Item Details

Log Books from Brooklyn, NY Hook and Ladder Co #5 [in Three Volumes].

Brooklyn, NY: 1889 to 1897. Unique. Hardcover. Remarkable Original Handwritten Record of Brooklyn Firefighting at the end of the 19th c., for New York Hook & Ladder Co. #5, Pacific Street near 6th Ave. The three volumes cover the dates: 1) Aug 8, 1889-May 31, 1890, 394 pages; 2) May 11, 1893-Jan 18, 1894, 399 pages; 3) Oct 6, 1896-Apr 28, 1897, 400 pages. Detailed record of all men present, equipment, horses, and regular routines; all fire calls are in red ink. A typical daily entry lists men on duty, assignment to patrol, breakfast, dinner and supper prep, remarks and activities of the day. Uses of telegraph, telephone and call boxes. Visits of superiors. Supply of feed for horses. Training and equipment maintenance (per District Engineer). New equipment, company doctor and blacksmith. Position, name, residence, badge and key record.

Vol. 1
The first entry in Vol. 1 is dated August 8, 1889 with the last entry being Saturday
May 31st, 1890. The volume contains 394 pages of fire company activities written in black ink and actual fires and fire fighting information recorded in red ink.
Each day begins with a listing of the firemen on call and their time of patrol, breakfast, dinner and supper schedules. Firefighters working at Hook and Ladder Co. #5 were Henry Malony (Hook and Ladder 10), Thomas Nolan (Hook and Ladder 5), James Miller (Hook and Ladder 7), Alexander Johnston (Engine 27), Thomas Healey who in 1893 would become foreman with 12 firefighters under him), Martin Corcoran (Assistant Foreman - Hook and Ladder #5), Anthony Cook (Hook and Ladder 10), James Malone (Hook and Ladder 5), H.A. Brinkman (Hook and Ladder 5), William H. Jones (Hook and Ladder 5) Thomas J. Flaherty (Engine 16). Fires and events included:
(Spelling and punctuation uncorrected.)
Wednesday Sept 18th 1889
"Notification on Telephone from Head Quarters at 9:34 A.M. Fire at Box 225
Reported to Fire Man Quinn of Engine 22. The Fire caused by the boiling over of Sulpher Pott at Sulpher works of Stiles and Bigs 2nd St and
Canal. Fire
Man and 14 men at House time of Alarm the Same on between Absent Concoran vacations. Brinkman day off. Malone detailed Painting. Stoddart Maloney and Flaherty to Breakfast. Co. in Service at 10:08 AM Engine H at 10:20. 10:45
Engineer Cunningham visiting Quarters." (This would be James Cunningham who was District Engineer in command of the Fourth District, in which Engine Companies Nos. 9, 10, 30 and Truck Company No. 2 were located.)
Sunday November 3rd 1889:
"7:10 Called up Headquarters on telephone. O.K. one of the lights of glass was broken in new doors by A book - by accidentally striking the door with broom while cleaning the horses."
Saturday November 16th, 1889
"Fire. Alarm of fire from Lot 329 at 3:21 A.M. the Fire at Lot 553 and 555 Carroll St two story Brick Stable owned by
Seib. Fire man and 8 men of House Time
of alarm Fire man and 7 men at the Fire absent. Nolan on House duty. Concoran detailed to Engine_ _ 10. Malony Sick Johnston day off Malone painting duty performed at the Fire cut away roof helped to take out Horses Harnefs raised 30 25 and 20 ft Ladders removed Hay and straw from 2nd floor by orders of Engineer Doyle Co. Sent to Quarters by Engineer Doyle. Co. in Service at 6:44 A.M. Engine 26 at 6:54. 27 at 7:47."
Tuesday November 19th 1889
«Fire. Alarm of Fire from Box 215 at 8:16 A.M. the Fire in Basement for No 661
Degran (?) St. 3 Story Brown Ston House owned by.
_ Brown. Cut away part of
Floor put the Fire out with pailes of water Co. dismifsed by Engineer Doyle Fire man and 7 men at House time of alarm the same on return absent Corcoran to Breakfast Miller day off malone Sick Malone Painting Co. in Service at 8:50
Engine 4 at 8:55, 7 at 8:56 AM
Engine 20 at 9:08 Eng 26 9:20"
Sunday January 19th 1890
"11:54 AM Alarm for box 228 chimney fire discovered at No. 9 St Felix St 3 story and basement brown stone dwelling occupied by J.L. Murphy reported to Fireman Dooly of Eng. 26 ordered to stand fast ordered to Quarters by Dist.
Engineer Dale no duty members present Foreman, Asst and 7 men absent Flaherty detached to Eng. 9. Nolan day off. Co. in Service at 12:45 on way to fire one shoe on night horse became loose sent him to blacksmiths to have shoe put on 12:15 returned at 1:45. Eng 10 at 12:26. Eng. 19 at 12:24. Eng 26 at 12:46."
Tuesday March 4th 1890
"3:00. Received from A and C. Ferguson 9 bs of oats 720 lbs 2 bs of Bran 80 lbs
6 bls of Hay 1035 Is and Bale of Straw 225 Ibs.'

