RIVERSIDE (Lafayette Street)

RIVERSIDE / EASTSIDE FIREHOUSE
236 Lafayette Street

CURRENT OCCUPANTS: Engine Company 5, Ladder 3, Battalion 2, Ambulance 95

July 14, 1961: Paterson Evening News announcement of a firehouse to be built at Lafayette and York (East 16th) Streets

Courtesy Dennis Morrison

The Riverside Firehouse located at 236 Lafayette Street opened on August 29 of 1962. Engine Company 3 and Truck Company 3 relocated there from 12th Avenue and Godwin Avenue Firehouses respectively. The third Battalion also locates here.

Early photo

September 8, 1962: Official dedication

Published September 10, 1962 - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

Courtesy Dennis Morrison

Late 1970s

Somewhere along the way, the name EASTSIDE was dropped

Wall in front of station has memorial plaques to Captain Frank Mancinelli and "Chief" the Fire Dog

Chronological Listing of the Apparatus at Riverside Firehouse

August 29, 1962: Engine Company 3 used the 1957 FWD Special 1000 GPM pumper it had while at 12th Avenue Firehouse.

Courtesy Parkin Family

Truck Company 3 used used the aerial it had at the Godwin Ave location, a 1954 FWD Tractor (Serial # 8041) attached to a rebuilt 1931 Ahrens Fox Aerial (#2059).

October 1963: Truck Company 3 apparatus totally destroyed at the Franklin Street Finishing Corporation General Alarm fire

October 22, 1964: Engine 3 collides with Metzler ambulance

R Salmanowitz/A Natoli Collection

February 12, 1965: New ALF Aerochief Snorkel arrives

Morning Call - Courtesy dennis Morrison

March 6, 1965: 9:40 am - New American LaFrance 90' AeroChief Snorkel enters service. Below is entry on inside cover of T3 journal

Note plywood riot roof installed 1968

Courtesy Rich Platt

Seen here as a spare at Hillcrest Firehouse

1967 Third Battalion: Deputy Chief Jessie McCavitt, Deputy Chief Wilbert Mariani. Chief's Aides Tommy Waterson, Richard Tullo, John Maccanico at Riverside FH

1967: Third Battalion Chief Aides John Mauro, Joseph Ranieri, Deputy Chief Joseph R. Cucci, Deputy Chief Salvatore Madama. 1964 Chevrolet

Courtesy J Behnke & Sellitto Family

1967 Men of Engine Company 3: Front: L-R: Louis Ponstingel, Ralph DiGuglielmo, Captain Harry Huber, Captain Albert Horomanski. On apparatus John F. Kerr, Stephen J. Sarappo, Terrence Pelligrino, Vincent DeStefano.

Below: L-R: Alvin G. Cooper, Joseph Parkin, Edward Cusack, Thomas Nicolazzo, Captain Ernest Biggs, Captain Alphonse Iandoli and Dalmatian. On top Edward Occhipinti, Edward Banta and John Brower.

Below: Men of Truck 3 with AeroChief Snorkel: Captain Cornelius Vander Linden, Captain Daniel Dowd, Fiore Malzone, John Bachetti, Thomas W. Hannenburg. On top at left Alexander Kidd and William McCabe on right.

Below: Men of Truck 3 with AeroChief Snorkel: L-R: Captain J Feeney, Captain Joseph Nardella, Frank Mancinelli, Robert C. Wagner, Douglas Sidney. On top: William R. Shortway, Thomas Kosman, Alfonso Francavilla, John Platt, Rodney A. Sasso.

October 28, 1968: Engine Company 3's FWD at a 12th Avenue 4 alarm fire (riot roof installed during 1968)

Hancock Collection

June 30, 1969: 1969 Seagrave 1250 GPM pumper (Serial R4477)

Engine 3 Serial R4477

June 14, 1971: New 1971 Hahn 1250 GPM pumper (Serial # HC523127122) shown in the parking lot next to the firehouse.

