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in: Defunct fire departments of New York County, Former operators of Amoskeag apparatus, Former operators of Silsby apparatus

Metropolitan Fire Department

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History[]

Recreation of a Metropolitan Fire Department badge.

Metropolitan Fire Department 150th Anniversary Badge

The Metropolitan Fire Department and Metropolitan Fire District were formed when a state act abolished the Volunteer Fire Department of the City of New York. This gave control of the fire departments in the cities of New York and Brooklyn to the Governor who appointed their Board of Commissioners. There was never any incorporation of the departments in the two cities until the Greater City of New York was consolidated in 1898. At that point departments in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and The Bronx merged into the FDNY. This left citizens with a mixed reaction and volunteers becoming bitter and resentful, resulting in political battles and street fights. The insurance companies of the city won and the volunteers were replaced by paid firefighters. The members were mostly chosen from previous volunteers, and all of their apparatus and fire houses were seized by the state. These would be used by the state to form the basis of the current FDNY. In 1870 the Tweed Charter ended the MFD and formed the Fire Department of the City of New York with a new Board of Fire Commissioners and the original name. The department only served Manhattan until the act of 1865 which united Brooklyn and Manhattan forming the Metropolitan District. Despite this Brooklyn continued to be served by the Brooklyn Fire Department. The department at this point consisted of 13 chief officers, and 552 company officers and firemen. They would work a continuous tour of duty with 3 hours a day off for meals and one day a month off. they were paid salaries according to their rank or grades. In 1865 regulations were established that were strict and straitlaced. There were several large fires in 1866 resulting in a rise of insurance rates and fire losses, until the fire department was re-organized under the military command of General Alexander Shaler, and with his aforementioned military discipline the department reached its full potential, resulting in a reduction of fire losses. In 1870 the departments merit system was established. This was followed by the annexation of Southwestern Westchester County which later became the Bronx which resulted in the volunteers being phased out by full time firefighters and this would follow with the other boroughs as they were annexed.

Engine Companies[]

Company Address In Service Notes
1 4 Centre Street July 31, 1865 - June 18, 1868 Demolished.
2 304 West 47th Street September 1, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
3 279 West 17th Street September 14, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
4 39 Liberty Street September 8, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
5 186 East 14th Street September 25, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
6 100 Cedar Street September 8, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
7 22 Chambers Street September 8, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
8 106 East 50th Street September 11, 1865 - 1869 Demolished.
8 165 East 51st Street 1869 - 1870 Demolished.
9 55 East Broadway September 29, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
10 28 Beaver Street September 8, 1865 - 1867 Demolished.
10 8 Stone Street 1867 - 1870 Demolished.
11 437 East Houston Street October 2, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
12 261 William Street October 18, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
13 99 Wooster Street September 15, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
14 14 East 18th Street October 6, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
15 269 Henry Street September 18, 1865 - 1870 Still stands.
16 109 East 25th Street September 18, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
17 91 Ludlow Street September 29, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
18 26 West 10th Street September 14, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
19 227 West 25th Street September 18, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
20 47 Cleveland Place September 18, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
21 142 East 40th Street October 4, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
22 East 85th Street and 3rd Avenue October 4, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
23 West 68th Street and Amsterdam Avenue October 6, 1865 - 1866 Demolished.
23 235 West 58th Street 1866 - 1870 Demolished.
24 78 Morton Street October 11, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
25 153 East 5th Street October 13, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
26 138 West 37th Street October 4, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
27 173 Franklin Street October 16, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
28 211 East 11th Street October 20, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
29 304 Washington Street October 20, 1865 - 1869 Demolished.
29 193 Fulton Street 1869 - 1870 Demolished.
30 18 Renwick Street October 20, 1865 - 1866 Demolished.
30 253 Spring Street 1866 - 1870 Demolished.
31 116 Leonard Street October 20, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
32 18 John Street October 20, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
33 220 Mercer Street November 1, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
34 286 West 33rd Street October 30, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
35 223 East 119th Street January 1, 1868 - 1870 Demolished.
Engine 36 1849 Park Avenue January 1, 1868 - 1870 Demolished.
Engine 37 58 West 126th Street January 1, 1868 - 1870 Demolished.
Engine 38 Amsterdam Avenue and West 155th Street January 1, 1868 - 1870 Demolished.
Engine 39 Broadway and West 97th Street January 1, 1868 - 1868 Demolished.
Suburban Engine 36 1849 Park Avenue October 11, 1865 - January 1, 1868 Demolished, re-organized as Engine 36.
Suburban Engine 37 209 East 122nd Street October 11, 1865 - January 1, 1868 Demolished, re-organized as Engine 35.
Suburban Engine 38 159 East 85th Street October 11, 1865 - December 28, 1867 Demolished.
Suburban Engine 38 January 1, 1868 - ? Demolished.
Suburban Engine 39 58 West 126th Street October 27, 1865 - January 1, 1868 Demolished, re-organized as Engine 37.
Suburban Engine 40 1907 Amsterdam Avenue October 30, 1865 - January 1, 1868 Demolished, re-organized as Engine 38.

