PATERSON FIRE HISTORY
  • HOME
  • OVERVIEW
    • FIRST CENTURY
    • EVENTS 1890-1894
    • EVENTS 1895-1899
    • EVENTS 1900-1910
    • EVENTS 1911-1919
    • EVENTS 1920-1939
    • EVENTS 1940-1959
    • EVENTS 1960-1979
    • EVENTS 1980-1999
    • EVENTS 2000-2019
    • EVENTS 2020-2023
  • FIREFIGHTERS
  • CHIEF ENGINEERS
    • ASSISTANT CHIEFS
    • DEPUTY CHIEFS
    • BATTALION CHIEFS
    • CHIEF GIGS
  • THE SUPREME SACRIFICE
    • MEMORIAL SERVICE
  • OBITUARIES / DEATHS
    • 1889-1919 DEATHS
    • 1920-1939 DEATHS
    • 1940-1959 DEATHS
    • 1960-1969 DEATHS
    • 1970-1979 DEATHS
    • 1980-1999 DEATHS
    • 2000-2009 DEATHS
    • 2010 AND LATER
  • NOTABLE FIREFIGHTERS
    • CALAMITA FAMILY
    • CAPTAIN JOHN WEBER
    • CUSACK FAMILY
    • FLEMING FAMILY
    • GERARD DUGAN
    • HANCOCK FAMILY
    • HENRY OTIS HARRIS
    • ISAAC FELICIANO
    • JOHN GILMORE
    • JOSEPH DAYSPRING
    • KEARNEY-FAMILY
    • MARIANI FAMILY
    • McLAUGHLIN FAMILY
    • SALMANOWITZ BROTHERS
    • THE SIMONTONS
    • THE SWEENEYS
  • NOTABLE FIRES/INCIDENTS
  • SPECIAL OP EVENTS
  • TAKING THE HEAT BOOK
  • HISTORICAL REVIEWS
  • 1907 GUARDIAN
  • 1936 HEARD & SEEN COLUMN
  • FIREHOUSE PHOTOS / FACTS
  • SPECIAL OPERATIONS
  • EMS
    • EMS ROSTER
  • COMPANY & FH HISTORY
  • COMMUNICATIONS / FA
    • FIRE BOX LISTS
    • FIRE BOXES & STANCHIONS
    • EVRS STATION LIST
  • FIRE VIDEOS 1991-2011
  • FIRE VIDEOS 2014-2022
  • DOCUDRAMAS
  • APPARATUS
  • APPARATUS VIDEOS
  • NOTABLE EVENTS INDEX
    • PFD STORIES
    • APPARATUS NOTABLES
    • APPTS & PROMOTIONS
    • AWARDS
    • 1960 CHIEF SELECTION
    • GRAND STREET RIOT 1917
    • GROUND ZERO
    • MILITARY
    • PARADES PAID DEPT
    • RED MASS
    • RESCUES
    • RETIREMENTS
    • SISTER LORETTA
    • SPORTS
    • THEATRE DETAIL
  • MEMORABILIA
  • PATCHES DECALS LOGOS SHIRTS
  • WALLPAPER
  • DEPARTMENT PETS
  • TRAINING
  • VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENT
    • 1821 - 1854 HISTORY
    • 1815-1890 VOLUNTEER HISTORY
    • 1888 HISTORICAL SUMMARY
    • LOOKING BACKWARDS
    • VOLUNTEER PARADES
    • ANNUAL REPORTS
    • VOLUNTEER CHIEFS >
      • CHIEF ELECTIONS
      • CHIEF BIOS
    • VOLUNTEER PROFILES
    • ANDREW MOSER
    • ENGINE CO APPARATUS LIST
    • OLD GOOSENECK
    • JEFFERS STEAMER
    • VOLUNTEER COMPANIES
  • AUXILIARY FIRE DEPARTMENT
  • EXEMPT ASSOCIATION
    • EXEMPT 1892 BALL
    • EXEMPT BY-LAWS 1902
  • EXEMPT HOME & RELICS
  • FMBA / PFA
    • FMBA BY-LAWS
    • FMBA 1949 FOLLIES
  • BALLBOOKS
    • 1909 BALL BOOK
    • 1916 BALL BOOK
    • 1918 BALL BOOK
    • 1921 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1923 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1928 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1935 PFD BOOSTER
    • 1936 JANUARY PICTORIAL
    • 1936 DECEMBER PICTORIAL
    • 1937 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1938 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1939 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1941 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1942 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1943 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1944 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1945 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1946 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1947 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1948 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1949 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1950 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1951 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1952 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1953 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1954 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1955 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1956 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1957 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1958 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1959 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1960 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1961 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1962 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1963 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1964 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1965 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1966 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1967 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1968 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1969 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1970 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1971 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1972 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1973 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1975 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1976 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1977 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1979 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1980 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1981 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1982 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1983 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1984 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1985 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1986 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1987 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1988 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1989 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1990 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1991 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1992 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1993 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1994 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1995 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1996 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1997 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1998 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1999 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2000 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2001 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2002 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2003 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2004 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2005 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2010 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2011 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2014 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2016 ANNUAL BALL
  • ANNUAL REPORTS
  • PFH CONTRIBUTORS
  • ORAL HISTORY
  • STATISTICS
  • CONTACT
  • CITY OF PATERSON

