Engine Company No. 3
Engine Company No. 3
Embedded Files
A HISTORY
ORGANIZED: FEBRUARY 22, 1836
DISBANDED: JANUARY 1, 2001
COMPANY QUARTERS
COMPANY QUARTERS
1836-1861 Milk Street, corner of #18 Lime/Market Street, with E-2 and E-8
1861-1863 71 Spring Street, northerly side, near State Street (Hand E-3)
1862-1864 222 Congress Street, between Lime & Pearl Streets (Steam E-3)
1864-1947 74 (176) Brackett Street, westerly side, near Peach Street
1947-1951 380 Congress Street, Central Fire Station (temporary) 1951-2001 212 Stevens Avenue, near Brighten Avenue, Rosemont
COMPANY NAMES
COMPANY NAMES
1836-1853 “Volunteer” Hand Engine Company No. 3
1853-1861 “Tiger” Hand Engine Co. No. 3
1861-1862 “Ellsworth” Hand Engine Co. No. 3
1862-1889 “Cumberland” Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 3
1889-1947 Engine Co., No. 3
1947-1968 Engine Co., No. 3 (Quad Company)
1968-1983 Engine Co., No. 3
1983-2001 Engine Company, No. 3 (Quint Company)
COMPANY MOTTOS:
“Rough and Ready”
1863
“Where duty calls, there you’ll find us”
1864
“Fearless in danger”
COMPANY HISTORY
COMPANY HISTORY
February 22, 1836 – A new engine company organized as “Volunteer” Hand Engine Co. 3, to man a new Thayer hand pump suction engine, built in Boston. The company quartered in the 1827 two-story brick engine house on the westerly side of 18 Lime/Market Street, on the southerly corner of Milk Street.
They were assigned a room on the Milk Street side. Two other hand engine companies (“Cataract” 2, and “Hydraulion” 8) were quartered on the Lime Street side. The Selectmen approved the list of Company members as “Engine Men” on July 29th.
February 23, 1849 – The engine was replaced with a new Hunneman hand pump, built in Boston.
December 15, 1853 – Volunteer Engine Co. 3 reorganized as, “Tiger” Engine Co. 3.
July 1, 1861 – “Tiger” Hand Engine Co. 3 was honorably discharged from service in consequence of a second Steam Fire Engine Company, per/Board of Aldermen on June 8th.
August 12, 1861 – Engine Co. 3 reorganized, (again as Tiger 3), and relocated to the Spring Street Firehouse, near State Street, vacated by Atlantic #2. (November 25th-“Tiger” renamed “Ellsworth”)
September 16, 1862 – A new steam engine company “Cumberland” No. 3, organized, with a new Amoskeag steam engine and hose carriage, and quartered with Ladder 1 in a two-story wooden School House on the south side of 222 Congress Street, between Lime and Pearl. A Permanent Engineer (John Cousens) was appointed, and lived in rooms fitted up for that purpose in the engine house. A new 4-wheel hose reel carriage, with 900 feet of hose was also purchased to run with the steamer.
March 2, 1863 – Ellsworth Hand E-3 Company was changed to No. 5, per/Board of Aldermen.
February 3, 1864 – Steam Engine Co. 3 relocated to 74 Brackett Street (Westerly side), near the corner of Peach Street, in an 1850 two-story brick engine house. Shortly after, a brick stable was built at the rear of the engine house and Street Department horses were used to haul the steamer and hose carriage. (Peach Street was renamed Bradford Street in 1867)
January 13, 1870 – A new Portland Company steam engine replaced the 1862 Cumberland 3. The company received the new PFD badges, with #s 55 through 71 assigned to Engine 3 on August 5, 1872.
December 23, 1872 – A new Amoskeag 4-wheel hose carriage arrived, replacing the 1862 carriage.
1883 – Five Street Department Drivers and hose carriage horses transferred to the Fire Department and a Permanent Hose 3 Driver appointed. In 1884, Uniforms were purchased for the Permanent Men.
1885 – Engine 3 received a new Amoskeag steam engine. A Permanent E-3 Driver was appointed. Also, a new Talbot & Moulton 4-wheel hose wagon replaced the carriage and a coal wagon purchased.
