November 1, 1859 – Steam Engine No. 8 is organized at 12 North Bennett Street, North End, with a crew of men and an engine built by Silsby, Mynderse Co. This was the first regularly organized Steam Fire Engine Company in the city.
September 1, 1860 – A new and lighter steam fire engine built by the Silsby, Mynderse Co. is in service at Engine 8 replacing the first engine.
June 15, 1863 – An 1860 Amoskeag First Size Steam Fire Engine, Serial #10, is in service replacing the Silsby, Mynderse steam engine.
June 2, 1868 – Company named “Northern Liberty No. 8”. A listing of the fire company from the BFD Annual Report, 1871.
January, 1869 – Engine 8 moved to the new firehouse of Hose Company 1 at 133 Salem Street, North End, between Parmenter and Prince Streets.
April 26, 1869 – A new Steam Fire Engine, built by Jucket & Freeman Co. of Roxbury, Serial # 1, is placed in service.
June 5, 1869 – Hoseman George F.C. Hamilton, Engine Company 8, died in the Line-Of-Duty from an illness suffered while operating at a 3 Alarm fire, Box 15, at 80-91 Commercial Street, North End, on March 25, 1869.
October 1, 1873 – Hose Company 1 is deactivated.
1873 – Company names discontinued, reverted back to numbered company only (Engine 8 – as it remains today).
April 23, 1874 – Engine 8 changed from call to permanent status.
March 30, 1896 – An Amoskeag Second Size steam engine, Serial #720, is in service replacing the Jucket & Freman engine.
March 11, 1900 – Hoseman Patrick J. McCarthy, Engine Company 8, died in the Line-Of-Duty from injuries suffered while operating at a 3 Alarm fire, Box 15, at 209 North Street, North End.
May, 1904 – A Silsby Second Size steam fire engine, Serial #976, former Engine 23, rebuilt by the American Fire Engine Co., as a piston engine, is in service. The 1890 Amoskeag steam engine is reassigned to Engine 36.
May 10, 1907 – An American LaFrance First Size steam engine, Serial #3179, is in service. The rebuilt Silsby steam engine is placed in reserve.
April 12, 1908 – The ‘First’ Great Fire in Chelsea occurred. Engine 8 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.
1909 – Hoseman Thomas H. Downey of Engine 8 was awarded the Roll Of Merit. Citation
June 25, 1914 – A conflagration occurred in Salem, Mass. Engine 8’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, 6, 27, 39.
October 18, 1916 – Engine 8 moves to a temporary location at North End Paving Yard during remodeling of the firehouse to accommodate motor apparatus. The company was quartered at Engine 31’s quarters at 521 Commercial Street, North End.
July 5, 1917 – Engine 8 returns to a remodeled firehouse at 133 Salem Street. The horse-drawn apparatus is replaced by a 1917 Christie motor tractor, Shop # 122T , attached to a 1907 American LaFrance steam fire engine, Serial #3179. A 1917 Seagrave motor, Type 240, Hose & Chemical engine, Serial #17555, Shop # 315. replaces the horse-drawn hose wagon.
February 21, 1920 – A 1920 American LaFrance, Type 40, Hose & Chemical engine, Serial #2806, Shop # 328. is placed in service. The 1917 Seagrave hose wagon is reassigned to Engine 42.
May 5, 1923 – A 1911 Amoskeag Second Size Steam Fire Engine, Serial #850, former Engine 29, is attached to the 1917 Christie tractor, Shop # 122T , replacing the 1907 American LaFrance steam engine.
1923 – Hoseman James H. Curran of Engine 8 was awarded the Walter Scott Medal.
May 25, 1925 – An American LaFrance, Type 75, 750gpm pumper, Serial #5049, Shop # 168, is in service replacing the tractor-drawn steam fire engine.
October 7, 1927 – An American LaFrance, Type 112, Hose & Chemical wagon, Serial #6120, Shop # 357 , in service replacing the 1920 American LaFrance hose wagon, Shop # 328, which is reassigned to Engine 51.
September 15, 1948 – Moved to a new firehouse at 392 Hanover Street, North End, along with Ladder Co. 1. The old firehouse at 133 Salem Street was closed. The company received a new 1948 Mack, Type 85, 750gpm pumper, Serial # 85LS1253, Shop # 192, and a 1947 Mack Type 85 Hose & Booster Wagon, Serial # 85LS1155, Shop # 301 , ex-Engine 10.
July 21, 1971 – Company received a 1957 Mack, Type 125, 1250gpm pumper, Serial # B125F-1028, Shop # 101 , ex-Engine 10.
August 17, 1971 – Fire Lieutenant Daniel McInness, Engine Company 8, died in the Line-Of-Duty while operating at Box 4239, Building 42 at 1st Avenue & 8th Street, Charlestown Navy Yard. Citation for Fire Lieutenant McInness.
November 19, 1973 – Company received a 1970 Hahn 1250gpm pumper, Serial # C12-30, Shop # 110, ex-Engine 42.
November 5, 1976 – Company received a 1947 Mack, Type 85, High Pressure hose wagon, Serial # 85LS1163, Shop # 300.
February 11, 1979 – The 1947 Mack hose wagon, Shop # 300, was removed from service.
June 15, 1979 – The 1970 Hahn 1250gpm pumper, Shop # 110, returned to service painted lime-green.
August 10, 1979 – Company received a new Ford/Sutphen 1250gpm pumper, Serial # 1403, Shop # 117, placed in service as a hose wagon.
June 1, 1981 – Company received a new Sutphen/GMC ‘Midi’ 750gpm pumper, Serial # HS1566, Shop # 118 , placed in service as a hose wagon. The 1979 Sutphen/Ford, Shop # 117 , becomes the company’s pumper.
September 3, 1985 – Company changed from Double-unit to Single-unit operation. This was the last double-unit company in the Fire Department.
May 2, 1986 – The 1979 Sutphen/Ford 1250gpm pumper, Shop # 117 , was returned to service painted red.
February 28, 1987 – Company received a new 1987 Emergency One ‘Cyclone’ 1250gpm pumper, Serial # 5291, Shop # 123.
November 23, 1987 – Company moved to temporary quarters with Engine 10/Rescue 1 at 123 Oliver Street, Downtown, due to reconstruction of the apparatus floor at 392 Hanover Street.
March 8, 1988 – Company returned to quarters at 392 Hanover Street, North End.
1994 – Fire Fighter Thomas C. White, Engine Company 8, was awarded the Distinguished Service Award. Citation
1997 – Fire Fighter James E. White, Engine Company 8, was awarded the Roll Of Merit. Citation
1998 – Fire Lieutenant Robert J. Kerrigan, Engine Company 8, was awarded the Distinguished Service Award. Citation
April 1, 1999 – Company moved to temporary outside quarters, within a fenced enclosure, at the end of Battery Street, North End. Company members were housed at the Marine Unit quarters on Battery Wharf.
October 26, 1999 – Company returned to quarters at 392 Hanover Street.
September 16, 2002 – Company received a new 2002 Pierce ‘Enforcer’ 1250gpm pumper, Serial # 1354502, Shop # 158.
August 30, 2018 – Company received a new 2018 Emergency One 1250gpm pumper, Serial # 141073, Shop # 122.
