Firehouse, Engine Company 10 and Ladder Company 10

Firehouse, Engine Company 10 and Ladder Company 10, is a New York City Fire Department (FDNY) fire station, located at 124 Liberty Street across from the World Trade Center site and the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in the Financial District neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. It is known for being the first fire station to respond to the fire at the World Trade Towers on September 11, 2001.[1][2][3]

Firehouse, Engine Company 10 and Ladder Company 10
FDNY Ten House firehouse in 2011
Map
General information
Address124 Liberty Street, Financial District
Town or cityManhattan, New York City
CountryUnited States
Coordinates40°42′35″N 74°00′45″W / 40.70985°N 74.01260°W / 40.70985; -74.01260
Construction started1979
Opened1980
Renovated2003
Known forFirst fire station to respond to the fire at the World Trade Towers on September 11, 2001

History edit

Engine Company 10 was established on September 8, 1865,[4] initially situated at 28 Beaver Street.[5] Over the years, it underwent several relocations, first moving to 8 Stone Street in April 1867 [6][7][8] and eventually settling at 124 Liberty Street on June 11, 1980. Similarly, Ladder Company 10 was founded on October 20, 1865,[9] starting at 28 Ann Street and housed for a time at 193 Fulton Street[10] alongside Engine Co. No. 29 before eventually moving to Liberty Street on July 1, 1984. The Ten House is unique among the 220 FDNY firehouses as it is one of only two where both an engine and ladder company share the same numerical designation.[11]

On the morning of September 11, 2001, when the first airliner (American Airlines Flight 11) crashed into the North Tower at 8:46 a.m., FDNY units were in the middle of a shift change. The night shift was going off duty while the morning shift was arriving just around 9 a.m. A radio message from Engine 10 to the Manhattan dispatcher initiated FDNY's response to the terrorist attacks. Initially, the report indicated a small aircraft had struck the North Tower, raising hopes of minimal casualties. However, the collision of a second plane with the South Tower underscored the seriousness of the situation, prompting Engine 10's crew to grasp the significance of the unfolding events and take immediate action.[12]

Following the events of September 11, 2001, both companies were temporarily displaced, yet the firehouse continued to serve as a vital command center throughout the recovery period. Despite being relocated to neighboring companies, Engine 10 and Ladder 10 remained operational. Subsequently, the firehouse was reconstructed, and on November 5, 2003, "Ten House" was ceremoniously reopened.

On June 10, 2006, a 6-foot-tall (1.8 m), 7,000-pound (3,200 kg) mural was unveiled on the side of "Ten House". The unveiling ceremony was attended by lawyers and staff from the national law firm Holland & Knight, who generously donated the mural. They were joined by former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler, and Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta. This monumental 56-foot-long bronze relief, characterized by its bold design, pays tribute to the 343 members of the FDNY, six of them from Ten House, along with volunteer firefighters who lost their lives on 9/11. Additionally, it honors those who continue to uphold their legacy.[13][14]

Gallery edit

References edit

  1. ^ Atkins, Stephen E. (June 2, 2011). The 9/11 Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. p. 186. ISBN 1598849212.
  2. ^ Atkins, Stephen E., ed. (May 4, 2021). 9/11: The Essential Reference Guide. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 144087302X. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  3. ^ "Ten House Bravest Memorial Dedicated November 19, 2005". FDNY Ten House. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  4. ^ Annual Reports of the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Fire Department for the Years 1865 and 1866. New York: Baker & Godwin, Printers. 1867. p. 23.
  5. ^ "The Fire Department: The New Companies". The New York Times. New York. September 28, 1865. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  6. ^ "A New Engine House". The New York Times. New York. April 6, 1867. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  7. ^ "Fire in Stone-Street". The New York Times. New York. July 25, 1866. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  8. ^ Report of the Fire Department of the City of New York 1882. New York: Martin B. Brown, Stationer and Printer. 1883. p. 275.
  9. ^ Annual Reports of the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Fire Department for the Years 1865 and 1866. New York: Baker & Godwin, Printers. 1867. p. 34.
  10. ^ Documents of the Board of Aldermen of the City of New York 1879. New York: Martin B. Brown, Printer and Stationer. 1880. p. 70.
  11. ^ "FDNY Engine 10 Ladder 10 History". FDNY Ten House. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  12. ^ Scher, Steven (2002). New York City Firefighting, 1901-2001 (Images of America). Arcadia Publishing. p. 127. ISBN 0738509884.
  13. ^ Bond, Lucy (January 1, 2015). Frames of Memory after 9/11: Culture, Criticism, Politics, and Law (Palgrave Macmillan Memory Studies). Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 1349494399. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  14. ^ "FDNY Memorial Wall". FDNY Ten House. Retrieved February 24, 2024.