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No self-respecting fire buff would make a trip to New Jersey and not stop at the quarters of Jersey City Fire’s Gong Club. Founded in December of 1950, the Gong Club provides Rehab/Canteen service for fire fighters throughout the Hudson County area of New Jersey. The club also sponsors a Medal of Valor that is presented to a deserving Jersey City firefighter at the department’s annual awards ceremony.
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This is the Gong Club quarters at 244 Bay Street in Jersey City. This historic firehouse served as Jersey City’s Fire Headquarters and is now home to the Gong Club (on the first floor) and the Jersey City Exempt Firemen’s Association (on the second floor). My brother Don and I made a visit to the club on December 4th of 2004.
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The Gong Club’s Canteen Unit (JCFD Car 26) has been housed in this historic building since 1958. Most evenings and weekends you can find buffs from the New Jersey and New York metro areas, as well as others from across the county enjoying the brotherhood of the fire service.
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This is the Watch Desk at the club’s quarters. Traditionally, firefighters have manned the watch desks in firehouses across the county, keeping on eye on the house, documenting alarms and other information in the company log book, as well as notifying other members of incidents they are “due” on.
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The apparatus floor at the Gong Club’s quarters is decorated with photographs from major fires in Jersey City and the Greater Hudson County area. The works of some of the most prominent fire photographers in the United States are displayed here.
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Recently, the third floor of the old fire headquarters building had been renovated and is being turned into a museum of sorts, to display the club’s collection of various antique fire service items. Here a collection of leather fire helmets is displayed.
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The third floor had housed the fire alarm office when fire headquarters was located in the building. The alarms came in via the fire alarm telegraph system, and then were sent out to the firehouses across the city. The number of the fire alarm box location was tapped out on bells. The gong in this photo notified firefighters of the alarm location.
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This is a shot of some of the great fire memorabilia that is on display in the club’s quarters. It was a real treat to be able to take a tour of this area of the building.
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This is Ira Rubin, a fire buff’s fire buff. Aside from being a long-time Gong Club member, Ira is also one of the “Voices of the Jersey City Fire Department.” For those tuned-in to JCFD, he is Dispatcher 23. Ira is also the author of the “D’ja Eat Yet?” section of The Visiting Fireman.
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If you find yourself in “North Jersey,” I highly recommend that you take the time to visit this fabulous piece of fire service history, and enjoy the company of some of the friendliest fire buffs in America.
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