TALLY HO LADDER 114

1897 - 1997

Ladder 114 was placed in service on September 15, 1897 at 5209 5th Avenue. When placed in service, Ladder 114 was not known as 114 or even part of the New York City Fire Department. The rig was pulled by a team of three horses and painted a two tone green. One hundred years ago it was known as Ladder 18 and was part of the Brooklyn Fire Department.

Ladder 18 went in service in what was then the northern reaches of Bay Ridge Brooklyn.

The Sunset Park section of Brooklyn once belonged to the Gowanus section of Brooklyn and the Bay Ridge section of New Utrecht. The area started developing in the 1830's. Brooklyn built Sunset Park just south of Greenwood Cemetery between 5th and 6th Avenues in the early 1890s.

The area started to grow and the area became home for Polish, Norwegian, and Finnish immigrants. The name of Sunset Park to this area was not used until the mid 1960's.

The Town of New Utrecht was annexed to Brooklyn in 1895 along with the Towns Gravesend Neck, Flatbush and Flatlands. With this annexation, the size of Brooklyn almost doubled overnight. Brooklyn was obligated to provided fire protection to the areas. The Fire Department had to build fire houses and equip the new companies and until such time the volunteer system would continue to operate. The City would supply and pay the volunteers $1000 a year until being replaced. On February 1, 1896 the paid system was introduced to New Utrecht and ten companies were placed in service in five new houses.

Bay Ridge was beginning to grow and an additional ladder company was needed between Ladder 9 (now 109) at 4th Avenue and 19th Street and Ladder 13 at Bay Ridge and 3rd Avenues. Engine 1 (now 201) had been moved from Ladder 9 quarters in 1891 to a new house at 4th Avenue and 52nd Street because of this growth. A site on Fifth Avenue was picked, even though the area on top of the hill had not been developed yet. Fire Commissioner William C. Bryant wanted a fire house in this area so when it was developed the Fire Department would be ready.

A lot owned by Alice M. Clark was bought on March 7, 1897 for $1,500 and it measured 25 feet by 100 feet. A two story building was designed by P. J. Lauritzen and built by Andrew P. Blixt for $14,600. The main building would measure 25 feet by 75 feet deep. Behind this, a 11 by 25 foot one story building was used for the storing of the feed and straw bedding for the horses. The main building housed the apparatus on the first floor and four stalls for the three horses. The second floor had the dormitories for the members and in front was the office and Foreman's' quarters. The roof had a large skylight that permitted the second floor to be lit. Each fireman had his own bed and wall locker. Two sliding poles were placed for responding down to the apparatus floor along with two spiral staircases.

A new feature was added to this house, a first for Brooklyn. Behind the feed room was an additional room for the leisure time between runs. The firemen would spend most of the day time on the first floor or milling around in front of the station waiting for alarms. This room would be set up as a sitting parlor for the men.

A crew of ten men, under the command of Foreman Charles H. Bixby and Assistant Foreman Cornelius Cunningham opened the house with a 1889 Lafrance Hayes 85' aerial ladder and a three horse hitch. A fireman did not have to worry about finding a mutual partner or wonders "do I go to work today". The work chart was very simple, twenty fours a day, six days on and the seventh day off. Each day the members were allowed two hours off for meals, twice a day. They also could be detailed to another house to cover for an injured or sick member. The pay for the 144 hour week was around $17.28 or $900 a year.
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The Cities of New York (including the Bronx), Brooklyn, Long Island City, parts of Western Queens, and Staten Island merged into the five Boroughs of New York City on January 1, 1898. Ladder 18 officially became part of the FDNY on January 28th. Brooklyn had twenty-five ladder companies in service when the annexation took place. On April 15, 1898, the houses that had both an engine and ladder responding from them had the ladders disbanded and assigned to the engine company. The ladder companies in single houses retained their identity except for Ladder 18 and 23. Ladder 18 was renumbered to Ladder 14 and Ladder 23 became Ladder 13 in Engine 49's (now 249) quarters. On October 1, 1899 Ladder 14 was renumbered to Ladder 64 to avoid confusion with Ladder 14 in Manhattan. The engine companies were given a hundred to their number and Engine 1 became Engine 101.

The numbers would change one more time on January 1, 1913. Due to the increase in new companies being placed in service during 1913, the company numbers in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island were changed. The ladder companies in Brooklyn and Queens were given another fifty to their number, thus Ladder 64 became Ladder 114. The engines went from Engine 101 to Engine 201. The ladder companies in Staten Island went from Ladder 101 to Ladder 76 and the engine companies became the 150's from the 200's.

