Another Look at the History of the Evanston Fire Department
Following the devastating Lincoln Avenue schoolhouse fire in March 1894, the city of Evanston took decisive action to improve its emergency response. A Gamewell Fire Alarm Telegraph system, featuring 20 fire alarm boxes, was installed over a three-month period between November 1894 and February 1895, at a cost of $4,000. This marked a significant step forward in public safety. By 1905, the number of active alarm boxes had grown to 37, and by 1935, there were 51 in use. In 1958, the old system was replaced with a modern network of 80 emergency telephones from Western Electric, reflecting the ongoing evolution of communication technology.
The fire alarm telegraph wasn’t just for the public to report fires—it also served as a vital communication tool for firefighters. Company officers or the chief’s buggy driver could send updates from the scene to the chief’s home, fire stations, the waterworks pumping station, or the police switchboard. The two-way capability allowed for real-time coordination, ensuring that firefighters could be alerted to new emergencies or receive critical information while on duty.
Shortly after the telegraph system was activated, the City Council allocated another $4,000 to purchase Evanston’s first steam fire engine. Built in Cincinnati by the Ahrens Manufacturing Company, a subsidiary of the American Fire Engine Company, this 600-GPM steamer was named “City of Evanston No. 1.†It was a second-size Metropolitan steamer with a two-horse hitch and was placed into service at Station #1 in April 1895, just two months after the fire alarm system was fully installed.
Since no additional horses were available, the two animals assigned to the Babcock chemical engine were reassigned to the steam engine, leaving the chemical unit in reserve until more horses could be obtained—this didn't happen until 1899.
In 1895, J.A. "Dad" Patrick, a former Waterworks engineer, was hired as the fire department's engineer. He was responsible for operating the steam engine. In 1896, Edward Mersch joined as an assistant engineer, helping Patrick and taking over when he was unavailable. During the steam era, skilled engineers were highly valued, and their salaries reflected their importance. Before World War I, the position of engineer was the second-highest paid in the EFD, just below the chief. Even as late as 1904, the assistant engineer of Engine Co. 1 earned as much as the company officer!
Civil Service was introduced for city employees in 1895. Only five EFD members—Jack Sweeting, George Hargreaves, Carl Harms, Edwin Whitcomb, and J.A. Patrick—qualified under the new system. The fire marshal position remained exempt. Jack Sweeting was promoted to captain of Engine Co. 1 during this time. Five new firefighters, including Assistant Engineer Ed Mersch, were hired in 1895–96 after passing Civil Service exams. Like soldiers on duty, all firefighters were always available, though they could take short meal breaks and occasional furloughs at home.
In 1897, a new fire and police headquarters was built at the northwest corner of Grove and Sherman. Funded by a $40,000 bond approved in April 1896, Fire Station #1 featured four large apparatus bays and a fifth bay used as a garage for the city’s first horse-drawn police ambulance. The building was abandoned in the summer of 1949 and later demolished. For over 25 years, the site was used as a parking lot for the Valencia Theatre before becoming the location of one of Evanston’s first high-rise office buildings, originally called One American Plaza. Construction began in December 1975 and was completed in 1977, marking the end of an era for the original fire station.
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