Horse Drawn Fire Apparatus
The Paterson Fire Department became partially paid in 1890 and fully paid in 1895. No motorized apparatus appeared before 1910. Steam fire Engines first appeared in the Volunteer Department in 1862 at Washington Engine 3. Several other companies followed suit, but horses were not introduced until 1884 by Passaic Engine Company One. In 1890, all of the apparatus (steamers, hose wagons, chemical wagons and hook and ladder trucks) were pulled by horses. The steamers were modernized after the Great Fire of 1902.
April 21, 1882: Discussion of introducing horses to Volunteer Fire Department
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Guardian - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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August 12, 1886 - Protection Engine 5 - Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
For wonderful stories about the horses themselves, scroll to bottom of this page
Steamers
After the town of Paterson burned down in 1902, there was major recognition that the decades old steam apparatus the PFD had needed replacement. It was up to Chief Stagg to convince the politicians that modern state of the art apparatus were needed. Here is a news article in which the Chief explains the difference between first and third size steamers. PFD had no first size steamers prior to the big 1902 fire. The Chief also discusses the state of streets in Paterson. From the December 19, 1902 Morning Call, courtesy of researcher Dennis Morrison.
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Hotel Street Firehouse with gig of Chief John Stagg and driver George Pfitzenmeyer
1902 fire scene with one of the Chief Gigs
112 Van Houten Street quarters - Metropolitan Steamer
Engine Company 1 1903 Metropolitan
Engine 2 77 Highland Street with Metropolitan Steamer and Hose Wagon
Engine 2 Metropolitan Steamer
Men of Engine 2 with Steamer
Engine 3 Steamer at 298 Tyler Street (later called 12th Avenue)
Engine 4 Slater Street: 1883 Second Size Clapp and Jones
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H Heinzelman, C Kennedy, J Eagan, Wm Smith , and horses of Engine Company 4 Circa 1911-12
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Engine Company 4
Engine 5 Metropolitan Steamer at Water Street Firehouse
Engine 6 Steamer responding on Market Street
Engine 7 Gould 1876 Third Size Clapp and Jones Steamer
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Engine 7 Third Size Silsby, purchased in 1890 - 78 Gould Avenue
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Engine 7 responding
Engine Company 7 Hose Wagon
Engine Company 8 at 71 Wayne Avenue with Third Size Silsby, purchased in 1890
Men of E 8 with hose wagon at quarters
Engine Company 9 at Main Street Firehouse
Men of Engine 9 with Steamer
Hose Wagons
Engine Company 1
Engine 1 Hose Wagon responding
Engine Company 5 Steamer and Hose Wagon
Engine 5 Hose Wagon - Water Street Firehouse
Chemical Wagon
Chemical #1 at Hotel Street Firehouse
Chemical # One
Hook and Ladder Trucks
75' LaFrance Aerial at Jackson Street Firehouse
Truck 2 at 77 Prospect Street Firehouse
1903: Aerial in operation at Broomhead Mill fire
Truck 3
Truck 3 at Godwin Ave Firehouse
Truck 3 at 1903 Flood on West Street
1895 photo of "Bill" at the Godwin Avenue FH of Truck 3
The truck in photo below was rebuilt (fitted with rubber wheels, strengthened and repainted) and drawn by three horses and was the last horse drawn fire apparatus ever used by the PFD: its last run was July 4, 1920.
Truck 3 at Godwin Ave Firehouse
October 14, 1886: FD gets some new horses
Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
November 6, 1885: PFD started hiring full time drivers and tillermen and issued rules:
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Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
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November 13, 1886: FD news
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The Telegraph courtesy Dennis Morrison
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January 12, 1888: Runaway hose wagon of Protection Engine Company 5
January 13 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
September 13, 1890: Amusing stories of the horses at Hotel Street - The new chemical Engine was tested and then quartered at Engine 2 firehouse on Hotel Street with the Engine 2 Steamer being moved to temporarily run out of the Hose House on Bridge Street until the new Highland Street firehouse is completed. Engine 2's Hose cart was relocated temporarily at Engine 9 on Main Street and the Gig of Chief Murphy will be at Hotel Street with the Chemical Company and the Hotel Street FH will serve as Fire Headquarters.
