February 14, 1953 Wire Corporation
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On a windy day, Station 436 was sounded at 2:02 PM for a blast and fire at the block long building of the Wire Corporation of America Factory located at 264-274 21st Ave (at intersection of Beech Streets extending towards Summer St & Beckwith Ave) in the Sandy Hill Section of the city. Radiant heat ignited several nearby homes and automobiles on Beech Street culminating in a general alarm assignment
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Early map: Clay Street became 21st Avenue
Tiller Side of Truck 1 Ahrens Fox aerial
FF Gustave Vineis of Truck 2
Fire Chief Strathearn in Command
February 6 Morning Call
Captain Joseph Dayspring of Engine Company 1 (Acting Battalion Chief)
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Engine Company 4 Ahrens Fox
The newspaper photo below shows the Ahrens Fox Pumper of Engine Company 4. Standing next to the apparatus is a helmetless Captain Joseph Dayspring of Engine Company 1 (that day serving as Acting Battalion Chief). Off to the side on the left (with fedora) is an unidentified retired Paterson Fireman (former Chief's Aide)
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Truck Company 1 (1929 85' Ahrens Fox)
February 14, 1953: Clip from Fire Engineering Magazine
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Here is an anecdotal story told by Angelo Contini driver of Truck Company 3 (responding from Godwin Ave quarters). As T3 (as the third truck to the General alarm) are responding down Summer Street he and the Captain see no column of smoke, no nothing. What is going on? General alarm & neither see nothing!!! Well.... he pulls into the intersection of 21st Avenue & Summer St. and Holy @#$%!!!!!!. Everything is on fire, mill, houses, cars, even the street. The heat is so bad that the captain orders him to backup out of the intersection.
Telephone Company Bulletin
February 16, 1953: Paterson Evening News
Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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February 16, 1953: Morning Call
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