Jersey City Fire Department 150th Anniversary

Today at 9 AM we celebrated the 155th Anniversary of the paid firefighting service of the Jersey City Fire Department.

There were several key reasons for the City abolishing the volunteer system, but the major events that lead to it was, during a fire that occurred at Washburn, Hunt & Co., Union Car Wheel and Tire Works (which had partially burned the night before at Morgan and Washington) Engine Company 3 was notified of the fire and the request for additional companies; however, refused to respond because the owner did not support their picnic by purchasing tickets. Another major point was the fighting (literally), in several instances firefighters were trampled, body parts run over by wheels of other companies and apparatus being crashed. At the same time the city was growing and evolving and fires were occurring so often that the system was burdensome for the volunteers.

On June 5th the Board of Fire Commissioners convened to finalize the conversion to the new paid system. The following were the results of the election of officers of the paid Jersey City Fire Department firefighting force:

Chief Engineer Henry E. Farrier
1st District Assistant Engineer William Anness
2nd District Assistant Engineer Gregory Tumulty
3rd District Assistant Engineer Thomas Leather
4th District Assistant Engineer Edward Esler
5th District Assistant Engineer William J. Howser

Inspector of Horses Allen C. Lathrop
Superintendent of Telegraph George Durant
Supply Wagon Driver Oliver Monroe
Stablemaster Headquarters P.H. Carroll
Headquarters Janitor & Clerk Charles Cook

Engine Company 1 Foreman Abraham Post Jr.
Engine Company 1 Engineer Thomas McMurray
Engine Company 1 Engine Driver Thomas Jackson, Driver of Tender Henry A. Dillon
Engine Company 1 Firemen; Stoker C. Smith, Hosemen Coyle, P.H. O’Connor, William Amsden, Daniel Wutson, John Logan, Cornl. Post, J. Green, T. Blaney, Jas Larkin, Js. Gannon, George Blakey, Louis Stono, John F. Butler, F. P. Jones. On June 7th Forman Post requested that Stono and Amsden be dropped and substitution of William H. Conway and Albert Young in their place, it was accepted and replacement made. On June 22, 1871 J. F. Butler was dropped and Wm. Lowesie added.

Engine Company 2 Foreman James B. Farrier
Engine Company 2 Engineer George W. Scudder
Engine Company 2 Engine Driver Edward McCormick, Driver of Tender Thos. Lenahan
Engine Company 2 Firemen; Stoker Thos Howe, Hosemen; Thos. Moulds, Wm. W. Farrier, T. C. Haughlin, Weber, L. Pickens, S.T. Hoyt, E. McCarthy, W.W. Brownlee, Geo. Quinn (added June 22nd)

Engine Company 3 Foreman R. C. Blackwell
Engine Company 3 Engineer James W. McCarthy Engine Company 1 Engine Driver Thomas Jackson, Driver of Tender Henry A. Dillon
Engine Company 3 Engine Driver H. A. Halsey, Driver of Tender Benjamin F. Witherell
Engine Company 3; Stoker Geo. Dingler, Hosemen; L. D. Coykeadad, G. L. Morrison, J. M. Startup, L. Quackenbush, Thos. Gaherty, M. Benjamin, F. A. Hall, E. McCarthy, Jas. Craft, dropped from the rolls on June 22, 1871 Edward McCarthy, F. A. Hall and added to rolls Wm. Sanderson, J. Perrine

Engine Company 4 Foreman Andrew Jackson
Engine Company 4 Engineer Thomas E. Wakefield
Engine Company 4 Engine Driver John Jurgens, Driver of Tender Chas. Mullikin
Engine Company 4; Stoker Matthew Bly, Hosemen; Chas. Clark, Geo. Maxim, Henry Ross, Robt. Evans, Geo. Haitick, M. O’Connor, H. Sherman, M.H. Kelsey, M. Davis, P. Voorhis, J. Ackerman, J. Gallagher, Chas. Nagle, Thos. Ramsay, Isaac Springsteen added on June 14th were Frank Elting, Chas Whitney dropped were George Maxim, Thos. Ramsay. On June 22 Robt. Evans was removed from the rolls and John Thomas was added.

Engine Company 5 Foreman John Hogan
Engine Company 5 Engineer John J. Regan
Engine Company 5 Engine Driver J.H. Dougheity, Driver of Tender Wm. Luter
Engine Company 5; Stoker T. Williams, Hosemen: T. McCarthy, T. Regan, J.H. Londer, P. Donnelly, Ang. Shopp, Owen Fagen, Geo. Smith, Wm. Tompkins, John Davis, John Donnelly, L. Kelly, J. F. Butler, The following were added to the rolls on June 14, 1871 S.C. Baldwin, Michael Clancy, Benjamin F. King, John Hays, Alfred McCarthy dropped was Thos. Regan

