History of NYC Fire Hydrants

[RWC130 594]

History of NYC Fire Hydrants

Brief History  

    New York City's first fire hydrant was installed in 1808 at the corner of William and Liberty Streets, this hydrant was most likely a wood case hydrant. By 1817, the first regular iron hydrants were being installed throughout the city. These were most likely flip lid hydrants. The known brands of "flip lid" style fire hydrants that the city employed were "A B & C Company" hydrants and Hotchkiss Field & Co fire hydrants. Of the latter, original hydrants have been found and documented.  

    During the latter part of the 1800's, the city presumably began phasing out the more obsolete "flip lid" hydrants and began to employ different makes and models of modern style hydrants ranging from manufacturers such as Ludlow Valve, Rensselaer Valve, Eddy Valve, R.D. Wood, and A.P. Smith. Some of these models of hydrants were still in use in the city as late as the early 1940's.  

Development of the Specification  

    Starting in 1902, the city began buying mainly one style of fire hydrant, it was the "O'Brien" model hydrant supplied by A.P. Smith Mfg Company, located less than 30 miles away in East Orange, New Jersey. It is assumed that in the early 1920's A.P. Smith's exclusive rights to the design expired and other companies were permitted to supply hydrants to the city. Hydrants manufactured by at least ten other companies began to appear on street corners throughout the city (See Detailed Breakdown of Manufacturers). Because of the interchangeability of the parts of this hydrant commonly known as the "Series S", it is not uncommon to find a hydrant with parts from more than one manufacturer and hydrants with no identifiable markings.  

Current Specification  

    New York City's current hydrant specification consists of two models of fire hydrants. The most common of these models is the above mentioned design based on A.P. Smith's 1902 "O'Brien" hydrant. This model is also an extremely common hydrant in many major cities throughout the United States. The second model specified by the city is based on Dresser Industries' "Traffic 500" model hydrant. One trademark of all the current NYC Spec hydrants is that they have one single hose nozzle (2.5") and one single pumper (4.5"). Because these hydrants are no longer locked by patent laws, any manufacturer of that model receiving the city's lowest bid may produce each model. These two makes of hydrants are located throughout the city including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, Hart Island, City Island, Roosevelt Island, Ward's Island/Randall's Island.

O'Brien Style Model

Nozzles: 2x 2.5"

Size: ~? V.O.

Barrel: 2 pc.

 

New York City's newer "Series S" hydrants now come with a breakaway flange for minimal damage upon traffic impact. Previous hydrants had been directly connected to the water main, which led to the hydrant and pipe often being destroyed upon impact by an automobile. The flange serves as an intermediate connector that allows the hydrant to disconnect upon impact, and be easily re-connected later. The presence or absence of this protectop connector also often aids in identifying the age of the hydrant barrel. It is rare to find hydrants prior to 1960 with the flange.  

 

Dresser 500 Style

Nozzles: 1x 2.5" 1X 4.5"

Size: ~? V.O.

Barrel: 2 pc.

Based on Dresser Industries original "Traffic 500" model, this style fire hydrant is becoming more common throughout the city. It is assumed that sometime around 1984, the city introduced this style of fire hydrant to the specification. As of current, only two manufacturers of this hydrant have been documented in the city. Each of these two documented manufacturers, M & H Valve and Penn Troy (supplying since the 1990's), still continue to supply the city with this hydrant.  

 

Current Exceptions to the Specification

Like any rule, the New York City hydrant specification has many exceptions. We will document as many as possible below.  

A.P. Smith O'Brien High Pressure Hydrants  

In the early 1900s, with the horror of the Great Baltimore Fire of 1904 in the recent past, the city decided it was important to also employ hydrants for a high pressure system separate from the other hydrant system. This system was to supply water to hydrants at a greater pressure than standard hydrants. These hydrants accomodated the amusement park and hotels of Coney Island, tall buildings of downtown Brooklyn, and the tall buildings and dry goods districts in Manhattan.  

Known as "stubbies" by NYC firemen, these hydrants were of a larger diameter than other O'Brien hydrants and generally had 4 independently gated nozzle outlets. The hydrants weighed approximately 600 to 800lbs and were exclusively supplied to the city by A.P. Smith until the late 1920s/early 1930s when high pressure systems were becoming obsolete due to the evolution of the steam engines and better water pumping devices.  