L-R: Leo Shearn, Captain Ernie Biggs and RobertGatto

E3 Hahn pumper with Captain Ernie Biggs and Assistant Chief William Comer

1971 photo of Riverside with 1971 Hahn pumper (E3) and 1965 Aerochief Snorkel (T3) and car 73

1971 Photo of Engine Company 3 1971 Hahn and Truck 3 at the time using a spare aerial:
1954 FWD cab and 52 FWD Trailer.

Photo taken by T Dayspring

Truck 3 with the 1954 FWD cab and 52 FWD Trailer. Parked as a spare at Lakeview Firehouse in the following 2 photos.

After going out of service the above FWD Aerial (photo from its active service days in Paterson) was bought by a dentist in Buffalo, NY and restored (see below)

June 28, 1975: 1969 Seagrave 100' Aerial (serial # R4475), formerly used by Truck 2.

January 27, 1978: New American LaFrance 1250 GPM pumper painted yellow (Serial # CE 175678). Shown at Riverside with Truck 3 and below later in its career at Lakeview Firehouse.

April 1978: Fulton Street Fire Click Here

Ron Jeffers Photo

1979: Retirement of Captain Henry Huber: Engine Company 3 (Tour 3) at Riverside - Kneeling L-R: James Pasquariello, Robert Santee, John Quant. Standing L-R Louie Ponstingel, Captain Harry Huber (E3), Tom Hanenberg, John Plant & Captain T3 Dennis Diguglielmo. In the bay is Engine 3 ALF pumper and at left Truck 3 Seagrave aerial

Courtesy Thomas Hanenberg

Photos below courtesy Ron Huber

D/C Ed McLaughlin

Captain Harry Huber (E3 and Dennis DiGuglielmo (T3) - Note apparatus dedication plaque to FF Ralph DiGuglielmo on E3

James Pasquariello, Captain Dennis DiGuglielmo, Robert Santee, John Platt and Captain Huber

L-R: Frank Quant, Captain Huber, Louis Ponstingel, Thomas Hannenverg

L-R: Thomas Hannenberg, Captain Huber, Frank Quant, Louis Ponstingel

Kitchen at Riverside FH - Left side front to back: Captain Hubrer, Louis Ponstingel, John Quant, D/C Ed McLaughlin. Right side, front to back: Robert Santee, Capatin Dennis DiGuglielmo, John Platt, Jimmy Pasquariello (future Chief of Department), Thomas Hannenberg

November 18, 1980 - Engine Company 3 involved in accident at Madison and 11th Avenues while responding to a fire on East 29th Street and 10th Avenue. A backup company was dispatched. Captain was Vinny Frey (his first day) and driver FF Dave Haycock.

Lou Tunno photo

1983: The 1969 Seagrave aerial is painted white

September 3, 1982: Company Renumbering: (see order on Overview Page) Engine Company 3 relocates to the Lakeview Firehouse at 125 Trenton Avenue. Engine Company 10 (with its 1975 Hahn pumper) relocates from Madison Avenue to Riverside Firehouse.

There was no change in the numbering or location of Truck 3.

October 1982: Engine Company 10 receives a different yellow 1975 Hahn 1250 GPM pumper (Serial # HCP528127624) formerly used by Engine Companies 1 and 6.

Engine Company 10 in foreground, E6 to the rear

June 1983: Engine 10 receives the 1977 American LaFrance 1250 GPM pumper (Serial (CE175678) now painted white.

1250 GPM pumper (Serial (CE175678)

E10 1977 ALF CE175678 (Hancock Collection)

December 3, 1984: Engine Company 10 is renamed Engine Company 5 at the Riverside Firehouse and switches to a 1979 American LaFrance 1250 GPM Telesquirt (55' retrofitted Water Tower) conversion (Serial # CE6620) painted white. Had a 300 gallon tank. It is shown below parked at the Madison Avenue Firehouse.