Hook and Ladder Companies[]

Company Address In Service Notes
1 28 Chambers Street September 8, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
2 Lexington Avenue and East 50th Street September 11, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
3 78 East 13th Street September 11, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
4 788 8th Avenue September 18, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
5 96 Charles Street September 25, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
6 180 Clinton Street September 27, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
7 119 East 28th Street October 11, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
8 163 Franklin Street October 16, 1865 - 1869 Demolished.
8 7 North Moore Street 1869 - 1870 Still Standing.
9 195 Elizabeth Street October 20, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
10 28 Ann Street October 20, 1865 - 1869 Demolished.
10 191 Fulton Street 1869 - 1870 Demolished.
11 548 East 5th Street October 27, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
12 165 West 20th Street December 1, 1865 - 1870 Demolished.
Suburban Hook and Ladder 13 159 East 87th Street October 20, 1865 - January 1, 1868 Still Standing, re-organized as Ladder 13.
13 159 East 87th Street January 1, 1868 - 1870 Still Standing.
Suburban Hook and Ladder 14 120 East 125th Street October 20, 1865 - January 1, 1868 Demolished, re-organized as Ladder 14.
14 120 East 125th Street January 1, 1868 - 1870 Demolished.
Suburban Hook and Ladder 15 Amsterdam Avenue and West 159th Street October 11, 1865 - December 28, 1867 Demolished, re-organized as Ladder 15.
15 Amsterdam Avenue and West 159th Street January 1, 1868 - 1870 Demolished.

Miscellaneous Companies[]

Company Address In Service Notes
Division 1 January 1, 1869 - 1870 Unknown location.
Division 2 77 Canal Street January 1, 1869 - 1870 Demolished.
Division 3 160 East 33rd Street January 1, 1869 - 1870 Demolished.
Battalion 1 New Street January 1, 1869 - 1870 Demolished.
Battalion 1 39 Liberty Street 1870 - 1870 Demolished.
Battalion 2 26 Chambers Street January 1, 1869 - 1870 Demolished.
Battalion 3 253 Spring Street January 1, 1869 - 1870 Demolished.
Battalion 4 77 Canal Street January 1, 1869 - 1870 Demolished.
Battalion 5 123 West 10th Street January 1, 1869 - 1870 Demolished.
Battalion 6 342 East 5th Street January 1, 1869 - 1870 Demolished.
Battalion 7 January 1, 1869 - 1870 Unknown location.
Battalion 8 160 East 33rd Street January 1, 1869 - 1870 Demolished.
Battalion 9 209 East 122nd Street January 1, 1869 - 1870 Demolished.
Fire Boat 1 At a West Street Dock 1866 - 1870 Demolished.

Apparatus[]

