March 24, 1900 - Keel laid in Elizabeth Port, NJ with an original cost of $91,000 ($3,417,840.83 in 2025)

 

The Boat would become the 3rd of BFD's fleet, after the John T. Hutchinson (Engine 23) and George R. Potter (Engine 29). 

September 5, 1900 - Officially christened with original name William S. Grattan (Engine 20) by Virginia Pearson (daughter of Buffalo Fire Dept. Commissioner).

November 15, 1900 - William S. Grattan Fireboat officially in service weighing 274 gross tons, with 2 coal boilers and able to pump 9,000 GPM.

July 28, 1928 - While fighting an oil barge fire, the Fireboat was engulfed in flames. The crew had to abandon ship and swim to shore. Chief Engineer Thomas Lynch lost his life while seven other crew members were also injured.

1930 - The Fireboat was rebuilt at the Buffalo Dry Dock Company and her boilers were converted from coal to oil. The engines were rebuilt and foam fire retardant capabilities were added to the firefighting systems

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1952 - 1953 - The William S. Grattan Fireboat was sent to Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding in Wisconsin where her steam engines were replaced with diesel engines, twin propellers replaced the old single propeller and the firefighting platform was outfitted with hydraulics. When the rebuilt Fireboat made it back to Buffalo, it was also given a new name, Firefighter.

1954 - The William S. Grattan, now known as the Firefighter, was given a new name in honor of a well respected, recently deceased president of the Firefighters Local 282 and the Fireboat continues to bear his name, "Edward M. Cotter."

 

October 7, 1960 - The Fireboat assisted the Port Colborne Fire Department (Ontario, Canada) with a massive grain elevator fire at Maple Leaf Milling in Port Colborne.

1978 - The USS Little Rock was on display at the Buffalo Naval Park and began taking on water and listing. Edward M. Cotter pumped water off for 5 days keeping the ship upright during repairs.

 

1977 - Edward M. Cotter also assisted the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Ojibwa when she lost her steering and started taking on water on December 31st. The Edward M. Cotter towed the Ojibwa to base and kept her afloat during repairs.

1980 - While returning from an outing, the tugboat Nash from the Army Corps of Engineers began listing. The Edward M. Cotter assisted by pumping water out to stabilize the tug.

1984 - Edward M. Cotter towed Polish tall ship Zawisza Czarny off a sand bar during a Buffalo visit.

July 4, 1996 - Designated a "National Historic Landmark" by the National Parks Service

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January 29, 2016 - The Edward M Cotter Conservancy was formed, thus aiding in the efforts to upkeep and preserve this historic vessel. 

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 June 25, 2023 - the Inaugural Cotterfest took place, starting a new tradition to celebrate one of Buffalos greatest gems!

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