January 1, 1859 – Steam Engine named ‘Eclipse’ placed in service at the quarters of Hand Engine Co. 6 at 30 Wall Street, West End, between Causeway and Cotting Streets. The company did not have a regular company of men assigned. It was operated under a contract with the engine’s builders, Silsby, Mynderse & Company of Seneca Falls, NY.
January 1, 1860 – Steam Engine Company No. 6 placed in service and called Eclipse No. 6. The company was quartered at a firehouse at 30 Wall Street, West End.
April 10, 1864 – Company received a new Amoskeag First Size steam engine, Serial # 95.
June 2, 1868 – Name changed back to Melville Engine No. 6.
1875 – Company received an 1871 Hunneman steam pumper, CN# 711, formerly owned by the Town of West Roxbury, placed in service January 12, 1871.
November 5, 1872 – Hoseman Thomas Young, Engine Company 6, died in the Line-Of-Duty when he fell four stories through a scuttle at 154 North St., North End, Box 13, 2 alarms.
1873 – Company names discontinued, reverted back to numbered company only (Engine 6).
May 1, 1874 – Company changed from Call status to Permanent status.
March, 1879 – Company received a new Amoskeag Second Size steam engine, Serial # 534.
July 31, 1888 – Company moved into new quarters built at 26 Leverett Street, opposite Lyman Street, West End.
November 28, 1886 – Company responded to a Second Alarm from Box 156 at 79 Sumner Street, East Boston. Read the Station Log Book entry. Log Book.
April 11, 1890 – Company received a new Silsby Second Size steam engine, Serial # 964.
1900 – Hoseman James E. Downey, Engine Company 6, was awarded the Roll Of Merit.
November, 1900 – Company received an 1870 Amoskeag First Size steam engine, Serial # 337, ex- Engine 10.
October 15, 1907 – A contract was awarded for the rebuilding of Engine 6’s firehouse. A half-story was added and the firehouse enlarged, completed in 1908.
April 12, 1908 – The ‘First’ Great Fire in Chelsea occurred. Engine 6 was among 14 engine companies, 2 ladder companies and a fireboat sent by Boston on Mutual Aid to Chelsea. The fire consumed 492 acres of land and destroyed 2822 buildings before being extinguished. Companies sent to Chelsea were: Engines Companies 6, 5, 11, 36, 27, 39, 26, 8, 10, 33, 9, 40, 4, 15; Ladder Companies 21, 22; Fireboat Engine 44.
June 25, 1914 – A conflagration occurred in Salem, Mass. Engine 6’s horse-drawn steamer and hose wagon are sent on Mutual Aid to the fire via flatbed rail car from North Station, along with Engines Companies 26, 8, 27, 39.
September 16, 1921 – Company received a 1919 American LaFrance, Type 40, motor Hose & Chemical wagon, Serial # 2653, Shop # 325 , formerly a spare hose wagon.
July 13, 1922 – Company received a new 1922 American LaFrance Type 75, motor pumping engine, Serial # 3913, Shop # 147.
October 6, 1927 – Company received a new 1927 American LaFrance Type 112 Hose & Chemical Wagon, Serial # 6122, Shop # 356.
November 13, 1930 – Company moved to the new firehouse at Bowdoin Square. The old firehouse at 26 Leverett Street was closed.
April 19, 1942 – Hoseman John J. Moriarty, Engine Company 6, died in the Line-Of-Duty at Box 1286, India & Central Sts., Downtown, 4 alarms.
November 21, 1946 – Lieutenant John J. McDonough, Engine Company 6, died in the Line-Of-Duty at Box 1331, Chardon & Bowker Sts., West End, 2 alarms.
February 4, 1947 – COMPANY DEACTIVATED.
April 27, 1949 – COMPANY REACTIVATED. Company placed back in service at Bowdoin Square. The company was assigned a 1932 American LaFrance ‘Metropolitan’, pumper, Type 310RC, 1000gpm, Serial # 7471, Shop # 185. The company was also assigned a 1947 Mack hose wagon, Serial # 85LS1158, Shop # 303.
1952 – Company received a 1930 American LaFrance, Type 212, 750gpm pumper, Serial # 7240, Shop # 182.
May 12, 1952 – Hoseman James Sheehan, Engine Company 6, was among 17 firemen injured fighting a fire on Mutual Aid at the Chelsea Armory, at Broadway and Armory Street, Chelsea.
July 13, 1954 – COMPANY DEACTIVATED.
April 18, 1963 – COMPANY REACTIVATED. Company reactivated as a ‘Temporary’ fire company at the Fire Alarm Office, 59 Fenway, due to the closure of many bridges during construction of the Massachusetts Turnpike Extension through the Back Bay and South End areas. The company was assigned a 1947 Pirsch 1000gpm ‘crew-cab’ pumper, Serial # 1485, Shop # 115.
November 8, 1963 – COMPANY DEACTIVATED.