  • 1865 Amoskeag steamer (Ex-Engine 10)
  • 1865 Hartshorn ladder (Ex-Hook and Ladder 13)
  • 1865 James Smith steamer (Ex-Engine 5)
  • 1865 James Smith steamer (Ex-Engine 3)
  • 1865 Amoskeag steamer (Ex-Engine 1)
  • 1864 Van Ness steamer (Ex-Engine 2)
  • 1864 Van Ness steamer (Ex-Engine 34)
  • 1863 Joseph Banks steamer (Ex-Engine 27)
  • 1863 C. E. Hartshorn ladder (Ex-Hook and Ladder 8)
  • 1862 Hartshorn horse drawn ladder (Ex-Hook and Ladder 3)
  • 1862 Hartshorn horse drawn ladder (Ex-Hook and Ladder 6)
  • 1862 C. E. Hartshorn ladder (Ex-Hook and Ladder 2)
  • 1862 A. B. and Taylor Son and Co. steamer (Ex-Engine 31)
  • 1861 William Williams ladder (Ex-Hook and Ladder 10)
  • 1861 Portland steamer (Ex-Engine 17)
  • 1861 Portland steamer (Ex-Engine 25)
  • 1861 Amoskeag steamer (Ex-Engine 4)
  • 1861 Amoskeag steamer (Ex-Engine 11)
  • 1860 Lee and Larned steamer (Ex-Engine 18)
  • 1860 Lee and Larned steamer (Ex-Engine 26)
  • 1860 C. E. Hartshorn ladder (Ex-Hook and Ladder 11)
  • 1859 James Smith steamer (Ex-Engine 29)
  • 1859 Hartshorn horse drawn ladder (Ex-Hook and Ladder 4)
  • 1859 William Williams ladder (Ex-Hook and Ladder 7)
  • 1859 William Williams ladder (Ex-Hook and Ladder 15)
  • 1856 Pine and Hartshorn ladder (Ex-Hook and Ladder 5)
  • 1856 John H. Sickles/1862 James P. Conk ladder (Ex-Hook and Ladder 14)
  • 18?? hose jumper cart (Ex-VFDNY) (Transferred to FDNY)
  • W. H. Varness horse drawn ladder (Ex-Hook and Ladder 9)
  • C. E. Hartshorn ladder (Ex-Hook and Ladder 1)
  • Silsby steamer (Ex-Engine 16)
  • Silsby Mynders & Co. steamer (Ex-Engine 15)
  • Amoskeag steamer (Ex-Engine 6, ex-VFDNY)
  • Amoskeag steamer (Ex-Engine 7, ex-VFDNY)
  • Amoskeag steamer (Ex-Engine 8, ex-VFDNY)
  • Amoskeag steamer (Ex-Engine 14, ex-VFDNY)
  • Hand -drawn steamer (Ex-Engine 24, ex-VFDNY)
  • James Smith steamer (Ex-Engine 12)
  • James Smith steamer (Ex-Engine 13)
  • James Smith steamer (Ex-Engine 19)
  • James Smith steamer (Ex-Engine 20)
  • James Smith steamer (Ex-Engine 21)
  • James Smith steamer (Ex-Engine 35)
  • Joseph Banks steamer (Ex-Engine 22)
  • Joseph Banks steamer (Ex-Engine 32)
  • Joseph Banks steamer (Ex-Engine 33)
  • Allerton steamer (Ex-Engine 30)
  • Hand engine (Ex-Engine 10)
  • Hand engine (Ex-Engine 23, ex-VFDNY)
  • Hand engine (Ex-Engine 28)
  • Hand engine (Ex-Engine 30)
  • Hand engine (Ex-Suburban Engine 36)
  • Hand engine (Ex-Suburban Engine 36 2nd piece)
  • Hand engine (Ex-Suburban Engine 37)
  • Hand engine (Ex-Suburban Engine 37 2nd piece)
  • Hand engine (Ex-Suburban Engine 38)
  • Hand engine (Ex-Suburban Engine 38 2nd piece)
  • Hand engine (Ex-Suburban Engine 39)
  • Hand engine (Ex-Suburban Engine 40)
  • Hand-drawn ladder (Ex-Suburban Hook and Ladder 13)
  • Hand-drawn ladder (Ex-Suburban Hook and Ladder 14)
  • Hand-drawn ladder (Ex-Suburban Hook and Ladder 15)
  • Horse-drawn tender (Ex-Engine 2 2nd piece)
  • Horse-drawn tender (Ex-Engine 11 2nd piece)
  • Horse-drawn tender (Ex-Engine 12 2nd piece)
  • Horse-drawn tender (Ex-Engine 13 2nd piece)
  • Horse-drawn tender (Ex-Engine 15 2nd piece)
  • Horse-drawn tender (Ex-Engine 16 2nd piece)
  • Horse-drawn tender (Ex-Engine 17 2nd piece)
  • Horse-drawn tender (Ex-Engine 18 2nd piece)
  • Horse-drawn tender (Ex-Engine 19 2nd piece)
  • Horse-drawn tender (Ex-Engine 20 2nd piece)
  • Horse-drawn tender (Ex-Engine 21 2nd piece)
  • Horse-drawn tender (Ex-Engine 22 2nd piece)
  • Horse-drawn tender (Ex-Engine 25 2nd piece)
  • Horse-drawn tender (Ex-Engine 26 2nd piece)
  • Horse-drawn tender (Ex-Engine 27 2nd piece)
  • Horse-drawn tender (Ex-Engine 29 2nd piece)
  • Horse-drawn tender (Ex-Engine 31 2nd piece)
  • Horse-drawn tender (Ex-Engine 32 2nd piece)
  • Horse-drawn tender (Ex-Engine 33 2nd piece)
  • Horse-drawn tender (Ex-Engine 34 2nd piece)
  • Four-wheel tender (Ex-Engine 35 2nd piece)
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