Ernest Fields at 115 Van Houten Street Headquarters

June 24, 1915: 3rd BC appointed: 1st Battalion at Headquarters, 2nd Battalion at Engine 9 on Main street (using horse pulled gig) and the 3rd BC to operate out of one of the Riverside houses (? Engine 2 on Highland Street) using autocar gig.

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.

August 16, 1916: Driver Abraham Perrius retires - was driver of Chief Specht and Nolan

Guardian - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

June 12, 1917: BC Nolan gig accident - Hit trolley pole at Market and Straight Street and was badly damaged. PPD patrol wagon picket the chief up and transported him to the fire. Gig had to be towed back to headquarters

Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrrison

February 2, 1924: 1:28 PM responding to Station 212, the Chandler touring car of Battalion Chief Specht driven by FF Edward ball in accident at Straight and Van Houten Streets

Guardian - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

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. 115 Van Houten Street.

1936 Ball Book Photos

Below are B Shift drivers John Anderson, Richard Hickerson and Joseph Dow.

1936 Ball Book

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

BC Michael Comer at left

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

December 4, 1953: From Morning Call Series on PFD Companies

Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

December 4, 1953 Morning Call and 1954 FMBA Ball Book

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.

August 7, 1955: Gig stolen right out of Headquarters on Van Houten Street

Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

April 11, 1957: New gig for 2nd Battalion then at 17th Avenue Firehouse

Morning Call - courtesy Dennis Morrison

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