Paterson Fire Department Stories
Kerrigan's Komments "Paterson's Pride" 1921 Ball Book
The following words were written by journalist T. A. Kerrigan and was reproduced in the 1921 Fireman's Mutual Benevolent Association Souvenir Edition (Ball Book).
Every town has certain features, or perhaps some famous creatures they can point to with a show of civic pride. But in truth of my contention I don't hesitate to mention that our own town has all others set aside. We've a feature we can boast of, and which we should think the most of, as the greatness of their task we recognize. It's the gallant lads who labor to redeem a stricken neighbor, though oft times it means a human sacrifice. Did you ever think, while gazing at a building fiercely blazing of the danger that confronts those lads in blue? As you watch them nimbly working, caring not, though dangers lurking, don't a thrill of admiration pierce you through? Whether sun be shining, or wintry winds are whining, nothing matters when the bells of duty toll. Every man, alert and waiting, dons his garb unhesitating, and the cause of human justice is his goal. Always pleasant when you meet them, always glad to have you greet them, we have reason to be proud of such as these. Who work only to protect us, and in danger to direct us, and to guide the ship of life in safer seas. And if we would compensate them, in the high terms that we rate them. you'll agree with me I'm sure 'tis only fair. When the fire gong's toll we reckon for the men who have to beckon, we should in our hearts, recite a humble prayer.
Every town has certain features, or perhaps some famous creatures they can point to with a show of civic pride. But in truth of my contention I don't hesitate to mention that our own town has all others set aside. We've a feature we can boast of, and which we should think the most of, as the greatness of their task we recognize. It's the gallant lads who labor to redeem a stricken neighbor, though oft times it means a human sacrifice. Did you ever think, while gazing at a building fiercely blazing of the danger that confronts those lads in blue? As you watch them nimbly working, caring not, though dangers lurking, don't a thrill of admiration pierce you through? Whether sun be shining, or wintry winds are whining, nothing matters when the bells of duty toll. Every man, alert and waiting, dons his garb unhesitating, and the cause of human justice is his goal. Always pleasant when you meet them, always glad to have you greet them, we have reason to be proud of such as these. Who work only to protect us, and in danger to direct us, and to guide the ship of life in safer seas. And if we would compensate them, in the high terms that we rate them. you'll agree with me I'm sure 'tis only fair. When the fire gong's toll we reckon for the men who have to beckon, we should in our hearts, recite a humble prayer.
March 18, 1899: FF John J Crowley helps NYFD
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Courtesy Jim Eifler
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October 3, 1922: Paterson Chronicle covered many routine PFD items including standard retirements in the days before radio, TV, Internet, Twitter!
Guardian - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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Frank Shane - from a 1908 Engine 7 photo
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Newspapers of the day reported firefighter's illness
October 25, 1912: Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
June 16, 1915: Captain John Weber celebrates 30th year PFD anniversary - is the senior FF in department
July 23, 1929: Incident with off-duty FF
Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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FF Basil Brosnan
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September 14, 1929: Fire & Police Commission have accolades for retiring Captains: Patrick Kearney and John Breen
Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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February 9, 1932 - November 20, 1945: Fire Surgeon Dr Harry Briody
1946 FMBA Ball Book
December 29, 1948: Retired Captain Joe Greer donates valuable gun collection
Paterson New
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March 23, 1955: Celebrating 35 Years of Service: Captain John Hess, of Engine 8 and FF Hubert O'Connor of the Fire Alarm Office. Both were WWI veterans and Hess, a sergeant, was awarded a Purple Heart.
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Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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Captain Hess
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FF O'Connor
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The Hancock's Century of Service
Three generations of Hancock's have continuously served the Paterson Fire Department since February 16, 1918 - a century of service. They have transcended horse pulled apparatus, steam fire engines, and everything up to the present. Two, Edward J. and Kevin were Deputy Chiefs. This historic run ended at 101 years with the retirement of Kevin Hancock on June 1, 2019.
Chief's Aide Edward A.
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Deputy Chief Edward J.
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Deputy Chief Kevin R.