1979 ALF - Serial # CE6620

Lewis Kelter Jr photo (Anthony Natoli Collection)

April 1985: A 1971 Hahn pumper being used as a spare by Engine Company 5

1988: Ladder 3 used the 1975 Pirsch aerial which was painted white

June 28, 1988: Engine 5 1987 Thibault Telesquirt - 1250/500/55

In 1989, the 1975 Pirsch aerial that Ladder 3 was using ended its career (see photo below) when the tractor collapsed at Governor and East 18th Streets. Ladder 3 was on inspection when the box came in. EMS reported a working fire on Broadway. Steve Hatfield was the driver, Joe Murray, (the elder) was the captain & Lynn Tolbert was the tiller. See the Notable Events page for further discussion

Rebuilt 1962 Pirsch went into service as Truck Company 3

1989 photo: Engine 5 Thibault Telesquirt seen at Madison Ave Firehouse and then Riverside Firehouse

Department Reorganization: 1990s - No changes at Riverside

1994: Ladder 3 was the first tractor that E-One (Spartan gladiator chassis) had built and then it was mated it to a Stuphen tiller (painted white). The tiller had been built previously for someone else and not used. To save time with the build it was purchased put together at E-One then shipped to Paterson. VIN # 4S7AT9D07RC015518 - NJ plate MG 12292

1995 100th Anniversary Parade

Courtesy Armindo Cortez

Circa 1997: (L-R) FF Alton Dickson (later a Captain), FF Sean Burns (later a Captain), Captain John Quant, FF Matt Ganci (later a Captain), FF Brian McDermott (later the Chief Engineer)

2005: New Ladder 3, an E-One mid-mount aerial with tiller painted red parked on East 16th Street across from Firehouse.

1998: Engine 5 receives a new Emergency One RD Murray Spartan 1500 GPM pumper painted white

Circa 2000 group Tour 2 in front of Engine 5 photo: Standing L-R: Mike Marini, Don Langevin, Alton Dickson, Captain Bruce Vandervoort, Captain Joe Saia. Bottom row kneeling L-R: Joe Henderson, Vic Frierson, Captain John Quant, Sean Burns. Deputy Chief Norman Morley

M. Pelta photo

September 2001: Engine 5 at World Trade Center

September 23, 2000: E5 at 12th Avenue Fire

2005: New Ladder 3, an E-One mid-mount aerial with tiller - painted red parked on East 16th Street across from Firehouse.

2005: Ladder 3 receives plaque dedicated to Chief James Pasquariello

Plaque added to L3 in 2004

2006: Engine 5 receives a new E-One 1500 GPM Pumper painted red seen below at fire scene.

December 6, 2008: Marshall Street

BTF photo

2015: Floor Markings at Riverside Firehouse

2015: Photos of Ladder 3 (a 2005 E-One tiller)

Peter Danzo Photo

December 2015 Walnut Street fire

December 2015: E5 receives a new 2015 Pierce Arrow XT 1500 GPM pumper courtesy of Ron Bombaro photos

February 16, 2016: 20th Avenue working fire. Engine 5 and Ladder 3 (Ron Bombaro photos)

Ladder 3 - February 2016 20th Avenue fire scene

Feb 2016 E 37th St 2nd Alarm

March 30 2016: Engine 5 at Pacific Street second alarm

September 21, 2016: Ron Bombaro Video of Engine 5 and Ladder 3 responding down 11th Avenue

November 16, 2016: Junkyard fire at 201 Presidential Boulevard

Ron Bombaro photo

November 25, 2016: Ladder3 and Engine 5 exiting Riverside Firehouse. Ron Bombaro video

December 8, 2016: Ladder 3 responding out of the Riversdie Firehouse

December 15, 2016: E5 in its bay at Riverside FH

Dayspring Photo

January 10, 2017: Market Street fire scene

Peter Danzo Photo

April 2017: Engine 5 and Ladder 3 responding on McLean Boulevard during traffic! A Michael Saggau Jr. video

April 2017: Pierce Arrow XT 100' tillered aerial (job #30114) about to leave Wisconsin factory for delivery to Paterson where it will serve as Ladder 3

May 25, 2017: Delivery day to Paterson (more delivery photos at McBride Avenue Firehouse)

