Truck Company No. 2
(Excelsior Hook & Ladder)

<1860> - <1870>: 95½ Washington Street
<1871> - 1882: 103 Washington Street
1882 - <1929>: 55 Plane Street
<1940> - <?>: 241 High Street

Additional Images

Newspaper Articles

June 10, 1893 - Firemen Changed Around
February 11, 1906 - Fireman Byram Hurt
August 8, 1909 - Lewis W. Conklin

Fire Department Deaths & Causalities:
Hook and Ladder Company No. 2 – John Backman, driver, was injured by the breaking of forward axle of truck whilst proceeding to the fire in the rear of No. 283 Broad Street, June 20th, Box 47, 37 days off duty.

From 1920 Board of Commissioner's Manual: Truck placed in service September 22, 1913.  Apparatus is a Webb truck, with 75 foot Aerial Ladder, equipped with a Christie Front Drive Tractor.  Apparatus is in good condition and equipped with rubber tires.

From 1921 Board of Commissioner's Manual: Truck placed in service September 22, 1913.  Apparatus is a Webb truck, with 75 foot Aerial Ladder, equipped with a Christie Front Drive Tractor.  Apparatus is in good condition and equipped with rubber tires.

From Hank Przybylowicz:
The construction of a new firehouse for Truck Co. 2, at 55 Plane Street, was started in 1881. Truck 2 moved into the building on Thanksgiving Day, 1882. In June of 1929, Truck 2 moved to their new quarters, with Engine 4, to High Street. Their Plane Street quarters was eventually sold, as was several other firehouses. Up until 1913, engines and trucks were quartered in separate buildings. Even though Truck 5's house was attached to Engine 12's, on Belmont Avenue, it was a separate building, having been built five years after Engine 12's. Contrary to popular belief, the Avon Avenue firehouse was the first one built to house both an engine and a truck. Many think it was the Mulberry Street firehouse, but that building was never built to house Engine 1. They didn't move in there until 1911, a full three years after the house was placed in service. During, and after, the Great Depression, many of the firehouses were remodeled and engines and trucks were moved in together. Engine 4 and Truck 2, Engine 5 and Truck 4, Engine 7 and Truck 3, Engine 15 and Truck 7, and Engine 16 and Truck 8, were the main ones. Truck 6 was the only single truck house up until 1967, when they were moved to the new firehouse with Engine 13. According to the 1889 Newark atlas, the original building adjacent to Truck 2, on Plane Street, was a much smaller, detached brick building, measuring about 25-by-30-feet. The 1901 atlas shows a much larger structure, which had been attached to Truck 2. The building was brick and measured 27-by-100-feet, and was occupied as the J. McCurdy Storehouse. The smaller building apparently had been demolished and a larger one built in its place. The 1911 and 1926 atlases shows the same building, but unidentified.

Roster for 1873

Name Job Occupation Residence
Andrew J. Marsh Foreman Sawyer 96 Bleeker Street
William H. Page Assistant Hatter 72 Spring Street
John Bachman Driver Driver 103 Washington Street
Henry C. McGinnis Tillerman Tillerman 103 Washington Street
John T. Hastings Fireman Printer 14 S. Essex Street
John H. Balevre Fireman Shoemaker 103 Washington Street
George A. Stevens Fireman Shoemaker 15 Grove Street
John D. Stevens Fireman Jeweler 103 Washington Street
Joseph B. Jones Fireman Bill Poster C. Halsey & Market Streets
Nicholas Balevre Fireman Shoemaker 128 Madison Street
Isaac W. Van Houten Fireman Carpenter 103 Washington Street
James C. Bromby Fireman Harness Maker 103 Washington Street
Theodore Blanchard Fireman Clerk 170 Plane Street
Thomas P. Watt Fireman Brass Moulder Summer Avenue
Edward B. Knapp Fireman Carpenter 35 New Street
William R. Bromby Fireman Harness Maker Burnet Street
Samuel McGowan Fireman Hatter 69 Burnet Street

Rosters

Job 1898  1899  1900  1902  1903
Captain Henry C. McGinnis Henry L. McGinniss Henry L. McGinniss Darcie Van Volkenburg Darcie Van Volkenburg
Lieutenant     Michael J. Caffery Michael J. Caffery Michael J. Caffery
Fireman William Gould William Gould William Gould William Gould William Gould
Fireman Edward H. Gillholy Edward H. Gillholy Edward H. Gillholy Edward H. Gillholy Edward H. Gillholy
Fireman Philip A. Knox Philip A. Knox Philip A. Knox Philip A. Knox  
Fireman Michael J. Caffery Michael J. Caffery   Patrick J. Gibney Patrick J. Gibney
Fireman John J. Breslin John J. Breslin John J. Breslin   Albert Shields
Fireman John B. Chenowith John B. Chenowith   David J. Ryan David J. Ryan
Fireman Robert D. Bender Robert D. Bender Robert D. Bender   Thomas Fagan
Fireman Alvin A. Bennett Alvin A. Bennett Alvin A. Bennett   Thomas Rock
Fireman John D. Stevens John D. Stevens John D. Stevens   Joseph A. Reilly
Fireman James McCabe   Alexander Meeker   George H. Smith
Fireman   Gilbert Stimis Jr. Gilbert Stimis Jr. Gilbert Stimis Jr. Gilbert Stimis Jr.
Fireman       Patrick Gaynor  
Substitute     Joseph J. Owens    

 

