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Engine Co. 88 & Ladder Co. 38 New York City Fire Department
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"The American Spirit"
This rare
example of a "Gleason and Bailey" hose wagon was built in
1896. It had been in service with the old Long Island City Fire
Department as Engine 4. It was eventually retired from active service in
the age of mechanized apparatus. In the early
1950's, it was rediscovered in a carriage house of a Long Island estate.
The extraordinary find was brought back to FDNY by Fr. Walter Beatty who
had been looking for an authentic hose wagon to add to the newly created
collection at the Fire College Museum. Beatty took particular delight in
preserving this piece of FDNY history since his father had served on it
many years before. The piece was
first on display in the Fire Museum at Duane Street. Moved to the old
quarters of Engine 68 and then to the Division of Training, it was last
displayed in the lobby area. In 1997,
following a series of tragic line of duty funerals, Capt. Tom
Fitzpatrick made inquiries about duplicating the caisson that carried
President Kennedy following his assassination in 1963. Over the years
various spare pumpers had been outfitted for this purpose with varying
results. Surely, there must be a more dignified and respectful way of
honoring our deceased members. In the process,
the "Gleason / Bailey" was again rediscovered. The project
proceeded at a slow pace, garnering support and funding for the
significant effort that would be required for a full restoration.
In the darkest
days following September 11th, the American spirit burned its brightest
when people gave their all in generous support of FDNY. Andy Swift, Ken
Soderbeck and Richard Stacks had been aware of the effort to restore the
hose wagon. Commissioner Tom McDonald and retired Firefighter Al
Miskiewicz of Ladder 38 formed the balance of a working group that would
get this done. The wagon was
brought to Andy Swift's shop in Hope, Maine where the restoration began.
Once there, the wagon became a focus for firefighters and other
professionals in the field who wanted to contribute to help in realize
this noble goal. For the
specialists at "Firefly Restorations" this project took center
stage. The commitment and effort was from their hearts and hands.
Rebuilding would proceed from the "ground up". While red (and
white) are the primary colors for fire trucks these days, pearl white
was the original color of the apparatus purchased at that time. Once the
body work was completed and painted, the wagon moved to "Hand in
Hand Restorations" in Jackson, Michigan to be detailed in gold leaf
and period art work by Ken Soderbeck. Decoration was
the craftsman's signature reflecting the pride in the quality of their
work. Gold leaf and pictures were done to identify a unit, commemorate
various events or honor notable people who were benefactors of the
volunteer companies of the time. Something was
needed to capture the both the era of the original construction and the
moment of its glorious restoration. The work group decided that the
Statue of Liberty, which was dedicated in 1886, and the American flag,
symbolizing the patriotic feelings after September 11th, done in the
style of the 1890's would be appropriate. The words 'The American
Spirit" were added to identify the wagon and capture the essence of
the project and its supporters in our time.
"The
American Spirit" defines the work our firefighters do everyday and
particularly the sacrifice that FDNY made in defense of our freedom. The nobility of
respect for their work embodied here comes from the passion and
excitement of Andy, Kathryn, David and Jacob Swift; Tom Hopkins, Ed Ward
and Rob Saucier of 'Firefly Restorations" in Hope, Maine; Ken and
Agnes Soderbeck, "Hand In Hand Restorations" of Jackson,
Michigan; Richard Stacks of San Francisco, CA. The dignity and honor in
this work comes from thousands of hours of devoted effort. This project
could not have been done any other way.
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