3511 said:
In the post WWII era, the FDNY did a study which resulted in the closing of many companies. Most were in lower Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn. There were some firehouses within a few blocks of each other (see E's 7 and 29).
E41, due to its proximity to E71, was on the recommended list. If I remember correctly (it's been a few years since I read it and the memory is sktchy), it also recommended a new house for E71 midway between 41 and 71. Nothing was done.
In 1957, E72 disbanded in Manhattan and moved up to become E41-2 as Mott Haven was getting busy but 41-2 closed after just a year. (41-2 ran with E72 's '54 Mack L model open cab 1000gpm, the only one of that model to be assigned front line in the Bronx. )
41-2 opened again in 1968 but closed in '74. During that time the RAND Study again recommended 41 be closed and 71 move further south. That finally happened in 1989 and 41 closed for a year but was reopened a year later. I believe there was again pressure to close it in the 90's but making it a squad in '99 gave it new life.
So that's why 41 is so close to 71 and has few 1st due boxes.
Thanks for the info, 3511. Makes sense why 41 has such a small first due area.
As you mentioned above, in the 15-20 years following WWII, a number of companies were closed permanently, all Engines, in Downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Engine 11 - 437 E. Houston St., Lower East Side - Disbanded Oct. 15, 1957 to form Engine 91-2 (Close to current quarters E28/L11)
Engine 12 - 261 William St., Civic Center - Disbanded Oct. 1, 1959 (Very close to quarters of E32, also disbanded, now E6)
Engine 19 - 355 W. 25th St., Chelsea - Disbanded Jan. 1, 1947 (Close to E3 and E1)
Engine 20 - 243 Lafayette St., SoHo - Disbanded Jan. 1, 1947 (Close to E13 and E55)
Engine 25 - 342 E. 5th St., Alphabet City - Disbanded Jan. 1, 1947 (Close to E28 and E33)
Engine 29 - 160 Chambers St., Tribeca - Disbanded Jan. 1, 1947 (Close to E7 and E27)
Engine 30 - 278 Spring St., Greenwich Village/Tribeca - Disbanded Apr. 1, 1959 - Currently the Fire Museum (Close to E13, E24, and E27)
Engine 56 - 120 W. 83rd St., Upper West Side (Quarters of Engine 74) - Disbanded May 1, 1960 (Close to E74)
Engine 72 - 22 E. 12th St., Union Square - Disbanded Oct. 15, 1957 to form Engine 41-2 (Close to E14, E18, and E5)
Engine 213 - 137 Powers St., Williamsburg - Disbanded Dec. 1, 1959 (Close to E216, E206, and E229)
Engine 327 - 2731 E. 23rd St., Brooklyn - Disbanded Jul. 16, 1960 (Close to E246)