Detroit Fire Department Steam Fire Engine Company No. 17 and Hook and Ladder Company No. 7 Established

June 1^st, 1893 Detroit Fire Department established Steam Fire Engine Company No. 17 and Hook and Ladder Company No. 7.  They went in service at a new fire station located at the corner of Cass Avenue and Amsterdam Street. At the time this was the far northern section of Detroit. The area had been annexed by Detroit in 1891.

In the 1890’s this area was rapidly expanding due to the building of a major railroad infrastructure known as the Milwaukee Junction. Several industrial plants quickly sprung up in the area to take advantage of rail transportation for incoming materials and outgoing products. Many of these plants were related to Detroit’s growing automotive industry.

Rapid Growth of Detroit Requires Expanded Fire Protection

The rapid growth of this district perpetuated the need for fire protection to be expanded as well. The lot for the new fire station was purchased in 1892 from Detroit Motor Company for $7,000. Fire alarm box number 574 was also placed at this location.

The New Fire Station

The building was designed by architect John Scott & Company in the Victorian Gothic style. General contractor for the building was John Finn. The building was 100’ wide along the front and 160’ deep. Total cost for building was $20,983.00.

Steam Fire Engine Company No. 17’s First Fire Apparatus

The first apparatus designated as Steam Fire Engine Company No. 17 was a fourth size Silsby Engine. It had been in service with the Detroit Fire Department since 1887. The engine had a capacity of pumping 500 gallons of water per minute. It was pulled by a team of 2 fire horses. The engine was accompanied by a four-wheeled hose carriage that carried 1,000 ft. of hose and one hand fire extinguisher. The hose carriage was also drawn by 2 fire horses.

Detroit Fire Department Steam Fire Engine Company No. 17’s original crew consisted of 11 men.

Rank	Name	Age in 1893	Badge Number	Occupation
Captain	William Courtney	31	170	Machinist
Lieutenant	Henry Burgess	32	171	Butcher
Engineer	William H. Chapman	44	172	Engineer
Assistant Engineer	Peter Mclott	35	173	Engineer
Pipeman	Joseph L. Clements	26	174	Blacksmith
Pipeman	Willliam J. Harcourt	24	175	Laborer
Pipeman	John U. Hager	23	176	Molder
Pipeman	Arthur E. Wood	23	177	Boilermaker
Engine Driver	Cornelius Sheehan	31	178	Driver
Hose Carriage Driver	William Clark	29	179	Driver
House Watchman	unknown	unknown	unknown	unknown

At this time Detroit Firefighters’ badge numbers changed as their positions or apparatus assignments changed.

 

Hook & Ladder Company No. 7’s First Apparatus

The first apparatus designated as Hook & Ladder Company No. 7 was a turn-table aerial truck built by the Fire Extinguisher Manufacturing Company of Chicago, Illinois. It had been in service with the Detroit Fire Department since 1888. The weighed 6,300 lbs. when ready for service. The truck was pulled by a team of 3 fire horses. The apparatus carried the following equipment.

• 1 – 60’ extension ladder
• 1 – 35’ ladder
• 1 – 30’ ladder
• 1 – 25’ ladder
• 1 – 20’ ladder
• 1 – 14’ ladder
• 2 – 12’ ladders
• 1 – 12’ extension ladder
• 1 -9’ ladder
• 1 – Pompier ladder outfit
• 4 – Babcock hand fire extinguishers
• 2 – ladder forks
• 6 – hooks with poles
• 125’ of rope for fire line
• 4 – leather buckets
• 4 – hook axes
• 2 – hay forks
• 1 – pair electrical wire cutters
• 1 – crowbar and door opener
• 1 – jackscrew
• 1 – shovel
• 1 – hand saw
• Rag hooks
• Wrenches

Detroit Fire Department Hook and Ladder Company No. 7’s original crew consisted of 11 men.

Rank	Name	Age in 1893	Badge Number	Occupation
Captain	Henry T. Moiles	35	270	Driver
Lieutenant	Martin Bishop	32	271	Tinsmith
Steersman	Edward J. Murphy	31	272	Driver
Ladderman	John Doran	29	273	Driver
Ladderman	Archie Bennett	29	274	Clerk
Ladderman	Oliver Watrous Jr.	27	275	Blacksmith
Ladderman	Geroge M. Crane	23	276	Nurse
Ladderman	Henry Faber	29	277	Plumber
Ladderman	Herman Kern	38	278	Cigarmaker
Driver	Edward McGahan	32	279	Driver
House Watchman	Charles Spriggs	60	W	Watchman

 

Engine 17 & Ladder 7 Move To a New Station

In 1921 the fire station was sold for $65,000. In November of 1922 Engine 17 and Ladder 7 moved to a new station at 6100 Second Blvd. at Burroughs. The companies have been in continual service at this location since the move.

The fire station on Cass & Amsterdam was demolished in 1931. At the time it was common practice to place information inside a copper box and place it behind the cornerstone of new buildings as they were being erected. During the demolition of the Cass & Amsterdam fire station the box placed in the cornerstone was discovered. It revealed the scandalous discovery that during the volunteer fire company days firefighters had been operating an illicit brewery.

 

Current Day

The area that the Cass & Amsterdam fire station was located in is now recognized as part of the New Amsterdam Historic District. The district was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 2001.

The district has had some recent redevelopment with some of the iconic buildings being transformed into upscale residential lofts and others transformed for technical research facilities.

Engine 17 and Ladder 7 continue to serve the citizens of the City of Detroit out of the 1922 fire station located at 6100 Second Blvd. between Burroughs and Amsterdam.

 

 

Members of Engine 17 killed in the line of duty:

• Firefighter Stanley Hausch, buried by an explosion, July 12th, 1942
• Fire Engine Operator Joseph Torkos, killed in a car vs. rig accident while responding to a fire, February 7th, 2007

(Listen to a Detroit Firefighter story related to the death of FEO Torkos’)

Member of Engine 17 killed while serving his country:

• Pipeman William Sammon, killed in action WWI, November 1st 1918

Member of Ladder 7 killed in the line of duty:

• Lieutenant Russell Kelly, died from a heart attack at a fire, October 24th, 1937