Job 1904  1905  1906  1908  1909
Captain Darcie Van Volkenburg Darcie Van Volkenburg Darcie Van Volkenburg John J. Towey Robert H. Park
Lieutenant Michael J. Caffery Michael J. Caffery Michael J. Caffery Michael J. Caffery Michael J. Caffery
Fireman William Gould William Gould William Gould   Hugh L. Towey
Fireman David J. Ryan David J. Ryan David J. Ryan    
Fireman John McKiernam John McKiernam John McKiernam    
Fireman Andrew B. Clark Andrew B. Clark   Ernest Pfeifer Ernest Pfeifer
Fireman George F. Lynch George F. Lynch   Fred W. Herrmann Fred W. Herrmann
Fireman Harry Tozer Harry Tozer   Louis Pfirrmann Louis Pfirrmann
Fireman George Hagel   Charles R. Bartlett    
Fireman Edward H. Gillholy   William A. Doremus    
Fireman Patrick J. Gibney   Frank Garrett Frank Garrett Frank Garrett
Fireman   Adolph Siegle Adolph Siegle    
Fireman   Frederick A. Loines      
Fireman     John J. Farley John J. Farley John J. Farley
Fireman     James P. Dowd    
Fireman     John A. Byron    
Fireman       Anthony C. Helfrich Anthony C. Helfrich
Fireman       Charles H. Bachman Charles H. Bachman
Fireman       Peter Kiernan Peter Kiernan
Fireman       Frank A. Farrell Frank A. Farrell
Fireman       Lewis W. Conklin  
Fireman       Michael Fagan  

 

Job  1910  1911  1914  1915  1916
Captain Robert H. Park Robert H. Park James McCabe James McCabe James McCabe
Lieutenant Michael J. Caffery Michael J. Caffery Frank Garrett Jr. Frank Garrett Jr. Frank Garrett Jr.
Fireman Charles H. Bachman Charles H. Bachman Charles H. Bachman Charles H. Bachman Charles H. Bachman
Fireman Gerald A. Stoffs Gerald A. Stoffs Gerald A. Stoffs Gerald A. Stoffs Gerald A. Stoffs
Fireman Luke A. Burke Luke A. Burke Luke A. Burke Luke A. Burke Luke A. Burke
Fireman Ernest Pfeifer Ernest Pfeifer Ernest Pfeifer   William R. Leidig
Fireman Frank A. Farrell Frank A. Farrell Frank A. Farrell    
Fireman Hugh L. Towey Hugh L. Towey Hugh L. Towey    
Fireman Fred W. Herrmann Fred W. Herrmann   Frank J. Kutcher Frank J. Kutcher
Fireman Louis Pfirrmann Louis Pfirrmann   Edward Lau Edward Lau
Fireman William J. Edwards William J. Edwards   Thomas P. Dougherty  
Fireman Leon R. Donnelly Leon R. Donnelly   Herman A. Wurster Herman A. Wurster
Fireman     William C. Langwasser William C. Langwasser William C. Langwasser
Fireman     Ferdinand Stecher Ferdinand Stecher Ferdinand Stecher
Fireman     John A. Hettinger John A. Hettinger John A. Hettinger
Fireman     William H. Hull Jr. William H. Hull Jr.  

 

Job  1917  1918  1919  1920  1921
Captain James McCabe James McCabe James McCabe James McCabe James McCabe
Lieutenant(1917/18)
Captain
Frank Garrett Jr. Frank Garrett Jr. Frank Garrett Jr. Frank Garrett Jr. Frank Garrett Jr.
Fireman John A. Hettinger John A. Hettinger John A. Hettinger John A. Hettinger John A. Hettinger
Fireman Herman A. Wurster Herman A. Wurster Herman A. Wurster Herman A. Wurster Herman A. Wurster
Fireman William Genkinger William Genkinger William Genkinger William Genkinger William Genkinger
Fireman Edward Lau Edward Lau Edward Lau Edward Lau Edward Lau
Fireman Louis J. Kiselyack Jr. Louis J. Kiselyack Jr. Louis J. Kiselyack Jr. Louis J. Kiselyack Jr.  
Fireman Meyer Hendler Military Service Military Service Meyer Hendler  
Fireman Luke A. Burke Luke A. Burke   John H. T. Lynch John H. T. Lynch
Fireman William C. Langwasser   Matthew Morahan Matthew Morahan Matthew Morahan
Fireman Frank J. Kutcher   Charles E. Hastings Charles E. Hastings Charles E. Hastings
Fireman William R. Leidig   Charles E. Matt Charles E. Matt Charles E. Matt
Fireman   William W. Golden William W. Golden William W. Golden William W. Golden
Fireman   John  F. Kelly John  F. Kelly John  F. Kelly John  F. Kelly
Fireman   Benjamin P. Hearon Benjamin P. Hearon Benjamin P. Hearon Benjamin P. Hearon
Fireman   Charles E. Berninger   Charles E. Berninger Charles E. Berninger
Fireman   Matthew J. Dukeit     Richard Pols
Fireman         William H. Murphy

 

Job  1923        
Captain James McCabe        
Lieutenant Frank Garrett Jr.        
Fireman John A. Hettinger        
Fireman Edward Lau        
Fireman Herman A. Wurster        
Fireman William Genkinger        
Fireman William W. Golden        
Fireman Benjamin P. Hearon        
Fireman John  F. Kelly        
Fireman John H. T. Lynch        
Fireman Charles E. Berninger        
Fireman Richard Pols        
Fireman William H. Murphy        
Fireman Frank J. Thauer        
Fireman Herman F. Rheinhold        
Fireman Joseph S. Mulvaney