The Big House E 264 / E 328 / L 134

[FDNYSTATENISLAND]

Question about the big house: it puzzles me why there would be 2 engine companies housed together - obviously not because of ones' quarters renovations. How does this work when responding on runs? I'm guessing one companies first due area is one side of the firehouse and the other covers the other side? How would they have an even area to cover? Can anyone provide some info on how these two engine companies run together, and on how they designate first due areas. Can anyone find a map that is in quarters? Thanks!

 

[memory master]

328 has first due boxes east of such and such street and 264 has first due boxes west of such and such a street. I can't remember at the moment what the boundary line is for those first due boxes. You may, or may not, recall that prior to 1960 E275, E298 and E299 were all quartered in "The Big House" on 162 street just north of Jamaica Avenue. They were all quartered with L127 and the 50 Bn.

 

[FDNYSTATENISLAND]

Thanks memory, that makes the most sense.

 

[Parkave32]

We also had prior to them moving to the Tin House Eng 85 housed with Eng 82 and Lad 31. Can any one tell me if the 3rd battalion was also quartered at 82 at the same time as Eng. 85?  thanks

 

[1261Truckie]

"...We also had prior to them moving to the Tin House Eng 85 housed with Eng 82 and Lad 31..."

Don't forget E-232 was originally quartered with 231, 120 & the 44 Battalion on Watkins Street. The last time I visited there, (12 years ago) there was still a designated spot on the apparatus floor for 232. Hardcore tradition.

 

[johnd248]

Other triple company houses in Coney Island and Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn as well.

 

[grumpy grizzly]

When Boston cut companies every 2/1 house lost an engine.

 

[mack]

My father worked in the old Sheepshead Bay firehouse with E 246, E 327 and L 169.  They had a large response area which was the reason for two engines.  Both engines responded together on boxes.  They had distinct 1st and 2nd due assignments.  E 327 had a large Ahrens Fox pumper. They had some interesting non-FDNY fire companies operating in their district:  Floyd Bennet Field had a military fire department; the Gerritsen Beach Volunteer FD responded to fires in their neighborhood; and Manhattan Beach was home to a large US Merchant Marine training school with its own federal fire department. 

http://nyfd.com/history/engine_246_1.html

 

[811]

"...We also had prior to them moving to the Tin House Eng 85 housed with Eng 82 and Lad 31..."

Don't forget E-232 was originally quartered with 231, 120 & the 44 Battalion on Watkins Street. The last time I visited there, (12 years ago) there was still a designated spot on the apparatus floor for 232. Hardcore tradition.

Other interesting points.  E85 was originally a fireboat company (West 35 St, North River); E232 was also a fireboat (Noble Street, Brooklyn).  Both were disbanded and numbers re-used for Engines that went to their respective "temporary" Tin Houses Engine 85 in the Bronx, and 232 in Brooklyn; then both again later disbanded.

 

[Parkave32]

Mack i guess the Merchant Marine Training school was in Manhattan Beach before it moved to Kings point. Is that correct? Also I was curious do you know if the the old merchant marine training school is where Kingsborough Community College is today?

 

[fdhistorian]

Eng 85 was on Intervale Ave from 1967 to 1971

TCU 712 was there from 1967 to 1971

Batt 3 was there 1956 to 1968

Batt 27, which was reorganized from Batt 3-2 (Seneca Ave),  was there 1969-1978

 

[grumpy grizzly]

Chicago ha a firehouse with 3 active supression companies, Engines 70 and 59, along with Tuck 47.House is at 6000 N Clark st. 80's and 90's 59/47 were very avtive.

 

[guitarman314]

  Another triple house on the Rockaways was 92-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd. housing E266, E267, L121, Bn47. L121 was there from 1922 to 1954. E266 & 267 were together from 1922 to 1972 when E267 was disbanded.  E267 ran with a Quad after L121 moved east to E265.

 

[68jk09]

"...We also had prior to them moving to the Tin House Eng 85 housed with Eng 82 and Lad 31..."

Don't forget E-232 was originally quartered with 231, 120 & the 44 Battalion on Watkins Street. The last time I visited there, (12 years ago) there was still a designated spot on the apparatus floor for 232. Hardcore tradition.

The painted marking is still on the floor.....also in the late '50s when SQ*4 was organized they were initially on Watkins St for a very short period before moving to Bristol St w/283.

 

[811]

Squad 4 in Watkins Street, organized 1955.  Rig is a converted 1940 Mack (L Model) Hose Wagon. 
Note 4 Lieutenants on running board, I understand they were organized without a Captain; rigs were lettered on the door F D N Y SQUAD UNIT #

 

[811]

Squad 4 at Watkins Street. As JK said, they were not here too long.  Organized 11/16/1955, moved to 214 Bristol Street with 283 Engine, 1/1/1956.

 

[68jk09]

Maybe not an original but.....  http://www.ebay.com/itm/FDNY-Patch/291076940203?_trksid=p2045573.c100033.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.RVI%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20490%26meid%3D4772964705629612712%26pid%3D100033%26prg%3D9149%26rk%3D0%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D251416012950

 

[mack]

Mack i guess the Merchant Marine Training school was in Manhattan Beach before it moved to Kings point. Is that correct? Also I was curious do you know if the the old merchant marine training school is where Kingsborough Community College is today?

Parkave32 - you are right.

US Maritime Service Training Station Sheepshead Bay FD - USMSTS Sheepshead Bay opened in 1942 to train merchant seamen.  It trained 30,000 seamen a year for our World War II effort. Merchant Marine service was very dangerous during World War II.  The USMSTS FD protected the nation's largest maritime training station during World War II. I believe USMSTS FD also had a fireboat. E 246, E 327 and L 169 were the closest FDNY units located at E 23rd St. The base closed in 1954. The USMSTS Site is now occupied by Kingsborough Community College.

http://www.usmm.org/usmsheavingline.html
http://www.usmm.org/index.html#anchor252856

USMSTS FD 1943 Sheepshead Bay:












USMSTS Sheepshead Bay Patch:








World War II Merchant Marine Video:
A Ship Is Born (1942)

 

[mack]

Other triple company houses in Coney Island and Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn as well.

2929 W 8th St  Coney Island was a two engine firehouse with Ladder 161 and Bn 43  1903-1952. Engine 244 was also on W 15 St firehouse.


Engine 245 was quartered with Engine 245-2 (became Engine 326 in 1939):

2929 W 8th St  Coney Island

Engine 245, E 324, L 161, Bn 43:

2929 W 8th St  Coney Island

 

[1261Truckie]

Chief JK,

"The painted marking is still on the floor......". Thanks for your reply. I'm not surprised, that house holds its traditions dearly

Jim (aka 1261)