Evolution of the Paid Department
Major Events from 1920 - 1939
1920: PFD Roster
May 22, 1920: Retirement of 3 FF including legendary Captain (Drill Instructor) John Weber of Truck 2
Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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June 16, 1920: Official retirement of Captain (Drill Master) John Weber
June 15 Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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July 4, 1920: The department becomes completely motorized as a new Electric (battery powered) Tractor 75' aerial is put in service at Truck 3 on Godwin Avenue. The last alarm response in Paterson using horses was Station 634 (East 18th Street and 3rd Avenue) for a fire at 755 River Street.
1921 Ball book: Chaplains in uniform
Frank MacDonald
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William Carlin
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September 29, 1921: Master Mechanic (Captain) William Moore has stroke
Guardian - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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1922: Daniel Moore becomes the new Superintendent of Fire Alarm |
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December 8, 1922: Morning Call
Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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1923: A new first size American LaFrance chemical and pumping engine was acquired for the 36 Circle Avenue Firehouse and Engine Company 12
April 10, 1923: Chaplain Carlin
Guardian - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
June 19, 1923: Chaplains Father William Carlin and Rev. Washabaugh receive badges
Guardian - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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June 23, 1923: Firehouses install sprays for children during summer months - no longer permitted to spray with fire hoses
Guardian - Courtesy Denis Morrison
July 2, 1923: Reverend Edgar Wasnabaugh selected as Chaplain and gets badge
Guardian - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
December 15, 1923: Firefighters help the needy at Christmas
The Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
April 3, 1924: Death of FF Paul Wentink -
September 23, 1926: The Ahrens Fox Era in Paterson begins with the acquisition of a new 1000 GPM pumper with solid rubber tires which is assigned to Engine Company 5 at 115 Van Houten Street, shown below at a fire scene.
January 24, 1924: ? Curse on PFD
Paterson Morning Call
November 4, 1924:
Courtesy Dennis Morrison
March 25, 1925: Traffic issues in downtown Paterson
Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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August 22, 1925: Captain Michael Comer tops Civil Service List for Battalion Chief
Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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May 22, 1926: Complaints made about FF who work when off-duty
Guardian Press - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
September 11, 1926: Captain John Breen completes 39 years of service appointed in 1897 becomes the FF with longest tenure of service. Started at Engine 2, then Chemical Company, then ultimately at numerous companies: Engine 1, Truck 3 (fought 1902 conflagration), Engine 6, Engine 5, Engine 7 (see train wreck below) and Engine 3.
Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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John Breen is driver of Engine 2 when it was at Hotel Street FH in 1890
Engineer at Engine 7 in 1908
E 7 Train Wreck 1908
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October 15, 1926: New Ahrens Fox 1000 GPM pumper acquired for Engine Company 4 on Slater Street. Also had solid rubber tires as well as a deluge gun on left side of hosebed.
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September 1, 1927: Following in his father's footsteps (Patrick) James P. Sweeney becomes a deputy chief.
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December 1927: Two new Ahrens Fox 1000 GPM pumpers with pneumatic tires acquired and assigned to Engine Companies 1 and 8.
January 2, 1928: Board of Police and Fire Commissioners provided a Captain (William Kane) to supervise the Theater and Places of Amusement Division. Here the order is rescinded.
Dayspring Collection
January 2, 1928: Morning Call write-up on Battalion Chief Michael Comer
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Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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February 24, 1928: Death of famed Captain Stewart Taylor - a member (joined 1873) and Foreman of Vigilant Engine 6 of the Paterson volunteer fire department who went on to the first Captain of Truck 3 in Paterson's partially paid (1890) and fully paid department (1895)
Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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Captain Stewart Taylor
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April 27, 1928: Fireman Edward Tribe and Marinus Baker of Engine Company 4 make the Supreme Sacrifice at a department store fire on Main Street. On December 14, 1928 the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners passed an Ordinance that provided for the payment of an annual pension (not to exceed the salary) upon the death of any member of the Paterson Fire Department where such death was due to injuries received in performance of duty. On December 28, 1928 the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners pass resolutions to provide the widows of firemen Tribe and Baker with a pension equal to their annual pay
Dayspring Collection
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Dayspring Collection
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October 20, 1928: Engine Company 13 is established and put in service at a new two bay firehouse on Twenty Third Avenue. A new Ahrens Fox 1000 GPM pumper is put in service. |
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October 20, 1928: 5:30 PM The first ever 4th alarm signal was transmitted from Station 18 (Straight and Governor Streets) at 5:30 PM for the Consolidated Brewery fire. Prior to this, if needed a General Alarm was transmitted after a 3rd alarm. Henceforth a General occurred after a 4th alarm.