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September 15 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
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December 24, 1894: Old Jim - after years of service, an alderman sends him to the bone factory
Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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July 2, 1896: Chief Stagg gives specs for new horses
Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
August 19, 1896: Chief Stagg alerts aldermen that Department is in a crippled state
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Morning Call - Courtesy of Dennis Morrison
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March 30, 1898: Annual report of City Veterinary Surgeon. FD owns 48 horses. Note the Van Houten Street address is 110 Van Houten Street, not 112.
Courtesy Anthon Natoli
April 25, 1898: Death of "Frank" reported in the Morning Call newspaper
Courtesy of Dennis Morrison
October 18, 1898: Fire horse escapes during an exercise period from Headquarters on Hotel Street
Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison
April 6, 1900: Station 41 Stony Road False alarm enrages Chief Stagg Pulling steamers up Grand Street was a tough chore for horses
Guardian courtesy Dennis Morrison
June 15, 1900: Fire Committee meeting regarding an unfortunate injured horse
June 16 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
April 26, 1901: A motion picture company films Chief Stagg, Engine 3 hose wagon, Truck 1, Engine 1 hose wagon, and Engine 1 steamer on Broadway between Carroll and Graham Avenues. Firefighters in full gear and horses described as magnificent. The film premiered at the Bijou Theatre on April 28
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Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison
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May 1, 1901: Hitching time for various companies
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Paterson News - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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February 20, 1906: Incidents while responding to Station 183 at Marshall and Slater Streets
Guardian courtesy Dennis Morrison
April 19, 1903: 921 Main at Robert Street 2nd alarm The Heap Building Incident illustrates the importance of horses to PFD
Morning Call courtesy Dennis Mossison
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December 1, 1903: The obituary and saga of Old Bill: a 16 year vet of PFD - appointed 1887 - Served the hose carts of Engines 1, 9, 7 and finally the Hose House on Bridge Street. He and his partner "Tom" were said to be the fastest department horses being attached to apparatus
Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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March 28, 1905: Fire at 6:30 PM 10th Avenue & East 33rd Street Oriental Silk Printing
Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
March 3, 1907: Additional horses needed for new steamers
Guardian courtesy Dennis Morrison
February 2, 1909: Station 235 (Paterson and Tyler Streets) 8:45 PM Run-away horses overturn Metropolitan Steamer at Lyon and Butler Streets -- 10 Governor Street attic fire
Guardian courtesy Dennis Morrison
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February 20, 1906: Old steamer sold
Paterson News - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
March 13, 1906: Billy the hose wagon horse struck and fatally injured in trolley accident at Main and Grove Streets
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March 14 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
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March 18, 1907: Horse injuries responding to false alarms
Guardian courtesy Dennis Morrison
March 18, 1907: The science of feeding fire horses
Guardian courtesy Dennis Morrison
August 3, 1907 Engine Company 7 accident as dog attacks horse
Courtesy Dennis Morrison
April 9, 1908:
Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
April 10, 1908: PFD Horse (8) Auction
April 11 Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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June 28, 1908: from the Paterson Morning Call FIRE HORSES EASY TO TRAIN
This seems to be an interview with Chief John Stagg (courtesy of Jim Eifler)
This seems to be an interview with Chief John Stagg (courtesy of Jim Eifler)
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1909 city Veterinary Surgeon - Matthew A. Pierce
June 1, 1909: Fire at Philips School caused runaway horse incident which required euthansia of one of Engine 4's horses
Morning Call Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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June 18, 1909: Retired horse of Engine 4 earns to return to duty
Morning call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
June 21, 1910: FD caring for distraught horses
Morning Call Courtesy Dennis Morrison
August 14, 1910: Firefighters of Engine 6 "cooling" down a horse during summer heat
Guardian courtesy Dennis Morrison
March 2, 1911: Motorization to continue
Paterson News - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
July 27, 1911: Fire Horse Sale
July 27 Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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July 28 Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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October 19, 1911: Horse of Engine 9 run wild
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Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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February 12, 1912: DC Sweeney's horse retired
Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
June 1, 1912:
Courtesy Jim Eifler
May 8, 1912: FF Ed Moore (Supreme Sacrifice 1938) settles down spooked horses of Engine 9
Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
June 17, 1912: Deputy Chief Patrick Sweeney wants to but his long-time PFD gig horse
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December 14, 1912: Mayor forecasts elimination of horses
Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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December 30, 1912: 1:30 PM Responding to a fire, hoses slip and fall
December 31 Morning Call - Curtesy Dennis Morrison
July 12, 1913: (Courtesy of Jim Eifler)
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1916: Most of the apparatus had been motorized, and thus the horses had to be sold. Here is the story of one of the auctions that was held at the Hose House on Bridge Street
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January 3, 1917: Morning Call - Lament of "End of Horse Era"
Courtesy Dennis Morrison
July 4, 1920: The last alarm response in Paterson using horses was Truck Company 3 responding to Station 634 (East 18th Street and 3rd Avenue) for a fire at 755 River Street. Driver was FF John Doyle and tillerman John Farrell. Horses were Jerry, Frank and Billy.
