Samuel Simonton was an early member of the paid Paterson Fire Department and served 36 years before retiring in 1926. He saw duty at Engines 2, 6, 10 and 3. He became a captain on November 6, 1899 and was appointed Drillmaster in 1916. He was the Captain of Engine Company 6 during the Great 1902 Conflagration. He served in Paterson's Auxiliary Fire Brigade during WWII. His 1925 retirement and 1959 obituary are below
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For a very detailed history of the Hancocks with several other photos and all appointments and assignments, click the button at right
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Badge Number Intricacy: Edward A. Hancock was issued Badge #19 upon appointment to PFD in 1918. When Edward J. Hancock was appointed in 1954, he was assigned Badge #53. After the death of Edward A. in 1956 (still on job when he passed), Edward J. was issued his father's Badge #19. When Kevin R. Hancock was appointed in 1989 he received badge #51. Finally, sometime after Edward J. retired in 1991, badge # 19 was transferred to Kevin R. Amazingly for the last century, Badge # 19 only ever appeared on a Hancock.
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December 22, 1912: Civil Service Law becomes operative.
March 29, 1913: 8 FF were the first to pass a civil service test. 26 of 36 men who took the exam failed. October 13, 1913: Frank Dowdall and William Walsh became the first two firemen appointed under the new law. 26 of the 36 men who took the exam failed. |
Frank Dowdall had a long career:
October 1, 1913; assigned to Engine Company 1 June 16, 1920: appointed as Chief's aide to Chief Thomas Coyle May 16, 1926: appointed Captain of Truck Company 1 "A" shift June 14, 1939: assigned as acting Battalion Chief of "A" shift July 1, 1940: Re-assigned as Captain of Truck Company 1 "A" shift June 14, 1945: Assigned as acting Battalion Chief of "A" shift |
April 1925: Appointment Record of Edward A Cusack, son of famed Captain Edward Cusack Sr (an original 1890 appointment to PFD and long time Captain of Truck Company 1. Prior to appointment, firefighters had to post a bond to the city. Photo at right is ~1953 while serving in Fire Alarm
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King Gambrinus was the Flemish King who supposedly invented beer. Of course Paterson had numerous breweries during the 19th and 20th century, one of which established in 1876 was Sprattler and Mennel located at 250 Marshall Street. A very large Statue of the King stood atop the factory until it disappeared in 1967 long after the brewery closed. It's absence was quickly noted and in the newspaper article the building caretaker surmised that PFD using the Snorkel apparatus likely took it down. Chief Kane when contacted by reporters was flabbergasted and issued a denial.
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December 12, 1975
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December 14, 1977
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