Lafayette Hook & Ladder Company No. 2

Date Organized:  September 19, 1853

Broadway, south side (627), Street between Stockton and Dupont Streets. A two story fireproof brick building, city property, in good order, 1860.

Foreman:
1853 H. A. Cobb
1860 - 1862 J. Purdon
1864 Paulin Hunt

Apparatus:
1852 Truck: J. L. Berry, San Francisco

Members:
1855 - 47
1860 - 50
1863 - 60
1864 - 52

* LAFAYETTE HOOK & LADDER COMPANY, NO. 2, was organized in September 19th, 1853, by Messrs. H. A. Cobb, E. Grisar, and a number of the French citizens of San Francisco. Their number formerly belonged to the Howard Hook and Ladder Company, which was organized in 1850, but disbanded in 1852. The LaFayette is established on the principle of the Parisian fire companies, and is the first on this plan in the United States. In the ranks are many old French firemen. They drill regularly and have become very perfect in their routine of duty. They are good firemen, and under the government of their present foreman, Mr. Cobb, have rendered good service at recent fires.
* Source: Frank Soulé, John H. Gihon, M.D., and James Nisbet. The Annals of San Francisco. 1855: San Francisco