History of the Early Englewood Fire Houses Dr. Michael J Passow and Erik S. Enersen, Chief of the Englewood Fire Department
Englewood originally stretched from the Hudson to the Hackensack Northern Railroad (est. 1859) was focus of Township Much of the population was centered around the downtown Large estates on the East Hill and what became Teaneck and Englewood Cliffs
Early efforts: Bucket brigades Early fire-fighting depended on human-power to fight blazes using bucket-brigades. Lines of local residents drew upon wells, streams, cisterns, and other unreliable sources of water. Fires were frequent in a time when wood-burning was the main energy source.
The Protection Society of Hackensack Townships incorporated February 1869 31 members -- the greater part of the ablebodied male residents of Englewood Township (included Teaneck and Englewood Cliffs) Purpose: the maintenance of order and the protection of property (both Police and Fire) Active members always subject to call for service other than apprehending thieves because Englewood had no fire department
Palisades Mountain House Located atop the Palisades approximately where St. Peters College now stands Famous summer resort built in early 1870s Burned down in 1884 http://www.njpalisades.org/firemountain.html
A reliable source of water 1886 -- Hackensack Water Company completed the laying of large mains to Englewood Supplied the township with an abundance of pure water, drawn from the upper sources of the Hackensack Filtered at the reservoir and pumping station at New Milford.
First fire hydrants A committee of citizens presented a petition to the township committee to rent 45 hydrants from the Water Company and have them placed in selected locations Petition granted and contract made for three years at $15 per year.
First hose company Proposed October 1887, by a number of citizens, among them Donald Mackay (Mayor 1906-1909 and volunteer firefighter in Brooklyn before moving to Englewood) Application drawn up to call a special meeting to vote an appropriation of not more than $2,000, to establish and equip a hose company. Proposition carried at the November election. Township committee granted firemen permission to spend $1,000 of the appropriation for hose, provided the sums were advanced by some citizen Mr. Brinckerhoff advanced the money Township committee ordered the hose, to be delivered within a few days
The Athenenaeum One of the Grandest Building in Englewood Northwest corner of Palisade Avenue & Engle streets Brick structure, three stories high, with a mansard roof 75 feet square one of largest in Town Stores on the ground floor, offices on upper stories Small entrance lobby on the Engle St. with stairs leading to the auditorium 2nd floor-- seating capacity of 800 Opened c. 1871 with a grand concert.
Athenaeum burned down before hoses delivered Shortly before the hoses were to be delivered, fire broke out--hydrants and water, but no hose. Destroyed. Springer s hardware store and Mrs. Chamberlain s dry goods establishment merchandise saved. The mails saved from the post office in the southeast comer of the building, but records lost Adjacent buildings saved by a bucket brigade, which poured water on their roofs. Donald Mackay, as a former Brooklyn volunteer fireman, directed efforts of the workers. Boys of Smith s School, also occupants of the Athenaeum, had a holiday -- nothing left of the building where school was located except outside walls.
W.W. Phelps The Grange One of the most prominent residences in Englewood Township in the 1880s 300 feet long! Congressman W.W. Phelps amassed world-class art collection Planted more than 600,000 trees https://archive.teanecklibrary.org/phelps/album/picture28.jpg
Burned in 1888 Ruins major attraction for years https://archive.teanecklibrary.org/phelps/album/picture26.jpg
1889 Englewood Fire Association Jacob Taylor, foreman, and Charles C. Townsend, assistant foreman (most likely equated with chief and deputy chief) Englewood Fire Association had firehouse on Van Brunt Street with a tower and a bell. Hose cart and fire truck, both horse-drawn When a fire broke out, horses were quickly brought from the foreman s nearby livery stable
First firehouse: North Van Brunt (approximately where Bergen PAC now sits)
Englewood Fire Association s plus-and-minuses Plenty of esprit de corps, but best of will and strongest muscles were hindered by the physical conditions to which Englewood was subject. With an icy hill to negotiate on a winter night, company found promptness virtually impossible, no matter how the horses were lashed
1895 City of Englewood established Mayor Currie presented first message, reviewing status of City s finance, health, and fire protection. Recommended election of a fire chief and establishment of a fire alarm system. Gamewell Fire Alarm Telegraph Co. formed in 1879 Gamewell systems installed in 250 cities by 1886 and 500 cities in 1890 During 1897, Gamewell firealarm system was ordered installed.
