From Phil Stenholm:
Another installment in the History of the Evanston Fire Department.
AFTERMATH
Just over a month after the Boltwood School fire, on Monday evening, February 7, 1927, at 6:30 PM, Engine Co. 2 and Truck Co. 1 were dispatched to a fire at Lee Drugs located at 901 Chicago Ave. Upon arrival, they found a serious blaze and Chief Hofstetter immediately called for a second alarm. Engine Co. 1, Truck Co. 2, and CFIP Patrol No. 8 responded, while Engine Co. 3 temporarily moved its quarters to Station #1.
The off-duty platoon was called in to help staff the reserve Robinson Jumbo pumper and assist the firefighters already on the scene. The EFD worked through the freezing night and into the next morning, but the drug store was completely destroyed, suffering a loss of $50,397 — the fifth-highest fire-related loss in Evanston's history up to that point.
On April 5, 1927, following the Boltwood School and Lee Drugs fires, Evanston voters overwhelmingly approved a $75,000 bond issue aimed at building a fourth fire station near Dempster and Dodge. The funds also covered the purchase of two 1,000-GPM triple-combination pumpers, a new “auto-buggy†for the chief, a high-pressure turret nozzle, and additional large-diameter hose and nozzles.
The bond also authorized hiring 20 additional firefighters in 1927, with three more added in 1928. This would boost EFD membership from 61 to 84 — a 38% increase. The chief would work during business hours at Station #1 but remain on call otherwise, while the new fire prevention inspector would also work regular hours. Each platoon would have 41 men, with a minimum of 34 on duty per shift, even if one crew was short, which was common due to vacations, sick leave, or overtime.
A used 1925 Lincoln Model “L†sedan was purchased for $2,000, replacing the 1917 Haynes touring car that had served as the chief’s vehicle for a decade. Seagrave won the contract for the two pumpers, beating out American-LaFrance and Ahrens-Fox. They delivered two 1,000-GPM triple-combination pumpers with a 50-gallon booster tank and hose reel for $24,480 total. By 1927, most manufacturers had replaced the old soda-acid chemical tanks with the newer Ahrens-Fox booster systems.
Seagrave offered several models at the time, including the 300, 400, and 500-GPM “Suburbanite,†the 600-GPM “Special,†the 750 and 1,000-GPM “Standard,†and the heavy-duty 1,300-GPM “Metropolite.†The two Seagrave Standards bought by Evanston in 1927 became the backbone of the department, serving for 25 years before becoming reserves.
On May 1, 1927, the city council approved hiring 20 new firefighters, effective November 1, to support the two new engine companies. Engine Co. 4 would be based at Station #2 and later move to the new Fire Station #4, while Engine Co. 5 would operate as the second engine company at Station #1. Engine Co. 2 and Engine Co. 5 received the new Seagrave pumpers, while Engine Co. 4 used an older American-LaFrance tractorized steamer and a Seagrave chemical and hose booster previously assigned to Engine Co. 2.
The council also approved pay raises across the board, including $25 monthly increases for the chief and assistant chief, $5 for captains, lieutenants, and engineers, and $10 for new “Fireman I†(with at least one year of experience). The rank of “assistant motor driver†was eliminated and merged with Fireman I, but “assistant engineer†remained due to the specialized skills needed for steam engines. “Fireman II†(less than one year of experience) did not receive a raise, and a new position, “engineer-mechanic,†was created to handle routine maintenance at Station #1.
On June 10, 1927, the Civil Service Board conducted the first major test for Fireman II and promotions to captain, lieutenant, engineer-mechanic, and motor driver-engineer. It was one of the busiest testing days in the city’s history. There was a sense of excitement and anticipation as the department prepared to expand significantly.
Then, on Sunday afternoon, September 18, 1927, Captain J.E. Mersch of Engine Co. 1 was seriously injured when the Evanston police ambulance he was riding in was struck broadside by a bus at Lake and Sheridan. He and two officers were en route to Greenwood Street Beach for an inhalator run to save a drowning victim. Officer Richard Guess was critically injured and permanently disabled, while Mersch suffered a broken leg and other injuries. It was feared he might never walk again. The 1916 White/Erby ambulance was totaled, and the victim died.
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