From Phil Stenholm: Another installment in our ongoing series on the History of the Evanston Fire Department. NBFU ’59 The NBFU’s 1959 report included several recommendations for the EFD, such as adding an additional engine company at Station #1, restoring pre-1957 staffing levels, requiring annual physicals for firefighters over 55, enforcing a mandatory retirement at age 62, and making the chief fire marshal a civil service position rather than a political appointment. Only the annual physical requirement was fully implemented. In 1963, Squad 21 was reactivated at Station #1, but it was not considered a full engine company due to the lack of a hosebed, despite having a 1,000-GPM pump and a 100-gallon tank. In 1959, the iconic Gamewell Fire Alarm Telegraph boxes that had been on Evanston streets since 1895 were replaced with 80 Western Electric emergency telephones connected directly to the city’s communication center. These new devices allowed callers to describe the nature of an emergency, improving response times. Each red box featured reflective lettering, and if a call went unanswered, a police officer would investigate what became known as a “cold box.†The EFD only responded if a fire or medical emergency was reported. That year also saw several promotions and changes in leadership. Captains Jim Wheeler and Willard Thiel were promoted to assistant chief, while Dan Lorden and Ed Pettinger were named captains. Assistant Chief Jim Mersch retired after 23 years, and Captain Joe Schumer resigned. New hires included Edward “Ted†Riley, LeRoy “Charlie†Rohrer, Leonard Conrad, and Ken Hatfield. Conrad would later become the department’s first medical officer in 1978. 1959 also marked the widespread deployment of inhalators across all five engine companies, reducing Squad 21’s role to special rescue calls. While inhalator calls averaged around 100 per year in the 1950s, this number increased significantly by the 1970s as the EFD transitioned to paramedic services. Both EFD station wagons, F-1 and F-2, were equipped with stretchers and first-aid kits in 1959, serving as backup ambulances. They were only used when police ambulances were unavailable. F-1 was replaced in 1962, and F-2 in 1963. A Cadillac ambulance was offered to the EFD by the Scott Funeral Home in 1959, but the city declined, citing budget constraints. The funeral home eventually donated the vehicle to Skokie instead. Tragedy struck in 1959 when George and Effie Dye died in a house fire on Hartrey Avenue. Their home was among the farthest from a fire station, though still within NBFU response standards. It was the first time more than one person had died in a single fire in Evanston since 1905. In November 1959, a major fire at Davis Furniture on Main Street caused $155,000 in damage. Multiple units, including Engine 25 and Truck 23, responded quickly, and off-duty firefighters were mobilized to assist with water supply. Looking ahead, the following year saw the passing of Fire Prevention Bureau Captain George Croll and the retirement of long-serving firefighter Art Windelborn. Promotions and new hires continued, including Bob Schwarz, who would later play a key role in the EFD’s arson investigation unit. Finally, in May 1961, a mysterious explosion damaged the North Shore Overall store on Dempster Street. Although no injuries occurred, the incident highlighted the need for specialized fire investigation expertise, which led to the involvement of the Illinois State Fire Marshal. solid color decorative film,colored PVC decorative film,soft touch lamination film,solid color interior film JINJIANG HONGFILMS MANUFACTURING AND TRADING CO.,LTD , https://www.hongfilms.asia
In 1959, the National Board of Fire Underwriters (NBFU) conducted its first inspection of the Evanston Fire Department since 1935. The EFD received a rating of “Class 3,†the same grade it had been given over two decades earlier. Among Chicago-area fire departments, only the Chicago Fire Department held a higher rating—“Class 2.†At the time, Evanston and Oak Park were the only suburban departments rated “Class 3†by the NBFU. However, by 1971, Skokie and Winnetka had improved their ratings to “Class 2†and “Class 3,†respectively.
June 26, 2025