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Ladder 1
Updated On: May 28, 2009

 

 Ladder Company 1 - 1890 Abbot and Downing ladder carriage (shown in front of quarters in Brattle Square)

photo from the collection of Ed Morrissey 

Ladder 1 -1918 American LaFrance 75' aerial ladder
photo from the collection of Ed Morrissey

Ladder 1 - 1946 Pirsch 100' aerial ladder (shown in front of quarters - 491 Broadway)
photo from the collection of Ed Morrissey

Aerial Tower 1- 1971 Sutphen 85' aerial tower
photo from the collection of Ed Morrissey

Aerial Tower 1- 1986 Sutphen 100' Aerial Tower 

HISTORY:

Ladder Company #1 was organized in 1846 in the quarters of Engine 2 on Main St, near Windsor. The Company, using a hand drawn ladder carriage, was named "Franklin Hook and Ladder 1." Engine 2, sharing the same quarters, at that time was known as "Union Engine Company 2." In 1864, Ladder 1 was modernized with the purchase of horses.

On October 1, 1874, the Company was relocated to the new city building at 5 Western Av., Central Square. Here, Hook & Ladder 1 shared quarters with the newly organized "Supply Hose Company #1." Ladder 1 moved to the new city building at 108 Mount Auburn St., Brattle Square, on July 1, 1880.

In 1890, the Company received a new Abbot and Downing ladder carriage. In 1918, a new American LaFrance motorized truck, with a 75’ aerial ladder, was placed in service.

 PRESENT LOCATION:

On Feb. 25, 1934, Ladder 1 moved to its present quarters at 491 Broadway. On March 1, 1935, a new Pirsch tractor trailer with an 85’ aerial was placed in service. This aerial ladder truck was all hydraulically-mechanically operated, one of the first of its kind in North America. The Company ran with this piece of apparatus until 1946, when a new, 1946 tractor trailer with 100’ aerial was placed in service. In 1965, a new 1965 International/Cincinnati Cab tractor was placed under the 1946 trailer. Two years later, a new 1967 International/Cincinnati Cab tractor was placed under the 1946 trailer. (The 1965 tractor was mated with Ladder 2’s 1942 trailer and became spare Ladder 5).

Tragically, on Aug 27, 1968, while en route to a fire, Ladder 1 was involved in a traffic accident with a tractor trailer truck at the intersection Cambridge Street and Prospect Street. One member received fatal injuries and another was severely injured. The apparatus was destroyed. The 1965 tractor/1942 trailer was reassigned to the Company.

On Feb. 18, 1972, an 85’ Sutphen aerial tower was placed in service. The Company designation became "Aerial Tower 1." The Company ran with this apparatus for 14 years. On June 25, 1986, a new, 90’ Sutphen aerial tower was placed in service.

August 29, 1991, "Ladder Company 1" was back in service with a 1976 Seagrave 100’ tractor trailer, 4-door, fully enclosed cab. (This was the former apparatus of Boston Ladder 7). The Sutphen tower was reassigned to Ladder 2.

 TODAY:

Ladder Company #1’s present apparatus was placed in service on June 28, 1992. This piece is a Pierce Arrow 105’ rearmount, 4-door, fully enclosed cab. The Company shares quarters at 491 Broadway with Engine 1, Rescue 1, Rescue 2, the Hazardous Materials/Special Operations Command Unit, and the Air Supply Unit. The members of Ladder 1 are trained in and are part of the Cambridge Fire Department Hazardous Materials Task Force.

Currently, there are 16 members on the roster of Ladder Company #1. This includes the captain, 3 lieutenants, and 12 firefighters. 
         -- historical information was provided by Ed Morrissey


 
 
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