Around 1979, the high pressure hydrant system was shut down for good and the hydrants sat dormant for almost 15 years, downgraded to the simple duty of collecting parking ticket revenues for the city. In 1993, the city decided it was time to remove the "stubbies," and within two years, all 813 high pressure hydrants were extinct in Brooklyn; by 1996, all 213 Coney Island hydrants were gone. In 1998, almost twenty years after being deprived of water, plans were underway to remove the last 2,079 O'Brien High Pressure hydrants from Manhattan. This number has this number has been greatly reduced, and these hydrants can now only be found in the financial district (although one lone high pressure hydrant remains on Broadway at Astor Place).  

A few high pressure hydrants made it into other buroughs of the city. Two can be found in front of 1610 Eastchester Road in the Bronx, and another two are right up the street at 1735 Eastchester Road. There are at least three high pressure hydrants at the New York City Fire Academy on Randall's Island.  

Fort Wadsworth  

Fort Wadsworth, located on Staten Island near the Verrazanno Bridge, is equipped with Mueller and Clow hydrants in addition to the usual New York City specification hydrants.  

Governors Island  

Governors Island is a small island located off the southern downtown tip of Manhattan on the Brooklyn side. It has served as a military and later coast guard base for several hundred years and is currently owned by the federal government, although it is technically part of New York City (Manhattan specifically).  

The island is equipped with two types of hydants: a 1956 model by R.D. Wood and Mueller hydrants. Most Governors Island hydrants have an additional spring attachment on the bonnet.  

As a side note, almost all the hydrants on the island are painted red and white, although a few black hydrants by both manufacturers can be found.  

Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA)  

The MTA has installed Mueller and M&H Valve hydrants at the railyards between the Bay 50 Street and Stillwell Avenue - Coney Island stations.  

Parks & Recreation  

The Parks & Recreation department is apparently allowed to break the specification rule. Mueller hydrants have been installed in Central Park (Manhattan), Prospect Park (Brooklyn), Tompkins Square Park (Manhattan), and other parks.  

The Mueller in Tomkpins Square Park (located in the dog run section) is of special interest because it is specially equipped with water faucets instead of valves.  

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ)  

The PANYNJ has installed America Darlying Valve hydrants along Dyer Avenue between 34th and 42nd Streets, and within the mouth of the Lincoln Tunnel entrance on the Manhattan side.  

Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA)  

The TBTA has installed Kennedy Valve "Mathews" hydrants on the Staten Island entry to the Verrazano Narrows Bridge (completed in 1964).  

Ward's Island Homeless Shelter  

The Charles H. Gay Shelter Care Center on Ward's Island does not follow the city's specification rules. The grounds of the facility include hydrants manufactured by Kennedy, Clow, and Mueller, in addition to the regular specification hydrants. As of mid-2001, these hydrants have all been painted red, and are hand-numbered with white paint.  

World Trade Center (WTC)  

The WTC lacked traditional standalone hydrants. Instead, high pressure "wall hydrants" were installed in various sections along the outside walls of the seven buildings that comprised the World Trade center.  

Current "Series S" Hydrants  

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Penn Troy [1990s+]

Marked on the bonnet and at base of barrel. Protectop traffic coupling.  

US Pipe and Foundry [1979+]

Marked on the bonnet and at base of barrel. Protectop traffic coupling.  

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Other "Series S" Bonnets  

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Acme Foundry, NY [1990s+]

Unlike all other "Series S" bonnets, Acme Foundry bonnets are smooth instead of fluted. Acme Foundry bonnets seem to be temporary. Located in Manhattan and Brooklyn, although the following locations may now be defunct:  

East River Park near the Manhattan Bridge (Manhattan)  

FDR Drive near 118th St. (Manhattan)  

E. 92nd St. between 1st Ave. and 2nd Ave. (Manhattan)  

east side of Jones Street (Manhattan)  

Amsterdam Ave. near W. 92nd St. (Manhattan)  

SW corner of Milton Berger Place and W. 8th St. (Brooklyn)  

corner of New Dock St. and Water St. (Brooklyn)  

