ENGINE 9 AHRENS 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.

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.

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).

Engine 2

Engine 1

Engine 7

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.

Todd Holritt photo (2018)

Exiting Quarters

In bay at 586 Main Street

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.

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.

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.

May 8, 1939: Report of Captain Hobart Strathearn

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.

1981 Muster

Croton Muster 1981 - Buck Whitty at left

1981 Croton Muster

1981 Croton Muster - L-R is WP FF Robert Poloniak (future Paterson BC), Buck Whitty and Retired PFD Assistant Chief Joseph Dayspring

Buck Witty in Captains Seat

1985 Parade: Buck Witty driver and retired Assistant Chief Joseph Dayspring passing Hillcrest Firehouse

Assistant Chief Dayspring (at left) at WP firehouse

100th Anniversary PFD Parade (Madison Avenue Firehouse)

Todd Holritt Photo

Todd Holritt

In bay at West Paterson - Todd Hollritt photo 2018

Todd Hollritt - 2018

Vince Marchese Photo

Vince Marchese Photo - Firemen's Home Booton, NJ

Vince Marchese Photo

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

July 15, 2021: Vince Marchese photos of restored 1930 E9 Ahrens Fox pumper at McBride Avenue Headquarters

Chief Brian J McDermott

With Engine Company 3 2020 Ferrara Pumper

With Engine Company 2 2018 Ferrara Pumper

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

Bill and Kyle Broadfield

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

​Engine Company 9 Fox

Engine Company 9 Ahrens Fox Pumper

Engine Company 9 Fox