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

Guardian - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

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.

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

H Heinzelman, C Kennedy, J Eagan, Wm Smith , and horses of Engine Company 4 Circa 1911-12

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

Engine 7 Third Size Silsby, purchased in 1890 - 78 Gould Avenue

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:

Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

November 13, 1886: FD news

The Telegraph courtesy Dennis Morrison

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.  

September 15 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

December 24, 1894: Old Jim - after years of service, an alderman sends him to the bone factory

Courtesy Dennis Morrison

Courtesy Dennis Morrison

  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

Morning Call - Courtesy of Dennis Morrison

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

April 6, 1900:  Station 41  Stony Road   False alarm enrages Chief Stagg    Pulling teamers 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

​May 1, 1901:  Hitching time for various companies

Paterson News - 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

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

Courtesy Dennis Morrison

Courtesy Dennis Morrison

Courtesy Dennis Morrison

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

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

March 14 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

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

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)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

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

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

July 28 Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

October 19, 1911: Horse of Engine 9 run wild

Courtesy Dennis Morrison

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

December 14, 1912:  Mayor forecasts elimination of horses

Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

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)

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

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

1935 Newspaper story reliving the horses of PFD, including the last 2 survivors. Artile courtesy of Dennis Morrison

Headine

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.

Late Chief John Stagg - Who will be remembered by old-time Patersonians who used to chase the fire engines when they were horse-drawn

Chief Stagg with driver George Pfitzenmeyer and "Ned"

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.

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.

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

​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. 

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. 

Horses being exercised.