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June 27, 1929: A new Ahrens Fox 1000 GPM pumper is acquired for Engine Company 6 on Market Street.
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February 5, 1930: Testimonial Dinner for new Captain Hobart Strathearn
Guardian - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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February 15, 1930: Annual Report of Chief Thomas Coyle (re 1929) - Morning Call
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Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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April 5, 1930: FF Watson Lauder convicted and fined for conduct subversive of good discipline (philandering).
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FF Watson Lauder 1936 Ball Book
Guardian - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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April 15, 1930: A new 85' Ahrens Fox Aerial enters service as Truck Company 2 at 115 Van Houten Street. The rear of the tractor had solid rubber tires.
April - November 1930: Four new Ahrens Fox 1000 GPM pumpers acquired and assigned to Engine Companies 2, 1, 7 and 9 (shown left to right below).
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April 2, 1931: Fireman David Johnstone of Engine Company 8 dies after being struck by a car while carrying a hose at the Manhattan Hotel Fire on March 31, 1931.
July 16, 1931: The last of the Ahrens Fox pumpers is purchased and assigned to Engine Company 10. The last steam fire engine in service is retired.
January 14, 1932: A new 85' Ahrens Fox Aerial is put in service at Truck Company 2 at 115 Van Houten Street (as photographed below).
February 10, 1932: Fire surgeon Henry E. Briody, M.D. appointed without pay
Dayspring Collection
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Dr Briody
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March 29, 1932: A new 75' Ahrens Fox Aerial is obtained for Truck Company 3 on Godwin Avenue and is shown below..
April 26, 1932: New dress code orders
Dayspring Collection
May 26, 1932: The Board of Police and Fire Commissioners order a 10% reduction in pay for police and firemen due to the poor financial condition of the city (Depression years). As seen below the PFD members had agreed to that in March of 1932.
Dayspring Collection
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Dayspring Collection
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June 1, 1932: Acceptance letters by Chief Thomas Coyle, Battalion Chief Michael Comer, Captain Hobart Strathearn (E9), Captain Edward Cusack (T1)
Dayspring Collection
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Thomas Coyle
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Michael Comer
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Hobart Strathearn
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Edward Cusack
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May 11, 1932: New resolution signed by Mayor Hinchliffe, mandates that all new and current firefighters under age 50 must hold a motor vehicle license.
Dayspring Collection
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November 30, 1932: A rebuilt 1922 500 GPM American LaFrance pumper was given to the Department by the Ahrens Fox Engine Company in appreciation for past business. This apparatus originally belonged to Haledon, NJ Fire department where it was badly damaged in a 1931 accident. It was assigned to Engine Company 11.
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August 14, 1933: Retirements: BC John Specht, Captains Thomas Halliwell and John Beirne
Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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May 7, 1934: The St. Bonaventure's Lyceum fire fatally injures John P. O'Neill of Engine 9 (died May 8) and Allen Saal of Truck Company 3 (died May 9). Both made the Supreme Sacrifice in a wall collapse.
January 18, 1935: Mayor Hinchliffe statement in the 10thAnnual FMBA Ball Firemen's Booster (during the Great Depression).
Dayspring Collection
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May 12, 1938: At a four alarm fire at the Quackenbush Warehouse on Prospect Street, a wall collapse killed five Paterson Firemen: making the Supreme Sacrifice were Deputy Chief James Sweeney, Captain John Devenport and firemen Louis Rodesky, Matthew O'Neill and William Lynch. All but Sweeney were from Engine Company 5.
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The arrow below points to the upper floors before the collapse
The wreckage of the fallen wall. Note the Fireman's Helmet with a 5 on the shield on the middle left side of the photo. It belong to Fireman William Lynch. The hose that the men were handling is also seen.
May 5, 1938: Engine 9's Ahrens Fox pumper is badly damaged in a collision with a bus-trolley in front of its Main Street firehouse. The apparatus had to be shipped back to the Ahrens Fox Company for repair (Click here for full story).
July 11, 1938
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October 13, 1938: Popular FF of Engine #13. FMBA officer and veteran Elmer Probert dies at young age. Two brothers George T. and Howard F. were also Paterson firefighters.
Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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October 17, Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
October 17, Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison