Evanston Fire Department history – Part 7
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June 08 13:13:41, 2025
Over the years, the history of the Evanston Fire Department has been marked by significant milestones and innovations. One such milestone occurred in the wake of the devastating Lincoln Avenue schoolhouse fire in March 1894. Following this event, the city invested $4,000 in a Gamewell Fire Alarm Telegraph system, which was installed over a span of three months, starting in November 1894 and concluding in February 1895. Initially equipped with 20 fire alarm boxes, the system expanded significantly over the decades. By 1905, there were 37 operational boxes, and by 1935, the number had grown to 51. In 1958, these fire alarm boxes and telegraph systems were replaced with a modern network of 80 police/fire emergency telephones manufactured by Western Electric.
Beyond providing the public with a way to report fires, the fire alarm telegraph played a crucial role in enhancing communication within the department. Members of the fire department, often senior officers or the chief's drivers, could relay updates and progress reports from the scene of an incident directly to the chief’s residence, various fire stations, the waterworks pumping station, or even the police switchboard. This two-way communication allowed for efficient coordination, ensuring that firefighters at specific alarm boxes could be informed about other emergencies across the city or receive critical updates.
Not long after the fire alarm telegraph was up and running, the Evanston City Council allocated an additional $4,000 to acquire the department’s first steam fire engine. Known as "City of Evanston No. 1," this impressive machine was built in Cincinnati by the Ahrens Manufacturing Company, a subsidiary of the American Fire Engine Company. Capable of pumping 600 gallons of water per minute, it was a second-size Metropolitan steamer pulled by two horses. It was put into service at Station #1 in April 1895, just two months after the installation of the fire alarm telegraph was completed.
Initially, the department lacked enough horses to pull the new steamer, so the two horses previously assigned to the Babcock chemical engine were reassigned to the steamer, placing the chemical engine in reserve until additional horses could be acquired in 1899.
J.A. “Dad†Patrick, a former Waterworks engineer, was hired as the fire department’s engineer in 1895, tasked with operating the steamer. Edward Mersch joined as an assistant engineer in 1896, aiding Patrick and stepping in whenever Patrick was unavailable. During the steam era, having a skilled engineer was invaluable. Prior to World War I, the position of engineer was the second highest-paid role in the EFD, surpassed only by the chief. Even as late as 1904, the salary of Engine Co. 1’s assistant engineer equaled that of its company officer.
Civil Service regulations were introduced in Evanston in 1895, establishing fair hiring practices for city employees. Only five members of the fire department—Jack Sweeting, George Hargreaves, Carl Harms, Edwin Whitcomb, and J.A. Patrick—qualified under these new rules. The fire marshal position remained exempt. Jack Sweeting was promoted to captain of Engine Co. 1 around this time. Five new firefighters, including Assistant Engineer Ed Mersch, were hired between 1895 and 1896 following successful Civil Service exams. Similar to military service, all firemen were on duty around the clock, though they were permitted to take meal breaks away from the firehouse and occasionally visit their homes.
In 1897, a combined fire and police headquarters was built at the northwest corner of Grove and Sherman Streets. Funded by a $40,000 bond issue approved by Evanston voters in April 1896, Fire Station #1 featured four large apparatus bays, with a fifth bay serving as a garage for the new horse-drawn police ambulance. The building was decommissioned in the summer of 1949 and eventually demolished. For over 25 years, the site served as a parking lot for the nearby Valencia Theatre. Later, in the 1970s, it became the location of one of Evanston’s first high-rise office buildings, originally named One American Plaza. Construction began in December 1975 and was completed in 1977.
For those interested in reading further installments of this fascinating history, click here.