May 22, 1903 – Engine Co. 3 Call Man Clarence A. Johnson died in the line of duty from burns he sustained at a General Alarm fire on April 26 at Sturdivant’s Wharf on Commercial Street.
1908 – Engine 3’s 1885 steam engine was damaged at the City Hall fire and rebuilt by Amoskeag. Engine 3 used a new 1907 3rd-size Amoskeag #823 (later purchased for E-9) until it returned in June.
October 20, 1911, a Permanent Captain and Hoseman were appointed (now 5 Permanent Men).
1913 - A Permanent Lieutenant was appointed, giving the Company six Permanent Firemen.
1916 – Engine 3 was reassigned H-8’s 1912 McCann two-horse hitch hose wagon and two horses.
1920 – Engine 3 was reassigned H-4’s 1910 hose wagon with a 6-way Morse Gun and Turret.
1925 – Engine 3 motorized with a 1917 Christie tractor (old L-5), which was refitted and attached to a 1908 Amoskeag #836 1st-size steam engine (old E-4). Hose 3’s Morse Gun was removed in 1926.
May 13, 1929 – Engine 3 was assigned a repainted 1920 Seagrave 750gpm motor pumper (old E-4) and the last pair of horses in the Portland Fire Department (“Dan & Pete” of Hose 3) were retired.
July 8, 1929 – Engine 3 became a Permanent company (Last E-3 Call Man Henry Chase to E-1).
September 22, 1947 – A Mack 750gpm Quad Truck with 233 feet of ground ladders went in service. The new Quad truck was too long to fit in the old 1850 engine house and was parked next to the station.
Engine 3 was relocated to Central Station when the Brackett Street firehouse closed on December 1st.
May 24, 1951 – Engine Co. 3 relocated to a new one-story brick Firehouse at 212 Stevens Avenue, near Brighton Avenue, in the Rosemont section. It had been recommended by Fire Chief Oliver Sanborn since 1926 and the National Board of Fire Underwriters. A two-way radio was installed in Engine 3 by the fire alarm division on June 22nd. Housed at the new firehouse with Engine 3 was a 1941 Dodge 450-gallon tank truck (Tank 1), constructed in 1950 from a former civilian defense truck.
1955 – A 1942 Chevrolet 300-gallon tank truck (Tank 6) replaced Tank 1 on September 8th. It was also a former civilian defense truck rebuilt from a high pressure truck into a tank truck.
1966 – A new 1965 Ford 500-gallon tank truck as Tank 6 was assigned here with Engine 3 until 1968.
1968 – A 1962 Howe 1,000gpm pumper (old E-5) was reassigned to Engine 3, replacing the quad truck.
1971 – A second bay was added to the left of the firehouse and Ladder Co. 3 relocated here in 1972.
1978 – Engine 3 was assigned a 1974-American LaFrance 1,000gpm pumper (old E-4), which was destroyed in an accident on Brighton Avenue responding to an alarm, on December 21, 1981.
1982 – Engine 3 was assigned E-8’s 1981 Maxim 1,500gpm pumper.
July 14, 1983 – Engine Co. 3 became a Quint Company, with a new American LaFrance 1,500gpm Quint with a 75-foot aerial ladder. Four firefighters were assigned per/platoon. (L-3 decommissioned)
1987 – Medcu No. 4 was relocated to Stevens Avenue with Engine 3, later renumbered No. 3, in 1999.
1998 – A new Pierce 1,500gpm, 75-foot ladder quint truck went into service, replacing the 1983 quint.
January 1, 2001 – Engine Co. 3 (the Quint Company) was decommissioned. The Quint Company was re-commissioned as Ladder Co. 3, keeping the same crew and truck of Engine 3.
Engine 3 - Assigned Apparatus
Engine 3 - Assigned Apparatus
1836 Thayer hand-drawn hand pumping suction engine, built in Boston, MA, named “Volunteer” #3,
7 ¼-inch cylinder, 10 ¾-inch stroke, hauling a two-wheel hose reel cart, 250 feet of hose $500
In service 1836 (2/22/1836-E-3 organized)
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1849 Hunneman & Company hand-drawn hand pumping suction engine, built in Roxbury, MA.