Engine Company 6 Foreman Dennis McLaughlin
Engine Company 6 Engineer Thomas Keogh
Engine Company 6 Engine Driver Thos. Andrews, Driver of Tender Moses Conklin
Engine Company 6; Stoker Chas. Carroll, Hosemen; Geo. Adams, G.C. Crummeuneau, E. Suffolk, Jacob Raab, M. Battersby, W.J. Moffitt, C.M. Hughes, M. Hughes, S. Conklin, J. Woalf, J. Byrne, R. Smith, Wm. Eagan, Wm. Boyle, P. Lincoln

Engine Company 7 Foreman Benjamin Halleck ( Halleck had petitioned the Board to be the Foreman of Engine 8 but Gedney Isley originally elected Foreman of Engine 7, declined position and Halleck put in his place)
Engine Company 7 Engineer James Varley
Engine Company 7; Stoker , Hosemen; Geo. Kuhn Even, J. Rogers, Thos. Voughan

Engine Company 8 Foreman Martin May
Engine Company 8 Engineer Lawrence Covenhouven
Engine Company 8; Hosemen, E.J. Trotter, J. Campbell, T.K. McKee, P. Sully, J. Barnes, A. Maturin, T. Sullivan, M. Mulligan, G. Maturin, Kaddie, G. W. H. Rodgers, G. Calmont, W. Ribble, F. Scheid, J. O’Donnell (all the Hosemen resigned from this company on June 14, 1871 and the following were hired: Hosemen; William Thwaits, J. Vonderschmidt, Jas. Newcomb, V. A. Stringham, Ed. Benson, Frederick Ebin, John Vale, Senj. Vale, Richard Peer, F. Randolph, C. Koelble, Richard Van Riper, John Grady and John White. On June 22nd J. Vonderschmidt and J. White removed from rolls and added were Enos A. Pyle, Emil D. Stockman.

Engine Company 9 Foreman Thomas D. Mills
Engine Company 9 Engineer Walter B. Garney
Engine Company 9; Hosemen, J. H. Morehouse, W. H. Tice, A. P. Bast, J. M. Park, V. D. Keffe, D. Dennstoan, Jos. Hill, Geo. Cawwill, Edward Jones, W. Ryne, W. Snort, S. Snoody, C.W. Smith, G. Smith, Jas. Watlace (June 14, 1871) dropped from rolls were Edward Jones

Engine Company 10 Foreman Andrew J. Martin
Engine Company 10 Engineer John C. Smith
Engine Company 10 Engine Driver Abm. P. Monroe, Driver of Tender Jos. Vile
Engine Company 10; Stoker, W.A. Lovell, Hosemen; J. Arbuckle, J. H. Westervelt, P. Ritschee, Watkins, E. M. Curtis, J. K . Hiller, G. V. Brinkerhoff, M. Simmons, E.S. Allison, J. McDougall, J. U. Cable, W. A. Kimball, C. C. Humphries, E. Fowler (Wm. Case June 14, 1871)

Engine Company 11 Foreman L.L. McDonald
Engine Company 11; Hosemen; J. F. Hill, F.R. Gydor, F.W. Heritage, T. Dorsey, J. Hawkins, T. Sairlaw, R. R. Conover, S. S. Conover, G. Martin, Geo. E. Eibley, T. G. Hollman, J.W. Bell, H. Webster, F. Hotbrow, F.T. Mogridge, W. Hyde, J. Laurie, A. Snippard, J.E. Stephens, J. Glasier, M. V. B. Clark, A. Bore, J. Mogridge, Campbell, T. Horwell, H. Cline, J. H. Hearn, J. B. Scott, J. A. Wolfe, A. Bromstock, T. Crow, W. B. McDonald, H. Eirle, H. Sell
Engine 11 was established as a hand engine

Engine Company 12 Foreman Philip Kaiser
Engine Company 12 Hosemen; H. Brintigan, J. Pfirr, A. Tebbenhoff, A. Stroessner, C. Heine, C.S. Kenaerman, Geo. Scaate, E. Nile, H. Brachel, M. Fox, W. Van Oagan, P. Adams, Geo. Kreiner, J. L. Kuhlbach, C. Off, Geo. Fleck, C. Helms, H. Albers, M. Von Grieff, Wm. Morgan, Ed Blume, F. Herben, H. Raisted, E. Wilcke, W. J. Meyer, D. Lutter, A. R. Sithe, H. Suhtell, added on June 14th 1871 were Henry Goeffinger, Joseph Burger, Wm. Parker, C. Schmidmachtee, dropped from the rolls were E. Wilcke
Engine 12 Established as a hand engine

Engine Company 13 Foreman William Sharpe
Engine Company 13 Hosemen; T. Tashien, Thos. Morgan, A. Burchait, S. Lafarge, E. Steuart, J. Smith, S. Kesler, J. Christie, G. Sonkle, G. Stout, C. Bodicker, W. Sland, P. Turber, J. Gehard, F. Lorenz, C.W. Spellmeyer, Y. L. Kelte, B. Jordan, P. Van Thadeuis, B. Welsh, H. Charles, C. Anderson, C. Melell, Thos. Magdre
Engine 13 established as a hand engine.

