Nicholas J. Hayes was appointed the third Fire Commissioner of the City of New York by Mayor George B. McClellan, Jr. on January 1, 1904 and he served in that position until his resignation on December 31, 1905 to become Sheriff. Mr. Hayes, born in Troy, New York, was a Tammany Hall politician holding positions as leader of the 28th Assembly District as well as appointments by the Tammany mayors.
After the death of Commissioner Hugh Bonner on March 13, 1908, Mayor McClellan reappointed him to be Commissioner again. At the time, his salary was $7,500. He served in that position until January 3, 1910, shortly after the end of the McClellan administration, making him the only person to fulfill the role of Fire Commissioner twice.
When Hayes took office, he stated publically that he found the Department in "terrible condition." He immediately petitioned the Mayor and the Board of Estimate and Apportionment for $2,000,000 to add companies and to make repairs to various apparatus. He laid blame on the Sturgis administration for these conditions. The scandal that dethroned Commissioner Lantry from office also named Hayes as being responsible during his first term for the purchase of inferior hose that was identified as the major factor in the deaths of three firefighters at the Parker Building fire in 1908. However, the report of the New York and National Boards of Fire Underwriters supposedly exonerated him from blame. When he took office the second time, he reported that he found the Department "running again under the best traditions."
He died on January 3, 1928 while he was the Acting Commissioner of Water Supply.
After the death of Commissioner Hugh Bonner on March 13, 1908, Mayor McClellan reappointed him to be Commissioner again. At the time, his salary was $7,500. He served in that position until January 3, 1910, shortly after the end of the McClellan administration, making him the only person to fulfill the role of Fire Commissioner twice.
When Hayes took office, he stated publically that he found the Department in "terrible condition." He immediately petitioned the Mayor and the Board of Estimate and Apportionment for $2,000,000 to add companies and to make repairs to various apparatus. He laid blame on the Sturgis administration for these conditions. The scandal that dethroned Commissioner Lantry from office also named Hayes as being responsible during his first term for the purchase of inferior hose that was identified as the major factor in the deaths of three firefighters at the Parker Building fire in 1908. However, the report of the New York and National Boards of Fire Underwriters supposedly exonerated him from blame. When he took office the second time, he reported that he found the Department "running again under the best traditions."
He died on January 3, 1928 while he was the Acting Commissioner of Water Supply.
Nicholas J. Hayes was appointed the third Fire Commissioner of the City of New York by Mayor George B. McClellan, Jr. on January 1, 1904 and he served in that position until his resignation on December 31, 1905 to become Sheriff. Mr. Hayes, born in Troy, New York, was a Tammany Hall politician holding positions as leader of the 28th Assembly District as well as appointments by the Tammany mayors.
After the death of Commissioner Hugh Bonner on March 13, 1908, Mayor McClellan reappointed him to be Commissioner again. At the time, his salary was $7,500. He served in that position until January 3, 1910, shortly after the end of the McClellan administration, making him the only person to fulfill the role of Fire Commissioner twice.
When Hayes took office, he stated publically that he found the Department in "terrible condition." He immediately petitioned the Mayor and the Board of Estimate and Apportionment for $2,000,000 to add companies and to make repairs to various apparatus. He laid blame on the Sturgis administration for these conditions. The scandal that dethroned Commissioner Lantry from office also named Hayes as being responsible during his first term for the purchase of inferior hose that was identified as the major factor in the deaths of three firefighters at the Parker Building fire in 1908. However, the report of the New York and National Boards of Fire Underwriters supposedly exonerated him from blame. When he took office the second time, he reported that he found the Department "running again under the best traditions."
He died on January 3, 1928 while he was the Acting Commissioner of Water Supply.
After the death of Commissioner Hugh Bonner on March 13, 1908, Mayor McClellan reappointed him to be Commissioner again. At the time, his salary was $7,500. He served in that position until January 3, 1910, shortly after the end of the McClellan administration, making him the only person to fulfill the role of Fire Commissioner twice.
When Hayes took office, he stated publically that he found the Department in "terrible condition." He immediately petitioned the Mayor and the Board of Estimate and Apportionment for $2,000,000 to add companies and to make repairs to various apparatus. He laid blame on the Sturgis administration for these conditions. The scandal that dethroned Commissioner Lantry from office also named Hayes as being responsible during his first term for the purchase of inferior hose that was identified as the major factor in the deaths of three firefighters at the Parker Building fire in 1908. However, the report of the New York and National Boards of Fire Underwriters supposedly exonerated him from blame. When he took office the second time, he reported that he found the Department "running again under the best traditions."
He died on January 3, 1928 while he was the Acting Commissioner of Water Supply.
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