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Edward A. Hancock appointed February 16, 1918 - Engine Company 5
Died while still active September 3, 1956
Edward J. Hancock appointed February 1, 1954 - Engine Company 5
Retired March 1, 1991
Kevin R. Hancock appointed May 15, 1989 - Engine Company 6
Retired June 1, 2019
Civil Service Law
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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. |
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Gustave Vineis was appointed December 16, 1913, Richard Hickerson Hickerson March 1, 1914, William Dale and Frederick Haycock on April 1, 1914, John Lawless on June 1, 1914 and Henry Westphal on July 16, 1914. For their photos CLICK HERE
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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 |
1935: Men of Truck Company 1 A Shift:Â Captain Frank Dowdwell, E McEwan, F Dalton, P Shaw, Arsene Nunnick, F Brocco, J Kehoe
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May 17, 1948: Promoted to Director of Combustible Bureau January 1, 1950: Promoted to the rank of Battalion Chief, in charge of Combustible Bureau |
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Captain Dowdall on right
January 1, 1955: Retired
May 7, 1972: died
May 7, 1972: died
PFD Appointment Process 1925
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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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Edward A Cusack
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Signed by long-term Police and Fire Commission clerk Meyer Jaffe
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Combustibles Bureau
1957: Deputy Chief Solomon Reines doing a presentation during Fire prevention Week
Courtesy of Richard Reines
Living out of town issues
April 1964: Residency laws were enforced
The Saga of King Gambrinus
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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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Chief Harold Kane
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The hoax is solved!
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Chief's Aide Home Sturck by Bus - circa 1970
Ed Westhoven
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Home located at Trenton and Knickerbocker Avenues
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Fire Chief's Progeny
February 26, 1968: New born baby (David Scott Carroll) has two PFD Assistant Chiefs as Grandfathers: Dan Carroll and Ted Tice -
Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
Fire Department Answers Charges
~ Late 1970s:
Haycock Collection
Chief Pasquariello as Rocky Balboa
At an FMBA Ball James Pasquariello played the role of "Rocky" in a video spoof of the famous movie. Below is a picture of the chief signed by Sylvester Stallone. Fireman Pasquariello later went on to become Chief Engineer of the department.
The "Rocky" video staff
PFD Relatives
November 20, 1953: The Peppinghaus Brothers
March 23, 1967 - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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1955
March 22, 1955 - Paterson Evening News
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March 2, 1955: The following photo accompanied the abovew newspaper article highlighting 9 sets of PFD brothers. Front row L-R: William Flynn E3 appointed 1922, Captain Ray Flynn of Fire Alarm 1926; Battalion chief George (1939) and Battalion chief Rudolph Peppinghaus (1928); Battalion chief Daniel Carroll (1942) and Master Mechanic John Carroll (1936); Middle Row L-R: Captain Phil Hartley (1918) and Paul Hartly of E2 (1921); Fred Ricciardi of E1 (1949) and Nicholas Ricciardi of E12 (1942); Ray Carr chiefs aide (1942) and Frank Carr of E6 (1948); Top Row L-R: Donald of E12 (1954) and Nathan Salmanowitz of E1 (1951); William of E12 (1949) and Alfred Gallagher of T2 (1954); Eugene of E10 (1947) and Wilbur Mariani of E10 (1947).
1953 Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
The Flynn's
August 18, 1960 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
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William L Flynn
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Ray Flynn
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William M Flynn
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August 18, 1960 Paterson Evening News
April 2, 1970: PFD Brothers combos
Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison
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April 10, 2021: Story published about some of the siblings on PFD, including the first sister/brother combination Johanna and Jesus Ramirez. Siblings are not permitted to work on the same company.