Truck Company 1 Foreman Chas. H. Scott
Truck Company 1 Driver Samuel L. Eaton, Tillerman William J. Cox (replaced on June 8th with William McGowan)
Truck Company 1 Truckmen; H. H. Farrier, Geo. Wright, Chas Foster, Geo. Fraser, J.L. Hughes, W.H. Neht. J. McLaughlin, H. Crawford, Wm. Ktein, J. Prell, O. McCarthy, Wm.Consit, F.T. Farrier, J. O’Brien, B. Murphy

Truck Company 2 Foreman George Denver
Truck Company 2 Driver Edward Dingler, Tillerman Daniel W. Fraser
Truck Company 2 Truckmen; John T. Denmead, John C. Lawrence, Walt. Jackman, John Brill, T.A. L’Hommetiue, Wm. H. Crue, James Riddle, Henry Smith, Chas. Jobes, J. W. Knapp, Clav. Tillman, Edw. Snyder, Alex. Henderson, Wm. L. Shopp, Alex Evans, added on June 14, 1871 were Daniel Garvin, Wm. Talbot, M.D. Tilden, dropped from the rolls were Wm. H. Crue and Henry Smith Jr.

Truck Company 3 Foreman Edwin Sharp
Truck Company 3 Driver William Smith, Tillerman John Moran
Truck Company 3 Truckmen; Jos. DeTemple, John J. Clark, Geo. Murphy, C. Kahrhoff, Wm. Kravner, Geo. Sharp, Thos. Coffy, Thos. Nortan, Edwd Quinn, Joan C. Martin, Thos. Toner, Henry Glade, M. D. Benjamin, Jas. Paterson, John Worcendyke, on June 22 Jos. DeTemple, and M. D. Benjamin were dropped from the rolls and added were Jas H. Jollie, Edward Payne, Geo. W. Yoe

Truck Company 4 Foreman John Engle
Truck Company 4 Driver J. R. Heritage, Tillerman John W. Fenton
Truck Company 4 Truckmen; Walt. Rodgers, J.M. Steele, Thos. Wood, Jas. Meade, T. Hennessy, John Call., John Eaton, N. Waiters, Finneran, Jas. Pendergast, W. Schumn, E.D. Lowe

Truck Company 5 Foreman R.W.B. Welsh
Truck Company 5 Truckmen; Jos. Wycks, Fred. Ehret, D. Gainson, J. Mathews, C. Westervelt, Geo. Sipp, S. Hopper, G. Ebberly, A. Jones, E. Jones, T Eben, Wm. Plarey

(please note that some of the spellings may be off, often names were printed incorrectly or misspelled)

Engine Companies ;14, 15, Hose Companies; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 as well as Ladder Companies; 5, 6, 8 were all abolished.

On June 9, 1871 a fire occurred at Columbia street (near Ocean Ave close to the firehouse of Hose Company 9, at this point empty), the fire was quickly extinguished and little damage was done. The fire was to be believed to be arson.

During the June 22, 1871 Board of Fire Commissioners meeting the board realized there was a gap in protection and the committee decided to establish an additional Engine Company as Engine Company 14. Since no engines were available it was decided to purchase the old hand engine from the Jersey City Volunteer Engine 11. The new Engine Company would be established in Claremont Hose Company 9 Hose House on Ege near Ocean and the members of the company assigned were;
Engine Company 14 Foreman G. W. Daumont
Engine Company 14 Hosemen; C.V. Martine, A.G. Smith, John Daumont, C.C. Turnbull, S. Haff, J.E. Heywood, Jos. B. Dattleman, George F. Kernarban, S. T. Keese, J. H. Henderson, D.T. Burnstee, E.A. Hutchinson, James Reid, John Reid, W. A. Turnbull, G. W. Green, W. J. Tait and B. W. C. Carpenter

The Commissioners also set in place that beginning on June 12, 1871 between 6 and 7 A.M. all drivers of apparatus exercise the horses daily. Each evening between 5 and 6 P.M. a series of 5 rounds of bell strikes from different boxes (except Sundays). Testing of boxes would begin with Box 4 and go in numerical order and Engineers notify the Superintendent of Telegraph with any issues. In addition on June 8th the Board set up that all apparatus no longer in use by the Jersey City Fire Department be sold, shortly after several local companies purchased apparatus with 2 ladders being sold to the Hackensack Fire Department (founded April 1, 1871) and they became Bergen Hook & Ladder 1 and Relief Hook & Ladder 2. Clark Thread Works (factory still there) in Newark, N.J. purchase a hose carriage for their plant and Neptune Hose Company of Staten Island, NY also purchased a hose carriage.

Respectfully Submitted
Mike Somma
Engine 9 C