Telegraph alarm boxes and associated networks Able to operate under severe conditions (such as a lengthy or widespread power outage, natural disaster, or other emergency causing many people to attempt to contact others simultaneously) Better than other communication systems such as landline phones, cellular phones, and emergency services' radio systems Remained in service for nearly one hundred years Ultimately removed from service in the 1990 s
Also in 1897, Council noted that when fires occurred on the hill the speed of the hook and ladder truck was lessened by the number of men riding upgrade New rule set a limit of two men on truck Chief authorized to send the rest by express through hiring of an express wagon. (Note: Representative, but not from Englewood)
1900 Bonding ordinance to build firehouse Ground broken on May 19 th for building at 46 W. Palisade Avenue Central fire station of the city. When plans for the building under consideration, Elbert A Brinckerhoff, who was elected mayor in 1899, objected to what he deemed to be structural weaknesses
Council gave no heed to his protests but went ahead When opening of firehouse was being celebrated by a parade, with visiting fire companies and a collation on the premises, mayor had the last laugh: As head of police department, he placed an officer at the foot of the stairs and no one was permitted to inspect the upper floor, the mayor deeming it unsafe for a crowd. Mayor was entirely right -- building had to be strengthened within three years
First mechanized vehicle
Fire Houses #2 and 3 1902 -- Ordinance drawn for $15,000 to build firehouses at the Nordhoff and Highwood sections of the city ($4,500 each), and to strengthen firehouse number one Plans and specifications of Davis and Shepard for firehouses at Nordhoff and Highwood were accepted by the council Charles J. Stagg was successful bidder and received contract for erecting the houses City purchased four fire horses for $850. The biggest of the lot was named Dan (ambiguously for the mayor or president of the council.) First fire horses owned by the city.
Fire Association# 3 -Nordhoff
Also in 1903 Appointment of an inspector of the fire department at a salary of $100 a year. Fire Association company 4, organized on the hill Installation of a hose reel on property of E.P. Coe, east of Woodland Street and north of Palisade Avenue http://www.dakotapaul.com/items/showitem.asp?iid=2617
1906 Privileges for Exempt firefighters ruled unconstitutional City could no longer provide exemption from some taxes Plans drawn for paid firefighters Council would appoint Chief and Assistant, instead of allowing Fire Associations to select their own leaders Limited numbers to 30 in Association #1, 15 in the others
1911 Fire severely damaged Bergen Building Corner of Engle and Bergen St. Home for Bergen County Gas & Electric, sewerage company, telephone company, and Palisades Trust & Guarantee High winds, low water pressure, and loss of phone service to alert other departments
1911 LaFrance Fire Engine purchased Councilman William Conklin suggested establishing a paid department, but no action taken until 1912
1912 Paid Fire Department established First act of Mayor Vernon Munroe provided for the organization of paid department with a chief, lieutenant, drivers, and privates. Board of fire examiners was created to pass upon applicants for this department. Firemen s salaries fixed as Chief, $1,020; lieutenant and drivers, $840; privates, $780. Emil Ruch was appointed chief, Thomas Markham, lieutenant, with six privates under them. First Fire Chief Emil Ruch
End of the Fire Associations Mayor and Council acted for best interests of the city and expected volunteers to continue as firemen, supplementing the paid firemen Men of the old fire department did not take well to the idea of a paid department Result was abolishment of the volunteer forces Firehouses 2 & 3 decommissioned
11 William St. opened c. 1926, closed 2015
Jack Drakeford Fire Headquarters (2015 - )
The Englewood Historical Society greatly appreciates Chief Erik S, Enersen for sharing his knowledge and collection of firefighting images and paraphernalia.
Today s Honoree Fire Association # 2