​Engine Company 9 Fox

Engine Company 9 Ahrens Fox Pumper

Fred E. Benson, a Paterson resident became Ahren's Fox's New York sales territory on April 1, 1929, and lobbied Paterson to be his first major customer ordering multiple rigs.
Picture
​On September 4, 1929 the deal for seven 1000 GPM piston pumpers at $13,500 each and an 85' aerials at $16,750, became a formal contract signed by Charles Fox and Paterson officials.
Picture
Picture
Truck 2: in service January 1930
​Ultimately PFD received an 85' aerial for Truck Company 2 (register 2046) and 1000 GPM pumpers for Engine Companies 2 (3377), 1 (2312), 7 (3389), 9 (3390) and 10 (3401).
Picture
Engine 2
Picture
Engine 1
Picture
Engine 7
Picture
Former E10 as Engine 3
​Ahrens Fox Register # 3390, an N-S-4, with motor #2958 was also shipped from Cincinnati on October 30, 1930 and then placed in service November 11, 1930 at Engine Company 9 quartered at 586 Main Street. 

​Both Fox #3389 (Engine 7) and #3390 (Engine 9) had gable hoods, Budd wheels, square-cornered stamped front fenders, Ryan headlights, dual bumpers, six-cylinder motors (5-1/2" x 7"), four cylinder pumps (4-1/4" and 4-3/4 x 6"), and suction reducers on the left side. The only way to tell them apart visually is that #3390 had two red warning lights (see photo below) in the front corners of the hosebed begind booster tank while #3389 did not.
Picture
Picture
Todd Holritt photo (2018)
Picture
Picture
Exiting Quarters
Picture
In bay at 586 Main Street
Picture
Front of pumper in Quarters


​On May 5, 1938, Engine 9's Fox (#3390) had the dubious distinction of being in the first major accident involving an Ahrens Fox pumper. It was responding to an alarm and just after exiting quarters (20 feet outside the door) collided with a trolley coming up Main Street (moving north to south) smashed right into the Captain's side of the engine, knocking all of the men off. The apparatus, including the frame, was badly damaged and had to be shipped back to Cincinnati for repairs. It returned to service on August 8, 1930. At the time the odometer showed only 1200 miles.

​Paterson NJ Morning Call reported: 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.
Picture
Picture
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.
Picture
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. 