F/F Johanna and Jesus Ramirez
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Captain Isaac and F/F Ralph Feliciano
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Other siblings currently on job are:
Firefighters Kelly & Charlayne Powell
Deputy Chief Alejandro Alicea and Firefighter Leandro Alicea
Captain Steve Crampton and Firefighter Frank Crampton
Captain John Howe & Captain Tyshawn Hawkins
Firefighters Ryan Graf & Michael Graf
Firefighters Nicholas & Matthew Poggi
Captain John Mauro & Captain Michael Mauro
Deputy Chief Charles Gander Jr. and Captain Thomas R Gander
Firefighters Kelly & Charlayne Powell
Deputy Chief Alejandro Alicea and Firefighter Leandro Alicea
Captain Steve Crampton and Firefighter Frank Crampton
Captain John Howe & Captain Tyshawn Hawkins
Firefighters Ryan Graf & Michael Graf
Firefighters Nicholas & Matthew Poggi
Captain John Mauro & Captain Michael Mauro
Deputy Chief Charles Gander Jr. and Captain Thomas R Gander
PFD Talent
1951: "5 Caps and a Bottle" -- Captains Joe Nardella, Meyer Cohen, Sal Madama, Thomas Schofield, Ray Thompson & firefighter Louis Rotella
June 26,1952: The 4 Alarmers - (L-R): Captain Sal Madama, Ed Ristan, George Findlow, Ernest Biggs appear on "Straw Hatters" TV show
Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
The 4 Alarmers Ed Ristan, Captain Sal Madama, George Findlow, Ernest Biggs
PFD Helping one of the Brothers
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Late 1950s: Painting of Captain Joe Bauer's house. When the captain developed a brain tumor and became disabled his fellow firefighters gathered together and painted his house located at northwest corner of North 9th Street and Haledon Avenue
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Appointment of the 1960 Chief Engineer
After the sudden death of Chief Hobart Strathearn in 1959 Chief Harold Kane
was appointed as the new chief in a controversial and disputed process. For an in-depth discussion of the events please click here.
was appointed as the new chief in a controversial and disputed process. For an in-depth discussion of the events please click here.
September 26, 1972: Captain John Elwood (future B/C) rides bicycle to work
Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison
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July 7, 1985: Retired FF Joe Mendillo wins NJ Lottery
Paterson News courtesy Dennis Mortrison
April 20, 2003: Story of Chief Mike Muccio (after leg amputation)
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April 20 Herald courtesy Dennis Morrison
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PFD AND CHRISTMAS
It was very common for firemen to fix toys for donation to needy children
December 14, 1939 - Morning Call Courtesy Dennis Morrison
Ferdinand Miller of Engine 10
Men of Truck 3 on Godwin Ave: Front to back Tommy Ingram, Ray Flynn, Angelo Contini
December 1975: PFD Community Relations A/C Al Micozzi
December 27 Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison
Xmas PFD & PPD R-L are FF Chick Mandara, Andy Babyak, Red Mosca
December 24, 2003: Xmas toy distribution
Herald courtesy Dennis Morrison
December 2014: Paterson Firefighters Association
December 12, 2016: Wayne students drop off gifts at Exempt Home on Walnut Street
December 13 Herald
PFD AND THE COMMUNITY
August 13, 1952: Charitable actions by PFD at Engine 12 on Circle Avenue
Paterson Evening New
Mid 1950s: Seated below L-R: Joe Leonard, BC Joseph Bray, & John Palonis. Standing L-R: William Bradley, William Casperson, Tommy Ottavino, Captain Michael Fleming and Ed Hancock.
June 13, 2016: PFD Bronze Heat Chapter, visits St. Joseph's Hospital
June 17 Herald
November 2016: Food drive
Not sure of the order but the picture includes Kyle Hughes, J Perez, Jim Lucci, Andrew Estrella and Christopher Dance
December 13, 2016:
December 17 Herald courtesy Dennis Morrison
June 30, 2018: 1st Annual Kerry "Spider" Rivera Bike Ride. There was also planting of a Memorial Tree this year at the rear of Fire Headquarters - Click individual photos to Enlarge and see identifications.
October 23, 2018: Pink Heals Bergen County came to Fire Headquarters to thanks PFD for supporting their Cancer drives. Click individual photos to Enlarge and see identifications. The apparatus, now painted pink, is a former PFD RD Murray 1500 GPM pumper from mid 1990s
November 2022: Annual Holiday Boot Drive
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Dispensing the toys at Exempt Home - Chief McDermott in center