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Evanston Fire Department history Part 61
From Phil Stenholm:
Another chapter unfolds regarding the **History of the Evanston Fire Department**.
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**NBFU '59**
Back in 1959, the National Board of Fire Underwriters (NBFU) inspected the Evanston Fire Department (EFD) for the first time since 1935. They awarded the EFD a "Class 3" rating, which was the same grade it had received in 1935. In the greater Chicago area, only the Chicago Fire Department managed a higher "Class 2" rating. The Evanston FD and the Oak Park FD were the sole suburban fire departments in the Chicago area to receive the "Class 3" rating from the NBFU as of 1959. By 1971, however, the Skokie Fire Department had advanced to "Class 2," while the Winnetka Fire Department achieved "Class 3."
The NBFU recommendations for the EFD following the 1959 inspection included setting up an additional engine company at Station #1 to replace the relocated Engine 25, restoring pre-1957 staffing levels so that five men would be assigned to each shift at Station #1 and four men to each shift at the other four stations, mandatory annual physical exams for all firefighters over 55, mandatory retirement at 62, and making the chief fire marshal a civil service position instead of a political appointment.
While the EFD implemented the requirement for annual physical exams for firefighters over 55, other recommendations were not followed through. For instance, Squad 21 was reinstated in 1963 at Station #1, but despite its 1952 Pirsch rig having a 1,000-GPM pump, a 100-gallon water tank, and a booster line, it was not classified as an engine company due to the lack of a hosebed to carry a standard engine company's hose load.
The iconic Gamewell Fire Alarm Telegraph boxes, once located at many Evanston street corners and in front of schools and hospitals, were replaced in 1959 with 80 Western Electric police/fire emergency phones. These were directly linked to the city's police/fire communication center. Since 1895, the Gamewell system had been in use, but the new phones allowed individuals to describe the exact nature of emergencies, ensuring prompt dispatch of appropriate assistance. Each phone was housed in a bright red box with reflective lettering. After their installation, EFD engine companies no longer had to respond to "check the box" alarms. If an emergency phone was picked up without any voice, the nearest police officer would be sent to investigate what was termed a "cold box." Firefighters would only respond if a citizen reported a fire or required an inhalator. These phones also gave police officers and firefighters a way to contact headquarters when radio communications were impractical.
Capt. Jim Wheeler (who later became chief) and Capt. Willard Thiel (the EFD’s training officer) were promoted to assistant chiefs, while firemen Dan Lorden and Ed Pettinger were promoted to captains. Assistant Chief Jim Mersch retired after 23 years of service, and Capt. Joe Schumer resigned. Four new firefighters joined the EFD in 1958-59: Edward "Ted" Riley and LeRoy "Charlie" Rohrer (in June 1958), Leonard Conrad (in September 1958), and Ken Hatfield (in March 1959). Len Conrad was promoted to captain in 1964, just five years after joining, and became the EFD’s first "medical officer" in 1978.
In 1959, inhalators were assigned to all five EFD engine companies, ending Squad 21's role as the city-wide inhalator unit. Squad 21 now primarily handled special rescue calls and responded to fires when requested by a chief officer. A fire equipment mechanic typically operated Squad 21 when needed. The EFD averaged around 100 inhalator calls annually during the 1950s, roughly two per week. By 1965, this number had increased to about one per day, and to two or three per day by the time the EFD’s paramedic MICU ambulance service launched in 1976.
Both F-1 (Chief Geishecker’s 1957 Ford station wagon) and F-2 (the platoon commander’s 1956 Chevrolet station wagon) were equipped with stretchers and first-aid kits in 1959, similar to the police station-wagon patrol-ambulances. However, the EFD station wagons were merely backup ambulances, dispatched only when no police ambulances were available. F-1 was replaced with a new Ford station wagon in 1962, and F-2 was replaced with a new Plymouth station wagon in 1963.
In 1959, the Scott Funeral Home offered the EFD a Cadillac ambulance (formerly a hearse), but the city manager politely declined. At the time, the police department was handling ambulance services, supported by two EFD stretcher-equipped station wagons. Adding a Cadillac ambulance would have necessitated hiring more firefighters—something deemed unlikely—or removing Truck Co. 23 from service, which was seen as unwise. Disappointed, the funeral home donated the ambulance to the Skokie Fire Department instead.
George and Effie Dye tragically died in a house fire at 1803 Hartrey Avenue in 1959. Units from Station #1 and Station #5 arrived within four minutes but couldn't save the couple. Evanston typically saw one or two fire-related fatalities annually, but this marked the first time more than one person had died in the same fire since firefighters George Stiles and William Craig perished at the Mark Manufacturing Company fire in 1905. The Dyes' residence on Hartrey was located farthest from an Evanston fire station, though still within NBFU standards of the era.
In November 1959, a fire gutted the Davis Furniture store at 721 Main Street, causing $155,000 in losses. Within minutes, three engine companies, two truck companies, Squad 21, and several cross-trained police officers were on the scene. Engine 25 and Truck 23 moved to Station #1, and Engine 25 and Squad 22 (the high-pressure/hose truck) responded defensively. Off-duty firefighters arrived to man reserve engines, and those not staffing reserves were transported to the fire via CD pickup trucks.
Fire Prevention Bureau Captain George Croll passed away after a long illness in January 1960, and Fireman Art Windelborn retired in 1961 after 33 years of service. Fireman William Lapworth was promoted to captain, and Bob Schwarz, Richard Beucus, and William Lemieux were hired. Bob Schwarz became a founding member of the EFD’s elite arson squad (FPB’s fire investigation unit) when it was established in 1975.
In May 1961, an inexplicable explosion severely damaged the North Shore Overall uniform store at 1818 Dempster Street. Fortunately, there were no injuries as the blast occurred when the store was closed. Still, it caused $107,000 worth of damage. The EFD’s Fire Prevention Bureau lacked the expertise to investigate, so the Illinois State Fire Marshal took over the case.
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This account reflects my personal notes and observations from the time, pieced together over decades. Many details remain vivid in my memory, even though some specifics may have faded with time.