One of the first truck companies to be equipped when the Department went into active operation in 1869 was Hook and ladder Company No. 6, and
the changes in officers and men since the first time the truck rolled out of the house have been many. The company's quarters are on Greenpoint
Avenue near Manhattan Avenue, Greenpoint, and the house which was rebuilt in the '80's is on the site of one occupied by "Valey Forge" Engine
11, of the Volunteer Department. Among those who make up the present company are men who have saved human life and others who have been
injured while in the discharge of duty. All have seen harsship since they have entered the service, and not a few have been place in perilous positions
from which they escaped fortunately without a scar. There have been brave, fearless men connected with this company in times past, who while
battling with smoke and flame went down beneath falling wall and sere crushed and burnde beyond all possible recognition. There are stil others who
yet carry scars upon their faces and hands to tell of fierce conflict with the destryer of life and property. The interior of the truck house is comfortable,
the apparatus is equipped with all the modern appliances for life-saving, and the team which pulls it is made up pf a sorrel and a roan, and both
young and powerful specimens of fire horses. The company on a first-alarm respond to calls from 48 boxes and on a second-alarm to 45 additional.
The territory covered by them on a first- alarm is bounded by Newtown Creek, Kingsland Avenue and Wither Street, North Ninth Street and by the
East River and Newtown Creek.
Among the large manufacturing establishments in the district are the Kings County oil works, Logwood Works, Smith's box factory, Ward's paper
box factory, New York Stamping Company, the Havemeyer sugar works, Orr & Company's lumber yard, Faber's pencil works, Heckler iron works,
Smith's American Porcelain Company, Jensen's porcelain works, Reeves & Church's box factory and lumber yard, New York wire and nail factory,
Chelsea jute mills, Crosstown car stables, Kent Avenue car stables, Adler veneering and cane seat factory, Leary's ship-yard, Storm's planing mill,
two large sash and blind factories belonging to Young & Gerard, Refrigerator Manufacturing Company foot of Guernsey Street, the Rutherford soap
works and MeCaifrey & Jacob's varnish works.
The company has done active service at all the big fires in Greenpoint and the Eastern District since its organization, and the Herseman bakery fire
will ever be fresh in their minds, for it was there that Jonathan Tyack, then Acting Foreman, and George Haight, temporarily detailed to the
company, lost their lives beneath the falling walls. At Pratt's oil works fire on Oct.11, 1888, where Foreman Joseph J. McCormick, James McElroy
and Henry Hellen of Engine Company No. 15, were severely burned, they worked for twenty hours without intermission. They were present and did
active duty at the Reeves & Church's box factory fire, at Havemeyer's sugar refinery, South Third Street and Kent Avenue, at Ckurch's soda works in
1891, at Heckler's iron works in 1891, and at Palmer's bagging factory fire at the foot of North Seventh Street at which fire Engine No.15 was
burned up, and several firemen had a narrow escape from being crushed by falling walls.
Foreman STEPHEN ALLEN was born in the city of New York, Aug. 13, 1853, and was appointed a fireman on May 28, 1880. He rose from the
ranks step by step, an4 on March 1, 1887, was made Assistant Foreman. On July 1, 1889, he was promoted to the grade of Foreman. During the
period of service in the Department and prior to being put in command of Hook and Ladder No. 5, he did active duty with Hook and Ladder
Companies Nos. 4 and 8 and Engine Company No.12. At the Herseman bakery fire, on June 22, 1883, he was so badly burned about the face and
body and bruised on the back and legs by falling walls, that he was laid up for nearly six months Mr. Allen is a bachelor and lives at No.638 Leonard Street.
Assistant Foreman FRANCIS C. SPILLANE was born in New York City, on Sept. 9, 1861. He is a bachelor and resides at No.308 Lorimer Street.
When appointed to the force, Feb. 16, 1884, he was assigned to duty with Truck No.6, where he
has since remained. He was made an Assistant Foreman on July 1, 1889.
CORNELIUS CUNNINGHAM was born at Lyons Falls, Lewis County NY, on September 15, (1856).
He was appointed to the Department on Oct. 15, 1886 among the
life-savers. On Oct. 23, 1888, a fire occurred at No. three-story and attic building. In the attic lived John Gravesmuller, who had but one leg.
Cunningham was sent up the ladder to search the attic and while thus engaged, and being almost exhausted by the dense, smoke, he stumbled over
the cripple. Cunnningham seized the unconscious man and dragged him to the window, where a rope was let down from the roof, by which
Gravesmuller was lowered to the ground, but he died five weeks later at the Long Island College Hospital. Mr. Cunningham is married and lives at
No.219 Twentieth Street.
PATRICK MURRAY is the driver of the truck. He was born 43 years ago in Ireland, and was appointed a fireman on March 8, 1888. He served 3
years in the United States Navy, and in the Volunteer Department days was attached to Ridgewood Hose No.7.
JOHN CLUNIE was born in Glasgow, Scotland, Oct. 3, 1865, and of the uniformed force, July 21, 1890. He served seven years in the navy, on
board the " Minnesota," " Portsmouth," " Constitution," "New Hampshire", "Essex", "Powhattan" and "Wabash." He is a bachelor and lives at
No.188 Kent Street
MICHAEL REARDON was injured some time ago by the breaking down of the apparatus while on the way to a fire, and he is now detailed to duty
at the Bell tower. He was born in Ireland, Dec. 12, 1859, and was appointed to the force Mr. Reardon is married and lives at No.526 Lorimer Street.
THOMAS MCCAFFREY was born in 1832, in the city of New York a fireman since the date of the organization of the Department, and resides
with his family, at No. 156 North Fourth Street. At present he is detailed the Sub-Office on South First Street. At the chalk factory fire on South
thrd street in 1869, Mr. McCaffrey was standing on a ladder when the walls fell, with them and received severe injuries to his back. In the old
volunteer days he ran with Engine Company No. r.
NORMAN HUGHES was born in the Fourteenth Ward, Williamsburg, Oct 3, 1850 and became a fireman May 8, 1874. While going to a fire he
received a severe scalp wound and had his collar-bone broken by the breaking down of the apparatus. He is now doing duty as a operator at the
Sub~Telephone Office.
JOHN CONNOLLY was born in Ireland, on March 10, 1845, and has been connected with the Fire Department since its organization, in 1869. Prior
to that time he ran with with Ridgewood Hose No.7. He is married and lives at No.123 Greenpoint Avenue.
JOHN F. MAHER was born in the County Tipperrary, in 1867, and became a fireman on March 12, 1891. He lives at No.571 Driggs Avenue.
GEORGE F. MCGEARY was born in this city on July 26, 1860 and received his appointment Dec. 15, 1885. He was burned severely about the
face at a fire at the foot of Manhattan Avenue, a few years ago. He lives with his family, at No. 382 Leonard Street.
EUGENE J. MCKENNA was born in New York City on Oct. 16, 1865, and was appointed to the uniformed force on Nov. 15, 1891.
MICHAEL S. QUINN was born in this city, March 20, 1842. He served in the late with the 47th Brooklyn Regiment, and became a fireman Jan.31,
1882. He is a widower and lives at No.199 Green Street.
MICHAEL O'KEEFE was born in New York City, July 14, 1855, and on Jan.31, 1882, became a fireman.
At the fire at Pratt's oil works, on Oct. 18, 1888, he was severely burned about the face and hands.
Mr. O'Keefe is married and lives at No.138 North Eighth Street.
CHARLES MCCONEGHY was born in this city, on Sept. 16, 1865. He is a bachelor and lives at No.159 Meserole Avenue. His appointment is
dated Oct.29, 1890.