Battalion 40 was added to house when Engine 278's house closed on July 2, 1975 during the budget crunch of the 1970's. Engine 278 was put back in service on July 16 and the Battalion moved back to 7th Avenue.

The first due area of Ladder 114 started to change in the early 1950's when the Gowanus Highway was being built. The 3rd Avenue El was torn down, docks along the water front started closing, and the Brooklyn Army

Terminal was closed in 1970. The working class started to move out and many buildings became vacant and deteriorated. Ladder 114 went from a slow fire company to a very active unit. Just about every day the company would catch a worker or two along 2nd, 3rd, 6th Avenues and 49th Street.

The reason for this increase was lovers squabbles, arson for profit, gang wars, and drugs. The community changed for the better by the mid 1980's when the baby boomers starting buying up the old buildings at low prices. With this increase of money or community pride the fires started to decline and the area is again respectable. Fighting fires for a living is one of the most dangerous jobs in America.

In New York City 775 firemen have given their lives fighting the "Red Devil". Three members of Ladder 114 have paid the ultimate price. Fireman Alfred Kundie died on February 18, 1919 while fighting a fire in the hold of steamship "K. I. Luckenbach. Fireman Vincent Laurence died on August 20, 1955 from the results of injuries while fighting a fire at 5th Avenue and 61st Street on March 1, 1952. At the time of his death he was assigned to the Limited Service Squad and assigned to the Brooklyn Communication office. Fireman James C. Kearney died on August 28, 1967, three days after being injured in quarters.

Ladder 114 has a proud tradition for the past 100 years. They went from horse power to motor power, open rigs to enclosed rigs, rubber coated coats to full bunker gear, smoke inhalation to self contained air tanks in that time. What will the next 100 years bring for changes? No matter what those changes are Ladder 114 will tackle it head on.

THE LAST ALARM

FIREMAN ALFRED KUNDIE

Fireman Kundie was assigned to Ladder 114 on January 1, 1916 from Ladder 103. He responded with his company to foot of 51st Street for a fire in the hold of the steamship "K. I. LUCKENBACH" on February 18, 1919. The cargo was hay, oil, candy and the fire had broken out in the #3 hold of the ship. One of the first companies to arrive Kundie went on the deck and starting fighting the fire. The smoke from the hole obscured the opening. Chief James Langan, a former Captain of Ladder 114, shouted a warning but it was to late and Kundie fell into the hatchway. As he fell Kundie shouted "I'm gone" and landed 35 feet below in the smoke and fire.

Chief Langan and six volunteers entered the hold looking for their fallen comrade. The Chief was overcome during the rescue and had to be carried out. A total of eight firemen were overcome by smoke at this fire. When Fireman's Kundie body was found he was already dead from a fractured skull. He was 29 years old and lived with his parents at 426 56th Street. The fire caused $35,000 worth of damage and was of unknown origin. The Luckenbach Shipping Company had six ships with the name of Luckenbach and all had an unlucky fate. In 1913 the "JULIA LUCKENBACH" was sunk off Chesapeake Bay, the "F. J. LUCKENBACH" sunk without a trace in a storm, the "JACOB LUCKENBACH" was sunk in 1916, and the "HARRY LUCKENBACH" and "LOUIS LUCKENBACH" were sunk by German submarines during World War I.

FIREMAN VINCENT LAURENCE

Fireman Vincent Laurence was assigned to Ladder 114 on two different occasions. He was appointed to the Fire Department on January 1, 1937 and assigned to Ladder 77. He was first assigned to Ladder 114 on December 1, 1939 from Ladder 77. On November 1, 1944 he transferred to Ladder 111 and returned to 114 on November 1, 1948. The company responded to a fire on the night of March 1, 1952 to Box 2637, 61st Street and 5th Avenue. He was discovered unconscious during the fire and taken to hospital. After recuperating he did not return to Ladder 114 but, was assigned to the Limited Service Squad on November 1, 1953 and assigned to the Brooklyn Communication Office. He died on August 20, 1955 as a result of his injuries. He lived at 230 Parkville Avenue, was 44 years old and married.

FIREMAN JAMES C. KEARNEY

Fireman James C. Kearney was appointed to the Fire Department on March 16, 1951 from the School of Instruction and assigned to Ladder 114. Fireman Kearney was injured in quarters while working on the apparatus on August 25, 1967. He died on August 28, 1967 and was married.

THE BRAVEST OF THE BRAVE

LADDER 114

Thomas E. Crimmins Medal

Captain Francis J. Brennan #2, H & L Co. 114, for heroic work, at extreme personal risk, for the rescue of Thomas J. Soevyn, 37 years old from a fire at 829 52nd Street on November 18, 1949.

