December 1, 1859 – Steam Engine Co. 3 was organized and placed into service at a firehouse on Washington Street, near Dover Street, South End. This location was later called 1171 Washington Street, and was formerly the location of (Hand) Engine No. 3. The firehouse was built in 1838 for (Hand) Engine No. 12, later (Hand) Engine No. 3. The steamer was built by Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. of Manchester, NH, and was a model First Size, Serial #3.
December 8, 1859 – (Hand) Engine No. 3 disbanded.
July 1, 1867 – Company was assigned an Amoskeag, First Size, steam engine, Serial # 252.
June 2, 1868 – Company was named Eagle Engine No. 3.
1873 – Company names discontinued, reverted back to numbered company only (Engine 3, as it remains today).
May 7, 1874 – Company was changed from a call company to a permanent company.
April 1, 1875 – Company moved, along with Ladder Co. 3, into a new firehouse located at 440 Harrison Avenue, the corner of Bristol Street.
August 22, 1890 – Company received a Clapp and Jones, First Size, steam engine, Serial # 541.
January, 1904 – Company received an American Fire Engine Co. ‘Metropolitan’, First Size, steam engine, Serial # 2951.
May 2, 1916 – Newspaper story: Profile of Captain John N. Lally of Engine 3.
June 16, 1917 – Company received a 1917 Christie front-drive 2-wheel tractor, Shop # 118T, attached to the American steam engine, Serial # 2951.
July 19, 1917 – The horse-drawn hose wagon was replaced by a 1917 Seagrave motor combination Hose & Chemical wagon, Serial #17798, Shop # 317.
December 21, 1925 – The Christie front-drive steamer was replaced by a 1920 American LaFrance, Type 75, motor pumping engine, 750 gpm, Serial # 2809, Shop # 128.
August 9, 1928 – Company received a new 1928 American LaFrance Type 112 Hose & Chemical wagon, Serial # 6319, Shop # 364.
1933 – Hoseman William C. Jeffers of Engine Company 3 was awarded the Roll Of Merit.
December 8, 1937 – Company temporarily moved to the quarters of Water Tower 2 and Fire Department Headquarters at 60 Bristol Street, South End. The old firehouse at 440 Harrison Avenue was closed.
April 28, 1941 – Company moved, along with Ladder Company 3, into a new firehouse at 618 Harrison Avenue, corner of Wareham Street, South End.
November 15, 1942 – Hoseman John F. Foley and Hoseman Francis J. Degan died in the Line Of Duty at Box 6153, 5 alarms, at the Maverick Square Fire at 12-14 Maverick Square, East Boston.
August 8, 1947 – Company received a new 1947 Ward LaFrance Type 85T, 750gpm pumper, Serial # 47-2278, Shop # 123.
1950 – Company received a 1947 Mack Type 85 Hose & Booster wagon, Serial # 85LS1156, Shop # 333.
1955 – Company received a 1949 FWD Hose & Booster wagon, Serial # 114948, Shop # 313.
November 13, 1956 – Company changed to combination ‘Single-Double’ unit operation.
January 20, 1961 – Fire Fighter Arnold N. Reis died in the Line Of Duty at Box 211, (Washington & East Lenox Sts.), 2 alarms, at the Basin Street South Club, 1644 Washington St., South End.
1961 – Fire Fighter Robert F. Mackey of Engine Company 3 was awarded the Roll Of Merit. Citation
July 25, 1962 – Company received a new 1000gpm Ward LaFrance pumper, Type 1120T, Serial # 62-4792, Shop # 142.
October 1, 1964 – Fire Fighter Robert J. Clougherty died in the Line Of Duty at Box 1671, 5 alarms, the ‘Trumbull Street Fire’, at 34 Trumbull Street, South End.
Medal Of Valor Citation for Fire Fighter Clougherty
1964 – Fire Fighter Robert J. Clougherty of Engine 3 was awarded the Roll Of Merit. Citation
1964 – Company received a 1948 American LaFrance ‘700 Series’ pumper, assigned as the Hose Wagon, Serial # L3593, Shop # 133.
1968 – Fire Fighter William P. Carroll of Engine 3 was awarded the Roll Of Merit. Citation
1968 – Company received a 1947 Mack Type 85 pumper, assigned as the Hose Wagon, Serial # 85LS1154, Shop # 137.
July 9, 1970 – Company received a new 1970 Hahn 1250gpm pumper, Serial # C12-32, Shop # 112.
1970 – Company received a 1962 Ward LaFrance, Type 1120T, pumper, assigned as the Hose Wagon, Serial # 62-4791, Shop # 141.
August 10, 1975 – The 1962 Ward LaFance pumper, Shop # 141, in service as a Hose Wagon, was demolished in a crash at Washington St. & Reynolds Way, South End. The company operated as a ‘single-unit’ thereafter.
December 24, 1976 – The Hahn 1250gpm pumper, Shop # 112 , was placed out of service due to a crash. The company was assigned a spare pumper.
December 28, 1978 – The Hahn pumper, Shop # 112 , was returned to service, painted lime-green, after refurbisment from the crash on 12/24/76.
1980 – Fire Fighter Robert B. MacKinnon of Engine Company 3 was awarded the Distinguished Service Award. Citation
September 8, 1984 – Company received a new 1984 Emergency One/Ford pumper, Serial # 3758, Shop # 102.
September 5, 1985 – Fire Fighter James D. Ealey died in the Line Of Duty at the firehouse of Engine 3, 618 Harrison Avenue, South End.
Medal Of Valor Citation for Fire Fighter Ealey
1989 – Fire Fighter Gerard A. Yanovitch of Engine Company 3 is awarded the Roll Of Merit. Citation
June 10, 1993 – Company received a new 1993 Emergency One ‘Protector’ model pumper, Serial # 12469, Shop # 134.
1989 – Fire Lieutenant Donald R. Mullen of Engine 3 is awarded the Roll Of Merit. Citation
November 4, 2003 – Company received a new 2003 Pierce ‘Enforcer’ model pumper, equipped with Foam, Serial # 14757-2, Shop # 164.
April 10, 2014 – Company received a new 2014 KME ‘Severe Service’ Foam pumper, equipped with a pre-piped nozzle, Serial # 8994, Shop # 188.
June 20, 2017 – Company received a new 2017 Emergency One ‘Typhoon’ 1250gpm pumper, Serial # 1421056, Shop # 103.