From Phil Stenholm: Another installment in our series on the History of the Evanston Fire Department. As part of this expansion, Engine Company 4 was established at Fire Station #2. Ten firefighters were assigned to the new unit, which was equipped with a tractorized steamer and a booster-pumper that had previously belonged to Engine Company 2. Pat Gaynor became the first captain of Engine Co. 4. The company moved into brand-new Station #4 at 1817 Washington Street on December 30, 1927. This two-bay station was the first in Evanston specifically built for automobile apparatus, featuring a kitchen and dining room in its original design. On the same day, Engine Company 5 was also formed at Fire Station #1. Twelve men were assigned to the new company, which received one of the newly acquired Seagrave "Standard" 1000-GPM pumpers (the other was assigned to Engine Co. 2). Engine Co. 5 was designated as the primary engine company for the downtown "high-value district" for many years. Henry Tesnow became the first captain of the company. However, Capt. J.E. Mersch, who was originally intended to lead Engine Co. 5, suffered a serious leg injury in September 1927 when the police ambulance he was riding in was hit by a bus. After being discharged from the hospital in May 1928, it was determined that he could no longer serve as a firefighter. Instead of taking a disability pension, Capt. Mersch was appointed to the newly created position of "Fire Prevention Inspector." He was later promoted to Assistant Chief Fire Marshal in 1932 and continued serving in both roles until his death in October 1950 at the age of 67. With Capt. Mersch now in charge of fire prevention, Lt. Ed McEnery was promoted to captain, and Fireman Frank Didier was promoted to lieutenant. Capt. Tom McEnery was also promoted to Assistant Chief Fire Marshal and Platoon Commander, as assistant chiefs now oversaw each of the two platoons. With five engine companies and two truck companies now active, the EFD’s response to alarms changed significantly. Instead of sending one engine and one truck for structure fires, two engines and one truck would respond to general alarms. In the downtown high-value district, three engines and one truck would be dispatched, while three engines and two trucks would go to hospitals, sanitariums, nursing homes, and schools during school hours. Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol No. 8 continued to respond to all working fires involving high-value properties in Evanston from its location at 3921 N. Ravenswood Avenue, as it had since June 1922. Truck Companies 1 and 2 remained stationed at Fire Station #1, with Truck Co. 1 (operating with the TDA) serving as the first-due truck east of Asbury Avenue, and Truck Co. 2 (with the city service truck) responding west of Asbury. Engine Co. 1 was now the city-wide second engine and responded to inhalator calls across Evanston. Engine Co. 2 was first due east of Asbury and south of Greenleaf Street, and served as the third engine south of Dempster west of Asbury and east of Asbury between Greenleaf and Foster. Engine Co. 3 was first due north of Church Street west of Asbury and north of Foster Street east of Asbury. Engine Co. 4 was first due west of Asbury and south of Church Street. Engine Co. 5 was first due east of Asbury between Greenleaf and Foster, including the downtown high-value district, and served as the third engine in several areas. If available, Engine Co. 2 would transfer to Station #1 if Engine Co. 5 was on a call, and either Engine Co. 3 or 4 would move to Station #1 with the reserve inhalator on board if Engine Co. 1 was engaged. Before radios were installed in 1952, quick return to quarters was essential, as crews had no communication while on duty. Each platoon had 41 members. Truck Co. 1 had 14 men (seven per platoon, with one acting as the chief’s buggy driver), Truck Co. 2 had 12 (six per platoon), and Engine Co. 1, 2, and 5 each had 12. Engine Co. 3 and 4 had 10 each (five per platoon). Each company could operate with one man short, so the minimum staffing on any shift was 34. The assistant chiefs, Ed Johnson and Tom McEnery, worked opposite platoons and were also company officers. Chief Albert Hofstetter continued to respond to routine alarms while on duty and was picked up at home if off-duty. Starting in May 1928, assistant chiefs began responding to alarms in the chief’s car, acting as the on-scene commander with the authority to request additional help if needed. More V-Grooving Machine,Sheet Metal Equipment Router,grooving machine manufacturer | supplier | price | for sale | video demonstration | specifications | maintenance | parts | accessories FOSHAN RAGOS NC EQUIPMENT CO.,LTD. , https://www.ragosnc.com
In November 1927, the Evanston Fire Department underwent a major expansion. Two lieutenants, Henry Tesnow and Carl Windelborn, were promoted to captain. Firemen Walter Boekenhauer, Michael Garrity, Anthony Steigelman, and John Wynn were promoted to lieutenant. J.K. Wilen, the motor driver, was given the new title of “Engineer – Mechanic.†Additionally, twenty new firefighters were hired: Harold Anderson, John Anderson, Albert Balmes, Charles Bammesberger, Fred Carlson, Herbert Claussen, Norman Fochs, Edward Hanrahan, Knud Hanson, Milton Kummer, Charles Lapp, Fred Michelau, Louis Morgan, William Murphy, Elmer Nepstad, Charles Novak, Fred Schumacher, Francis Williams, B.V. Williamson, and L.P. Williamson. These men were evenly split between the two platoons, with no More than three assigned to any single company.
Evanston Fire Department history Part 35
EXPANSION