July 6 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
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1935 Newspaper story reliving the horses of PFD, including the last 2 survivors. Artile courtesy of Dennis Morrison
Headine
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How many of the old-timers of Paterson can look backward to the days when the silk city was in its infancy and remember the famous old steeds that would pull the fire apparatus through dirt clogged, dust ridden streets of Paterson. How many of the old-timers can remember the gallant old faithful "Ned" driven by his keeper, George Pfitzenmeyer, raced through the streets atop speed, comparatively faster than some of the autos of the present day? It seems only yesterday to the older members of the Paterson Fire Department that the husky old horses pulled their wagons and engines to the fires. And yet, the last horses that were unhooked from the apparatus left the department more than 15 years ago.
Few of those who saw the horses race through the streets knew what became of them. Apparently very few are aware of the fact that the last two of the old faithful's are now living an easy life at Eastside Park. "Arthur" and "Chief" are their names and they pull the grass cutter around the park at odd moments. Old Arthur is 30 years and Chief is 29 and the strenuous activity of their former days are but pleasant memories to them. Leisurely they stroll about the park during off times. There were days when they ran among the first on ways to fires.
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Late Chief John Stagg - Who will be remembered by old-time Patersonians who used to chase the fire engines when they were horse-drawn
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Chief Stagg with driver George Pfitzenmeyer and "Ned"
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There were days when they ran among the first on ways to fires and how these people did cheer them as they mightily pulled the apparatus to the scenes of blazes.
There are times to when Arthur and Chief appear a bit depressed. They miss their buddies badly. They are much alone these days, Their only other pal of former days departed early two years ago. Life is set the same way to them. Slowly they are giving way to the call and soon they will join their buddies. When they hear the clanging of fire bells in a distance they stand ready for action. |
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Chief is a bit smaller than Arthur. A short while ago Chief was touring the city as the guest of his caretaker and suddenly heard the ringing of the fire bell he was accustomed to. He started off in a mad fashion and his caretakers had their hands full trying to keeping him under control.
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How fondly they chat in their own means of conversation of the days when they graced the firehouses and were the ones who could pull the engines and the fire trucks. There were 50 or so horses pulling about 21 pieces of apparatus. There the aerial trucks, the steam pumping engines and the fire trucks.
There were the firemen who were so attached to their favorites. Those days are gone forever to the boys since the advent of the motor vehicles. They recollect how back in 1910 the horses were gradually separated from their stalls in the spot where the traffic department is now situated on 112 Van Houten Street (quarters of Engine 1). In the short space of 3 years all of the old faithful's found new homes and owners. |
It was hard for them to get use to the new arrangements but they were resigned to their fates and bravely bid a farewell to their comrades in fire and firemen who loved them as well. Many a heart was broken and many a tear was shed. When the famous old "Ned" was sold to a dairyman in 1913, George Pfitzenmeyer (Chief Stagg's gig driver), the steed driver and caretaker, would not depart with him. For days he brooded over his loss and almost died from grief when he learned that Ned had died suddenly only 3 months after he was sold at auction
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to the dairyman. Ned could not lead a life of inactivity and he too estranged from his pals and buddies lost his love for living and wished for the end.
Many of the mares were auctioned off and others were placed in the fate of the city. Some went to the almshouse and were given light work others took on a different vocation. Soon their numbers dwindled and their rans dwindled to a small proportion. And up to the year of 1913 the 25th anniversary of the introduction of the motor engines only three horses remained. The following year the chestnut nag that was in in this city's employment passed into the great beyond, leaving only Arthur and Chief. |
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Chief and Arthur have few callers at the park and are a rather lonely pair. But they do not care for visitors. They do not ask for anything but to return to the fold for one day ans then they would be happy. Superintendent Robert J. McCrowe takes good care of the horses and personally sees that they are cared for in the manner that befits a veteran of the old fire days. They are given the best of oats and bran. Hay is provided in no diminishing quantities and they have no boss for the rest of their days.
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Horses being exercised.