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
May 8, 1939:  Report of Captain Hobart Strathearn
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
​A new clutch was installed on April 11, 1949. The apparatus was retired in January 1958 and was sold in June 1962 to the Passaic Valley Hose Company #2 of West Paterson (later renamed Woodland Park) NJ.
​West Paterson restored the Fox and like #2312 it is frequently see at musters and parades. Instead of keeping the green linoleum on the running boards (present on all Paterson Foxes) they restored them using chrome. Much of the fancy gold leaf on fenders and the suction inlets was also not on the Paterson apparatus.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
1981 Muster
Picture
1981 Muster
Picture
1981 Muster
Picture
Picture
Croton Muster 1981 - Buck Whitty at left
Picture
1981 Croton Muster
Picture
1981 Croton Muster - L-R is WP FF Robert Poloniak (future Paterson BC), Buck Whitty and Retired PFD Assistant Chief Joseph Dayspring
Picture
Picture
Buck Witty in Captains Seat
Picture
1985 Parade: Buck Witty driver and retired Assistant Chief Joseph Dayspring passing Hillcrest Firehouse
Picture
Assistant Chief Dayspring (at left) at WP firehouse
Picture
Assistant Chief Dayspring (at left) at WP firehouse
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
100th Anniversary PFD Parade (Madison Avenue Firehouse)
Picture
Todd Holritt Photo
Picture
Todd Holritt
Picture
Todd Holritt
Picture
v
Picture
In bay at West Paterson - Todd Hollritt photo 2018
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Todd Hollritt - 2018
Picture
Picture
Picture
Vince Marchese Photo
Picture
Vince Marchese Photo
Picture
Vince Marchese Photo - Firemen's Home Booton, NJ
Picture
Vince Marchese Photo
Picture
September 11, 2017 - Bill Tompkins Photo
2019 photos by Todd Hollritt
January 31, 2020: Apparatus transports deceased Paterson FF Joe Parkin Sr during funeral procession
Picture
Picture
Picture
July 15, 2021:  Vince Marchese photos of restored 1930 E9 Ahrens Fox pumper at McBride Avenue Headquarters
Picture
Picture
Chief Brian J McDermott
Picture
With Engine Company 3 2020 Ferrara Pumper
Picture
With Engine Company 2 2018 Ferrara Pumper
Picture
FF Louis Hernandez, ?, FF Phil Dominguez, Captain Chris Antoci, Captain Gus Gutierez (Car 9), DC William Bucher, DC Joe Henderson, DC Jason Macones, BC Mike Trommelen, Chief Brian McDermott
Picture
Bill and Kyle Broadfield

Picture
Vincent Marchese photo
Picture
Vincent Marchese photo
Picture
Vincent Marchese photo