Thomas F. Dougherty Medal

Fireman 1st Grade Edward A. Farrell H & L Co. 114, for heroic work, at extreme personal risk, for the rescue of Thomas J. Soevyn, 37 years old from a fire at 829 52nd Street on November 18, 1949.

Henry D. Brookman Medal

Awarded to Fireman 1st Grade John J. Kubinski, Ladder Co. 114, for heroic work, at Unusual Personal Risk, in effecting the rescue of four persons from a fire at 375 52nd Street, Brooklyn, Box 7-5-2667, 6:08 A.M., March 14, 1964.

Thomas A. Kenny Medal

Awarded to Fireman 1st grade Richard J. Colabella, Ladder Co. 114, for heroic work, at Unusual Personal Risk, in effecting the rescue of an elderly male and attempted rescue of his wife. at a fire at 328 58th Street, Brooklyn, Box 2-2-2660, 2204 hours, May 12, 1967.

Wesley Williams Medal

Awarded to Fireman 1st Grade Chester P. Checkett, Jr., Ladder Co. 114, for heroic work, at Unusual Personal Risk, in subduing an assailant armed with a pistol, who had shot a man opposite the quarters of Ladder Co. 114, Brooklyn, 0100 hrs., December 11, 1971.

James Gordon Bennett Medal

Awarded to Fireman 1st Grade Martin McGovern, Ladder Company 114 for heroic work, at extreme personal risk, in effecting the rescue of two woman from a fire at 543 56th Street, Brooklyn Box 2631, 1535 hrs., January 14, 1975.

Columbia Association Medal

Awarded to Fireman 1st Grade Edward C. Herting, Jr., Ladder Co. 114, for heroic rescue of a mother and daughter at unusual personal risk from a fire at 233 52nd Street, Brooklyn, Box 75-2669, 0508 hrs., June 14, 1979.

Emerald Society Pipes And Drums Medal

Awarded to Fireman 1st Grade Thomas J. Haring, Ladder Co. 114, for his heroic work at unusual personal risk in saving the life of an elderly man from a fire at 547 54th Street, Brooklyn, Box 75-2650, 0233 hrs., on December 27, 1980.

Brooklyn Citizens Medal

Awarded to Firefighter 1st Grade Henry M. McDonald, Ladder 114, for his heroic work at great personal risk in rescuing a frightened and hysterical woman by means of a roof rope, from a fire at 423 49th Street, Brooklyn, Box 75-1463, 1625 hours on March 5, 1981.

Holy Name Society Medal (Brooklyn And Queens)

Awarded to Firefighter 1st Grade Baudon C. Malmbeck, Ladder Company 114, for his heroic work and unusual personal risk in the rescue of two adults from a fire at 423 49th Street, Brooklyn, Box, 75-1463, 1625 hours on March 5, 1981.

Commissioner Edward Thompson Medal

Awarded to Firefighter 1st Grade Philip P. Morretta, Ladder 114, for his heroic work at unusual personal risk in the rescuing of an unconscious adult from a fire at 423 49th Street, Brooklyn, Box 75-1463, 1625 hours on March 5, 1981.

Emerald Society Pipes And Drums Medal

Awarded to Firefighter Joseph P. O'Donnell, Ladder Company 114, for his individual Act of Personal Bravery in rescuing a woman from a fire at 326 52nd Street, Brooklyn, Box 75-2667, 0714 hours on June 21, 1991.

Police Honor Legion Medal Awarded to Firefighter John J. Garland, Ladder Company 114, for his heroic actions at Unusual Personal Risk, in rescuing three members of a family from a fire at 422 49th Street, Brooklyn, Box 22-1463, 0531 hours on December 30, 1991.

Brooklyn Citizens Medal

Awarded to Firefighter James F. Harris, Ladder 114, for his heroic actions at Unusual Personal Risk in rescuing three workers from a commercial fire at 242 56th Street, Brooklyn, Box 2674, 1636 hours on April 5, 1995.

Edith B. Goldman Medal

Awarded to Lieutenant Richard D. King, Ladder Company 114, for his heroic actions at Unusual Personal Risk in rescuing a four year old boy from a fire at 821 52nd Street, Brooklyn, Box 75-2666, 0934 hours on January 16, 1995.

Fire Chiefs Association Memorial Medal

Awarded to Firefighter Christopher S. Santos, Ladder Company 114, for his heroic actions at Unusual Personal Risk in rescuing a twenty-seven year old woman and her unborn child from a fire at 821 52nd Street, Brooklyn,Box 75-2666, 0934 hours on January 16, 1995.