Evanston Fire Department History – Part 9

Alongside the famous fires at Lincoln Avenue Schoolhouse in 1894, the steamship Morley on Lake Michigan in 1897, and the Harvey Hurd estate fire in 1899, the Evanston Fire Department faced numerous other significant blazes between 1894 and 1899. These incidents not only tested the bravery of the firefighters but also highlighted the challenges they faced in an era before modern firefighting equipment and protocols.

On Sunday morning, February 25, 1894, at 9:20 AM, choir member Walter Clark discovered a fire at the First Presbyterian Church on Chicago Avenue. The blaze was caused by a faulty furnace that had been lit early that morning. As with the church’s previous fire in 1875, the flames spread to the roof. Firefighter Ed Densmore was injured when bricks fell on him, though he escaped with minor injuries. Chief Sam Harrison became temporarily trapped in the basement due to heavy smoke but managed to escape. Although the fire didn’t spread to neighboring homes, one suffered exterior heat damage. The church was completely destroyed, marking a $30,700 loss—the third-largest fire-related loss in Evanston up to that point.

At 3 AM on April 14, 1896, the department responded to a fire in the basement of the Bartlett Building at Davis and Chicago. Upon arrival, crews found thick smoke and burning natural gas. The entire building quickly caught fire, damaging several nearby businesses, including a millinery shop, a plumbing store, and a jewelry store. The total loss was $13,500. Capt. Jack Sweeting injured his foot after falling from a ladder, while rookie firefighter William Wheldon Ely suffered a severe eye injury. Ely, who had recently earned top marks on the first-ever Civil Service exam, lost his job due to the injury—there was no pension system or insurance for firefighters back then.

On October 26, 1897, 5th Ward Alderman Thomas Ryan rescued a two-month-old baby from a burning home on Emerson Street. Tragically, the mother, Kate McDermott McDonnell, died in the fire, becoming the fourth fatality in an organized fire since 1873. Ryan later died in 1899 after being overcome by gas fumes while investigating the fire department, just as he was leading a city council inquiry into its operations.

On February 3, 1898, a fire broke out at St. Nicholas School on Ridge Avenue. Four teachers and 140 students were safely evacuated, but Sister Martha was overcome by smoke. Poor-quality hydrants in South Evanston, which had recently been annexed, hindered the initial response. Fireman George Hargreaves was knocked unconscious and suffered serious leg injuries when he fell through a window. He was out of action for over six weeks. The parish house was severely damaged, with $10,475 in losses.

On January 6, 1899, a fire erupted at the Oliver Building, located near the site of the Bartlett Building’s destruction two years prior. The fire started in the basement and spread upward, collapsing stoves and a furnace. Despite using five hose lines, the fire eventually destroyed the entire building, including a hardware store, an architect’s office, and McConnell Hall. The total loss was $13,000.

Finally, on February 9, 1899, the department responded to a fire at the luxurious home of Zalmon G. Sholes, heir to the Remington Typewriter fortune. His family was safely evacuated, but a natural gas explosion injured five firefighters. Chimneys collapsed during the fire, and despite multiple attempts to extinguish the flames, the fire reignited. A crew from the Northwestern Gas Light & Coke Company worked for over two and a half hours to shut off the gas supply. The total loss was $7,000.

To read all the installments of this history, click HERE

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