6 ½-inch cylinder, 16-inch stroke, hauling a two-wheel hose reel cart, 475 feet of hose $850
In service 2/23/49 (2/23/1849-delivered) (12/15/1853-changed name to Tiger E-3)
Out of service 6/08/61
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1862 Amoskeag 2nd-Size steam engine, serial #54, built in Manchester, NH, named “Cumberland” 3,
Single harp tank, 8 ½-inch cylinder, and a 12-inch stroke Weight-5600 lbs. $ 2,750
(Also new 4-wheel, hose reel carriage, carrying 900 feet of hose, sharing a Street Dept. horse)
In service 9/16/62 (August-arrived, 8/29-engine trial, 9/16-Compnay organized)
(2/3/64-relocated to Brackett St. engine house, 2/4-re-organized)
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1870 Portland Company, James B. Johnson Patent, 2nd-Class 400gpm steam fire engine, built in 1869,
Portland, single tank pump, w/9 5/8-inch steam cylinder, 10-inch stroke, 4 ¾-inch sleeve pump
Painted by J.B. Hudson, Jr., weight-6800 lbs. $ 3,200
(12/23/1872-new $600 4-wheel hose reel carriage, carrying 1,000 feet of hose, w/1 S. D. horse)
In service 1/13/70 (1/10-arrived, 1/12-trial, 1/13-at E-3, 1/17-2nd trial, 1875-rebuilt)
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1885 Amoskeag 2nd-Size 700gpm double crank neck frame steam fire engine, serial # 612, with 6 7/8-inch cylinders, 8-inch stroke, and 4 ½-inch pump, w/2 PFD horses
Cost: $ 3,995
(Talbot & Moulton 4-wheel hose wagon, carrying 1,000 ft. of hose, w/1 PFD horse) $ 375
In service 6/17/85 (1901-rebuilt, 1908-rebuilt after 1/24 City Hall fire)
(1916-H-3 w/1912 McCann hose wagon, now a two-horse hitch)
(1920-H-3 w/1910 H-4 hose wagon w/6-way Morse Gun on 12/8)
(1922, March 17-new team of horses for Engine 3, Dan & Pete)
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1925 1917 Christie 48-HP motor tractor (old L-5) attached to 1908 Amoskeag steam engine (old E-4)
In service 1/7/25 (1924-Attached to 1908 Amoskeag 1st-size #836 steam engine)
(1926-Hose 3 Morse Gun removed for High Pressure 1 truck)
OOS 5/13/29
* Last two PFD horses retired, Dan & Pete, and were sold to former Governor Baxter for his Farm)
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1929 1920 Seagrave 750gpm double combination motor pumper (old E-4)
In service 5/13/29 (1929-overhauled, equipped with pneumatic tires, and re-painted)
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1947 Mack 750gpm “Quad” combination truck with 100-gallon tank, 233 feet of ladders $ 12,710
In service 9/22/47 (9/16-arrived, 9/19-pump test)
(12/1/1947-Brackett Street Firehouse closed, relocated to Central)
(5/24/1951-relocated to new firehouse at 212 Stevens Avenue)
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1968 1963 Howe 1,000gpm triple combination pumper (old E-5), with a 500-gallon tank
In service 8/1/68 (Circa 1970, E-3 equipment, tools w/Black color code)
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1978 1974 American LaFrance 1,000gpm pumper with 500-gallon tank (old E-4), with cab-over roof
In service 1/12/78
(6/28/78-C-7 installed large stick-on reflective “3” on front of cab)
(1981-received 4-inch yellow rubber hose, replacing the 3-inch)
OOS 12/22/81 (badly damaged in accident, disposed of. E-3 w/reserve E-10)
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1982 1981 Maxim/Ward LaFrance 1,500gpm pumper with a 500-gallon tank (formerly E-8)
In service 7/23/81
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1983 American LaFrance Century Series 1,500gpm quint combination, with a 500-gallon tank, and a 75-foot, three-section aerial ladder with pre-piped waterway, and 97 feet of ladders
Cost: $221,000
In service 7/14/83 (Engine 3 as a “Quint Company”)
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1998 Pierce Dash 4-door cab (white over red) 1,500gpm quint combination, with a 500-gallon tank, a 75-foot, three-section aerial ladder, 131 feet of ground ladders, and 7-KW generator.
In service 11/5/1998
Renamed 1/1/2001 * Engine Co. 3 decommissioned, Company renamed as L-3.
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