From Phil Stenholm:
Another installment in the History of the Evanston Fire Department.
On March 11, 1919, five-year-old Robert Oldberg lost his life after his clothes caught fire while playing with matches in the basement of his home at 1024 Maple Ave. His mother suffered severe burns trying to put out the fire. Just a year later, Minerva Iverson, a maid working for the Walter Neilson family at 2711 Harrison Street, died from burns caused by an exploding alcohol stove while curling her hair. Ten years earlier, on December 27, 1910, a six-year-old girl died from burns after her clothes caught fire when she touched candles on a Christmas tree at the Rostowski residence on Washington Street. These tragic incidents highlighted the dangers of careless use of fire.
In response to these and other similar tragedies, Chief Albert Hofstetter launched a fire prevention education program on October 10, 1922, coinciding with National Fire Prevention Day—established the previous year by President Warren G. Harding to mark the 50th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire. The initiative involved sending EFD members into local schools to teach children about fire safety. This early effort eventually evolved into the Fire Prevention Bureau, created in 1929, and led to well-known campaigns like “Learn Not to Burn†and “Stop, Drop, and Roll.â€
On Saturday, December 16, 1922, at 6:20 AM, police officers William Lanning and Arthur Sievers discovered a fire at the Evanston Country Club, located at 1501 Oak Avenue. The EFD was quickly called, and flames were already rising 35 feet into the air. Engine Co. 2 responded on a second alarm, and Chief Hofstetter ordered additional crews to be dispatched. Off-duty firefighters arrived and helped mobilize resources, including the Robinson engine, which was assigned to Engine Co. 4. Despite their efforts, the clubhouse was destroyed, though nearby structures on Grove Street were saved. The fire caused $83,500 in damage, making it the second-largest fire loss in Evanston’s history at that time. The country club was rebuilt on the same site and later became the city hall in 1941.
Between 1892 and 1912, Evanston’s population grew from 15,277 to 26,253—a 65% increase. Then, from 1912 to 1922, the population rose to 43,339, a dramatic 80% increase. During this period, many of the classic hotels and apartment buildings still seen today were constructed. As the city expanded, so did the workload of the fire department. For example, between 1921 and 1922, Truck Co. 1 saw a 30% increase in alarms, Engine Co. 1 had a 15% rise, Engine Co. 2 experienced a staggering 62% increase, and Engine Co. 3 had a 24% increase.
Following a 1924 inspection, the National Board of Fire Underwriters (NBFU) recommended that the EFD acquire an aerial ladder truck for Truck Co. 1, build a fourth station near Dempster & Dodge, and establish new engine and ladder companies there. While the EFD did add an aerial ladder truck and formed a second truck company in 1924, the proposed fourth station was not built immediately. As a result, both truck companies operated from Station #1 for the next 30 years until Fire Station #2 opened in 1955.
Truck Co. 2, later known as Truck Co. 22, was established at Fire Station #1 on September 1, 1924. It initially had ten firefighters, later expanding to twelve. According to the NBFU report, the city service truck was assigned to Truck Co. 2, while Truck Co. 1 received a new 85-foot aerial ladder truck from Seagrave for $16,500. Tom McEnery, who had been captain of Engine Co. 1 since 1918, became the first captain of Truck Co. 2. Meanwhile, Capt. J. E. Mersch moved to Engine Co. 1, and Lt. Pat Gaynor was promoted to replace him at Engine Co. 2.
During this time, four firefighters were promoted to lieutenant. Lt. Harry Schaefer, whose son would later serve as an assistant chief, died in 1923. Lt. William Ludwig retired in 1924 after 20 years of service. Carl Windelborn and Ed Newton were promoted to fill those roles. Dan McKimmons and Henry Tesnow also became lieutenants when Truck Co. 2 was formed, with McKimmons taking over Engine Co. 1 and Tesnow serving as assistant officer for Truck Co. 2.
The two truck companies had distinct responsibilities. Truck Co. 1, equipped with the only aerial ladder truck until 1952, was first-due to all alarms east of Asbury Avenue, covering high-value areas like downtown, Northwestern University, hospitals, churches, and hotels. Truck Co. 2, operating with a city service truck until 1937 and then with a 65-foot ladder truck, handled fires west of Asbury, primarily in residential and industrial zones.
In September 1924, the Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol (CFIP) began assisting with fires in Evanston. Patrol No. 8, based at 3921 N. Ravenswood, was the first-due salvage unit. It was disbanded in 1933 due to budget cuts during the Great Depression. The CFIP officially dissolved in 1959, with many of its members joining local departments, including Skokie F.D., which acquired one of its trucks and appointed a former CFIP officer as chief.
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