In the early 1980s Thomas Dayspring commissioned top US fire engine modeler Tom Showers of California to build from scratch a model of Engine 9's Ahrens Fox
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • HOME
  • OVERVIEW
    • FIRST CENTURY
    • EVENTS 1890-1894
    • EVENTS 1895-1899
    • EVENTS 1900-1910
    • EVENTS 1911-1919
    • EVENTS 1920-1939
    • EVENTS 1940-1959
    • EVENTS 1960-1979
    • EVENTS 1980-1999
    • EVENTS 2000-2019
    • EVENTS 2020-2023
  • FIREFIGHTERS
  • CHIEF ENGINEERS
    • ASSISTANT CHIEFS
    • DEPUTY CHIEFS
    • BATTALION CHIEFS
    • CHIEF GIGS
  • THE SUPREME SACRIFICE
    • MEMORIAL SERVICE
  • OBITUARIES / DEATHS
    • 1889-1919 DEATHS
    • 1920-1939 DEATHS
    • 1940-1959 DEATHS
    • 1960-1969 DEATHS
    • 1970-1979 DEATHS
    • 1980-1999 DEATHS
    • 2000-2009 DEATHS
    • 2010 AND LATER
  • NOTABLE FIREFIGHTERS
    • CALAMITA FAMILY
    • CAPTAIN JOHN WEBER
    • CUSACK FAMILY
    • FLEMING FAMILY
    • GERARD DUGAN
    • HANCOCK FAMILY
    • HENRY OTIS HARRIS
    • ISAAC FELICIANO
    • JOHN GILMORE
    • JOSEPH DAYSPRING
    • KEARNEY-FAMILY
    • MARIANI FAMILY
    • McLAUGHLIN FAMILY
    • SALMANOWITZ BROTHERS
    • THE SIMONTONS
    • THE SWEENEYS
  • NOTABLE FIRES/INCIDENTS
  • SPECIAL OP EVENTS
  • TAKING THE HEAT BOOK
  • HISTORICAL REVIEWS
  • 1907 GUARDIAN
  • 1936 HEARD & SEEN COLUMN
  • FIREHOUSE PHOTOS / FACTS
  • SPECIAL OPERATIONS
  • EMS
    • EMS ROSTER
  • COMPANY & FH HISTORY
  • COMMUNICATIONS / FA
    • FIRE BOX LISTS
    • FIRE BOXES & STANCHIONS
    • EVRS STATION LIST
  • FIRE VIDEOS 1991-2011
  • FIRE VIDEOS 2014-2022
  • DOCUDRAMAS
  • APPARATUS
  • APPARATUS VIDEOS
  • NOTABLE EVENTS INDEX
    • PFD STORIES
    • APPARATUS NOTABLES
    • APPTS & PROMOTIONS
    • AWARDS
    • 1960 CHIEF SELECTION
    • GRAND STREET RIOT 1917
    • GROUND ZERO
    • MILITARY
    • PARADES PAID DEPT
    • RED MASS
    • RESCUES
    • RETIREMENTS
    • SISTER LORETTA
    • SPORTS
    • THEATRE DETAIL
  • MEMORABILIA
  • PATCHES DECALS LOGOS SHIRTS
  • WALLPAPER
  • DEPARTMENT PETS
  • TRAINING
  • VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENT
    • 1821 - 1854 HISTORY
    • 1815-1890 VOLUNTEER HISTORY
    • 1888 HISTORICAL SUMMARY
    • LOOKING BACKWARDS
    • VOLUNTEER PARADES
    • ANNUAL REPORTS
    • VOLUNTEER CHIEFS >
      • CHIEF ELECTIONS
      • CHIEF BIOS
    • VOLUNTEER PROFILES
    • ANDREW MOSER
    • ENGINE CO APPARATUS LIST
    • OLD GOOSENECK
    • JEFFERS STEAMER
    • VOLUNTEER COMPANIES
  • AUXILIARY FIRE DEPARTMENT
  • EXEMPT ASSOCIATION
    • EXEMPT 1892 BALL
    • EXEMPT BY-LAWS 1902
  • EXEMPT HOME & RELICS
  • FMBA / PFA
    • FMBA BY-LAWS
    • FMBA 1949 FOLLIES
  • BALLBOOKS
    • 1909 BALL BOOK
    • 1916 BALL BOOK
    • 1918 BALL BOOK
    • 1921 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1923 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1928 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1935 PFD BOOSTER
    • 1936 JANUARY PICTORIAL
    • 1936 DECEMBER PICTORIAL
    • 1937 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1938 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1939 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1941 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1942 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1943 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1944 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1945 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1946 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1947 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1948 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1949 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1950 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1951 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1952 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1953 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1954 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1955 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1956 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1957 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1958 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1959 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1960 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1961 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1962 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1963 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1964 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1965 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1966 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1967 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1968 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1969 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1970 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1971 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1972 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1973 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1975 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1976 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1977 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1979 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1980 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1981 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1982 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1983 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1984 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1985 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1986 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1987 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1988 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1989 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1990 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1991 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1992 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1993 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1994 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1995 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1996 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1997 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1998 ANNUAL BALL
    • 1999 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2000 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2001 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2002 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2003 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2004 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2005 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2010 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2011 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2014 ANNUAL BALL
    • 2016 ANNUAL BALL
  • ANNUAL REPORTS
  • PFH CONTRIBUTORS
  • ORAL HISTORY
  • STATISTICS
  • CONTACT
  • CITY OF PATERSON