Volume 2
Written on the inside of the front cover is Truck #5, Pacific Street near 6th
Avenue. The first date of entry is May 11th, 1893 and the last date being January 18th, 1894, being a total of 399 pages. As is the case with Vol. 1 and Vol. 3 the fires were written in red ink and amongst various other causes are chimney fires, grease fires, defective flues, curtains catching fire, gas stove explosions, clothing catching fire in a cloths closet, exploding oil stove, rubbish burning, straw catching fire, etc. Also recorded are the horse numbers, the dates the truck was greased and the listing of firefighters and their schedules. Firemen listed in this volume are Thomas Healy, Marten Corcoran (Asst. Foreman - Hook and Ladder
#5), Louis Schulz (Hook and Ladder #5), James J. McGarry (Hook and Ladder
#5), Michael J. Kelly (Hook and Ladder #5), James malone (Hook and Ladder
#5), Henry Malony (Hook and Ladder #10), Joh Hinton (Hook and Ladder #5),
Edward Coffey (Hook and Ladder #5, Lucker, H.A. Brinkman (Hook and Ladder
#5) and William H. Jones (Hook and Ladder #5). Fires and events included:
Friday May the 19th 1893
"10:01 Alarm from box 278 in both gongs. Eng 9 at 11:55 Eng 10 at 11:51 Eng 19,
Truck 11:52.
10:07 Alarm from box 278 proceeded by 10 taps fire discovered at St. lukes fram church 167 169 barlton ave reported to Dist. Engineer Cunningham ordered to raise 27 foot ladder cut away part of roof full Ceilings by orders of Asst Chief Dale Engineers Mc.
and Duff ordered to Quarters by Asst. Engineer Cunningham
members in horse Fireman Sent and 4 men at fire Foreman Asst and 7 men absent Kelly Selling tickets Brinkman day off Maloney detailed to telegraph bureau Company in service at 11:44."
A typical daily entry would be that of Friday November the 10th 1893. The usual listing of the fireman followed by a column headed as patrol, one of Breakfast, one of Dinner, one of Supper and the final column being remarks is at the top of each page followed by the activities of the day.
"8:00 A.M. Asst Fore Man Concoran reported from 24 hours leave of absence
8 to 8:35 Foreman to barbers
09 - 10:43 Eng. 27 out of service
03 to 10:22 Truck 3 reported out of Service
10:24 to 10:35 Truck 3 reported out of Service
10:36 to 10:48 Truck 5 out of Service
10:45 Engineer McGroarty visited Quarters
10:55 J Malone to repair yard on department business
56 - 11:16 Truck 6 reported out of service
17 - 11:31 Truck 11 reported out of service
00 Kelley relieved from patrol by Malone
12:00 Jones on patrol for Malone
12:30 Received 1 brass coupling connection from Dist Engineer meGroarty
2:35 to 2:45 Truck 1 out Service
44 to 2:57 Truck 4 out of Service
25 to 3:31 Truck 8 out of Service
00 Malone relieved from patrol Schultz
34 to 4:41 Truck 9 out of Service
00 to 6 Brinkman on patrol for Schultz
8:00 Schulz relieved from patrol by Kelly
12:00 Kelly relieved from patrol by Malone
1:34 Alarm from box 185 fire discovered at 331 fifth ave 2 story and Store Brown Stone building occupied by Anton Imberto owned by Mr. Adams reported to Dist Engineer James Walsh raised 18 and 26 foot ladder cut away part of roof pulled part of ceiling on first and Second floor cut away part of window casing by orders of Dist Engineer Walsh or dered to Quarters by some members present Foreman Asst and 8 men the Same at the fire absent Hamnigan day off Maloney detailed to telegraph bureau. Company in Service at 3:47 out of Service 1 hour and 43 minutes Engine 20 at 3:34 duty at fire 1 hour and 30 minutes.
4:00 Malone relieved from patrol by Schulz
7:00 to 8:00 Winston on patrol for Schulz
7:01 Telephone O.K."

Vol 3.
The first entry is dated Oct. 6th 1896 with the final entry recorded April 28, 1897.
The volume has 400 pages relating to the daily schedule of Hook and Ladder 5
Company including fires responded to. Fire entries included:
Tuesday October 13th 1896
"3:10 PM. Rec'd an alarm from box 729 on 2 Gongs. Four Minutes Was Consumed in hitching up and getting to location the fire was Caused from Some hot ashes setting fire to rubbish in front of Cellar of the four Story Double Brick Flat No. 195 on the Ave first floor occupied by George Shelden and owned by F.
Neppert on 108 Elm St No damage done reported to District Engineer Huestis and was dismissed by same reported in service at 331 PM. No duty rendered out of quarters 21 Minutes Foreman and asst. Foreman and 8 men left With time of alarm absent One Cause malone on 24 hours leave Engine 19 3:38 PM."
The final page of Vol. 3 gives the Position Names, residences, Badges, Keys of the firefighters, the companies Doctors residence, the blacksmith's residence with his the phone number and a description and numbers of horses on the three horse team. The firemen at this time were Foreman Martin F. Brady with the Assistant Fireman being James Rielly. James Malone, John Hannigan, Durnard Murphy, William Jones, James F. McGavey, Louis Schulz, Albert Wise, James J. Eagan, John Creamer, Frank McCarthy and Albert Stuart are listed as firemen. Their physician was Dr. Robbins, the blacksmith was Blacksmith Barrett and a Mr.
Giles. The description of the companies three horses were off Horse Sorrel No.
297, Nigh Horse Bay No. 239 and the Center Horse Mouse Color No. 81

A remarkably well documented 3 volumes giving a day to day history of the Brooklyn Hook and Ladder #5 Company. Good-. All three show moderate to heavy shelf/edge wear, some loose signatures (all in order), age toning, esle bright and clean. Buckram boards, gilt lettering. 4to. var pag. Item #9680

Price: $2,750.00