QUACKENBUSH WAREHOUSE
General Alarm - March 12, 1938
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The greatest tragedy in department history occurred on March 11, 1938 at a 4 alarm fire at the Quackenbush warehouse. Station 474 was sounded at 1:58 PM. The flames gutted the building and long after the fire was well under control, Deputy Chief Sweeney and four men from Engine Company 5 Captain William Devenport and firemen Louis Rodesky, William Lynch, Matthew O'Neill) made the Supreme Sacrifice when the walls of the building collapsed on them. At the time the wall collapsed, the firemen were devising a means to to pull it down because they knew it was in danger of falling. The only survivors from Engine 5 were fireman Thomas Schofield who was in the alley picking up
hose and driver and engineer Ralph Miller |
Aerial view
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who was maintaining the pumps at the Ahrens Fox engine (#3401). A never to be forgotten scene took place when driver Miller had to return the apparatus to Headquarters alone. As he stepped from the Engine he was met by Chief Engineer Coyle. Miller stood at attention and announced "Number 5 returning back to quarters." The Chief bowed his head and wept. Miller cried, "I'm all alone, Chief."
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The 1931 Ahrens Fox pumper (register #3401) used by Engine Company 5 at the fire (here shown later in its career as E3)
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Truck 2 1932 Ahrens Fox on Prospect Street (Natoli Collection)
Truck 2 Ahrens Fox with raised aerial at scene
Truck Co 2 (Ahrens Fox) on Prospect Street side of building
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Truck Company 2 and men with high Eagle Helmets typical of the era
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Truck 3 aerial on Prospect Street after the collapse (Anthony Natoli collection)
Series of photos showing streams from a Van Houten Street building rooftop
Anthony Natoli Collection
Anthony Natloli collection
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Anthony Natloli collection
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PATERSON EVENING NEWS MASSIVE HEADLINE
An extra edition was published the evening of the fire
March 12, Paterson Evening News - Dayspring Collection
Courtesy Dennis Morrison
March 14 Morning Call Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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The arrow below points to the upper floors before the collapse
(Anthony Natoli Collection)
Below is the site where the wall collapsed and the firemen died: note Engine 5 helmet at the left border. The hose the firemen were using is seen in
the rubble still releasing water
the rubble still releasing water
(Anthony Natoli Collection)
March 14 newspaper photo - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
Wall that collapsed (Anthony Natoli collection)
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Anthony Natoli collection
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Below: In this scene of brick and lumbar Chief Sweeny’s horribly crushed body was taken while the recovery of his his four companions were dug from the ruins nearby. The large intact section of brick shown left center had to be moved before rescuers could reach the chief.
March 14, 1938 News photo = Courtesy Dennis Morrison
May 1938: The following 2 pages are an article from the May 1938 issue of Fire Engineering and detail what happened on the March 12.
The following photos are are courtesy of the Anthony Natoli Collection
Crowd viewing the fire - Van Houten and Prospect Streets. Rear of Ahrens Fox pumper at left
Fire at its height
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Ellison Street side of the fire
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Furman Street (alley)
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Furman Street view
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Men of Engine 9 (at right) and ? company at left on Furman Street Garage roof
Firemen on fire escape on Carpenters Hall on Van Houtent St
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View from a Main Street rooftop (old Orpheum theater in foreground
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Ambulance physician treating someone at the scene
1936 Ball Book photo showing 4 of the FF who died and 2 who survived (Schofield and Miller)
1953 Morning Call Clip describing the FF manpower of Engine 5 at Quackenbush fire
Courtesy Dennis Morrison
March 14, 1938 - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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The death of the firemen led to the creation of the Fireman's Monument first located at the Post Office Plaza in downtown Paterson and later moved to the Hillcrest Firehouse
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A Bravery in Action Medal was presented to the families of all of the killed in action firemen by the Paterson Evening News. The one at right was for Louis Rodesky (photo courtesy of his relative Harry Miller). |
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September 1, 1938 Mayor's Day Festivities
March 12, 2021 - PFD performed a Signal 5-5-5-5 Radio Remembrance of the Quackenbush LODD firefighters