First Responder Newspaper August 2017

June 2017: L-R: Captain Scott Farrar, FF P Kenney, F DeFranncesco, K Lewis and A Mingione with new Pierce tiller

First Responder Newspaper August 2017

June 30, 2017: New Pierce Arrow XT Aerial enters service at Ladder 3. It's first run was at 1815 Hrs. for Incident # 173079 for an activated fire alarm (due to unattended cooking) at 100 Butler Street

July 6, 2017: # 173177 @1540m Hrs 653 East 26th Street Tour 1 Working 1 alarm fire
2.5 story wood frame dwelling. L3 in front

Working Fire July 6 2017 East 26th Street -- Ron Bombaro Photo

October 31, 2017: 3rd alarm at 39 Auburn Street - E5 & Ladder 3 in action

Peter Danzo Photo

Bill Tompkins Photo

Peter Danzo Photo

December 28, 2017: Riverside Firehouse (T. Dayspring photos)

Ladder 3, Engine 5, Car 51

Engine 5, Ladder 3

Ladder 3, Car 51, Engine 5

Tour 1 - Sitting on wall: FF Joseph Lax, FF Frank Lozada, FF Omar Gayle. Standing L-R: FF Jeffery Santos, Captain Ascary Rios, FF Dan Daly, Captain Jaime Garced, FF Mathew Poggi, FF Ryan Fender, FF Carlos E. Pagan, FF Joshua Lopez, FF Frank Crampton.

December 28, 2017: Ladder 3 Pierce arrow XT 100' tillered (T. Dayspring Photos)

Ladder 3 Tour 1 - Standing L-R: FF Mathew Poggi, Andrew Bryant, Captain Ascary Rios, FF Carlos E. Pagan, FF Dan Daly (Driver) , FF Ryan Fender (Tillerman). Front row L-R: FF Frank Lozada, FF Joseph Lax

Ladder 3 Tour 1 - Standing L-R: FF Mathew Poggi, Andrew Bryant, Captain Ascary Rios, FF Carlos E. Pagan, FF Dan Daly (Driver), FF Ryan Fender (Tillerman). Front row L-R: FF Frank Lozada, FF Joseph Lax

Backing into bay

FF Ryan Fender climbing into tiller seat

FF Ryan Fender tillering

December 28, 2017 Engine 5 (T. Dayspring Photos)

Backing into bay

Backing into bay - FF Omar Gayle driving

L-R: Captain Jaime Garced, FF Omar Gayle, FF Frank Crampton, FF Joshua Lopez, FF Jeffery Santos

FF Omar Gayle

December 28, 2017 Ambulance 95 (T. Dayspring Photos)

January 17, 2018: 3rd alarm fire at 571 East 25th Street Ladder 3

Peter Danzo photo

January 24, 2018: Battalion 2, Engine 5 and Ladder 3 responding from Riverside Firehouse (Skyler Jordan Woodhead video)

March 14, 2018 Riverside Firehouse response Ron Bombaro photo

May 7, 2018: 1 alarm fire on Seeley Street

Bill Tompkins photo

September 2018: New Riverside Firehouse logo - For Engine 5, Ladder 3, Battalion 2 and Ambulance 95 - modeled after El Sapo Azul, a long-time ceramic fixture at Riverside FH. Designed by E5 Probationary FF Devin McGowan.

October 2, 2018: 757 East 27th Street second alarm

Engine 5 - Bill Tompkins photo

Spare Ladder 3 - Bill Tompkins photo

October 14, 2018: Family Day in Paterson at Lautenberg School

Bob Connell photo

December 27, 2018: Riverside FH

Kitchen floor

Dayspring Photos

Ladder 3, Engine 5 and Battalion 2 - Vince Marchese photo

At left is Ladder 3: Auxiliary FF Andrew Bryant, FF Frank Crampton Jr., Captain Scotty Rios, FF Joe Lax, FF Dan Daly and FF Carlos Pagan Jr. At right is Engine 5: Jeffrey Santos, FF Elvin Paulino, FF Josh Lopez, FF Ruben Pena and Captain Jamie Garced