A.P. Smith Mfg. Co [1902-1960s]

Located in all five boroughs:  

East Orange, N.J. address  

Newark, N.J. address  

"E O" address (SE corner of Columbus Circle and Broadway, SE corner of Leonard St. and Baxter St., both in Manhattan)  

DWS [1920s-1960s]

The former Department of Water Suppy, Gas and Electricity was the city agency in charge of maintaining the water system. Usually on Kennedy Valve or one-piece, unmarked barrels:  

"B OF B" with "D W S" (Brooklyn)  

"B OF B" with "D W S" (Manhattan at SW corner of W. 104th St. and Central Park West, as well as south side of E. 13th St. between 3rd Ave. and 4th Ave.)  

"CITY OF NY" with "D W S" (all five boroughs)  

"CITY OF NY" with "W S" (SW corner of Park Ave. and 37th St. in Manhattan)  

"WATER SAMPLING STATION" and no operating nut (Central Park West across from Museum Of Natural History in Manhattan)  

HF [1990s+]

Usually on Penn Troy protectop barrels. Completely unmarked except for "HF" near the operating nut.  

corner of Hanover St. and Exchange Place (Manhattan)  

M&H Valve and Fitting

Usually on one-piece barrels. Located in Manhattan:  

Fort Tryon Park  

NW corner of Astor Place and Lafayette St.  

SW corner 5th Ave. and 10th St.  

Michigan Valve and Foundry [1930s]

Usually on one-piece barrels. Located in Manhattan and Brooklyn:  

SE corner of E. 78th St. and 2nd Ave. (Manhattan)  

Inwood Hill Park (Manhattan)  

Pacific St. between 3rd Ave. and 4th Ave. (Brooklyn)  

5th Ave. and 22nd St. (Brooklyn)  

MJ Drummond & Co.

Usually on one-piece barrels. Located in Manhattan:  

9th Ave. and 39th St.  

1st Ave. near 65th St.  

Inwood Hill Park  

Columbia University near Broadway / 116th St. entrance  

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Other "Series S" Barrels  

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A.P. Smith Mfg. Co [1902-1960s] / DWS [1920s-1960s]

These unmarked barrels have no markings above the bury line or "outer diameter ring." Half are entirely blank and half have a medium-sized blank rectangle on the barrel. Located in all five boroughs. Below the bury line, these barrels usually have any or all of the following markings:  

code number  

"DWS" or "WSNY"  

"APS"  

manufacturing year  

Foran Foundry and Manufacturing Company [1920s-1940s]

One-piece barrels with large oval logo. Located in Manhattan:  

South side of Stanton St. between Allen St. and Orchard St. (Manhattan)  

NW corner of 2nd Ave. and 25th St. (Manhattan).  

Kennedy Valve [1920s-1960s]

One-piece barrels with circular Kennedy Valve logo (year ranging from 1921 to 1963 or no year at all). Located in all five boroughs.  

Roe Stephens [1909]

One-piece barrels with oval logo below the valves. Located in Manhattan:  

NE corner of Broadway and 31st St.  

Pre-Specification Hydrants  

Little is known about New York City's hydrants before the specification because almost all of the original hydrants were removed.  

- R.A. Hill  

In the 1870s, hydrants manufactured by R.A. Hill were installed in the downtown financial district.  

- Hotchkiss Field & Co.  

Early "flip lid" style hydrants by Hotchkiss Field & Co. were installed in Manhattan and on Ward's Island.  

- Chapman Valve  

An out of commission Chapman Valve hydrant (pre-1902 multi-valve List 82 model with "lacework" bonnet) still stands in front of Gibco Builders at 230 3rd Street in Brooklyn.  

As an interesting historical note, the Con Edison yard across the street from the hydrant was one of the locations of Washington Park, where the Brooklyn Dodgers and several other baseball teams once played.  

- R.D. Wood Mathews Co.  

At least two out-of-commission late 1800s R.D. Wood Mathews hydrants (one is the "IMPROVED HYDRANT PATENT JULY 12 1898" model) also stand on Ward's Island, not too far from the base of the Hell Gate Bridge.  

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