**From Phil Stenholm:**
Another chapter in the **History of the Evanston Fire Department**:
*"GIVE THE LADY WHAT SHE WANTS!"*
June 10, 1947, was a day that tested the resilience of the Evanston Fire Department (EFD). Engine No. 4's pump failed during a routine annual test, and despite efforts to fix it, the 1917 Seagrave 750-GPM pumper proved beyond repair. This workhorse had served as Engine No. 1 from 1918 to 1937, and then as Engine No. 4 since 1938. Its frame and chassis were corroded and rusted, making it unlikely to last much longer even with a replacement pump.
Chief Albert Hofstetter, a respected figure with decades of service under his belt, approached the mayor and city council. With conviction, he argued that repairing the pump on such an aged vehicle was futile and costly. He emphasized that the safety of Evanston residents was at stake, successfully persuading the aldermen to approve an emergency budget of $18,000 for a brand-new triple-combination pumper.
Seagrave, naturally, secured the contract. In the meantime, the EFD’s only spare pumper—a 1917 Seagrave chemical & hose booster pumper rebuilt in 1930 as a 500-GPM Suburbanite TCP—was pressed back into service at Station No. 4. This left the department without a reserve pumper for the 18 months it would take Seagrave to deliver the new rig. Parts from the broken-down Seagrave were scavenged to keep the other two 1917 Seagrave engines operational, and eventually, the old chassis and remaining components were sold for scrap.
Downtown Evanston in 1948 was bustling, with several high-end stores contributing significantly to the city’s tax revenue. Key anchors included Wieboldt’s at 1007 Church Street, Lord’s at 1611 Orrington Avenue, and Marshall Field & Company at 1700 Sherman. Marshall Field’s Evanston location, though smaller than its iconic Chicago counterpart, was still regarded as the most prestigious department store along the North Shore.
Just before Christmas in 1948, disaster struck when the Marshall Field warehouse at 1224 Emerson Street caught fire. Four engine companies, two ladder companies, and several off-duty firefighters worked tirelessly to save as much merchandise as possible while containing the blaze. Unfortunately, Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol No. 8, which used to assist Evanston, had ceased operations in 1933.
During this fire, with no reserve pumper available, Engine Co. 4 operated with its regular crew and extra manpower from the off-duty platoon. Additionally, eight off-duty firefighters manned the reserve 1917 Seagrave city service truck stationed at Station No. 1. Despite these efforts, the loss to the Marshall Field warehouse and its contents reached an estimated $177,430—the third-highest fire-related loss in Evanston’s history at that time. Only two previous incidents—the Northwestern University Technological Institute fire in December 1940 and the Boltwood School fire in January 1927—resulted in greater losses.
The new state pension law led to a wave of retirements among veteran EFD members in 1948. First Assistant Chief Tom McEnery, with 46 years of service; Captain Ed McEnery (Tom’s brother), with 40 years; Third Assistant Chief Carl Windelborn, with 38 years; and Lieutenant Harry Jasper, with 28 years—all retired around the same time.
Assistant Chief J.E. Mersch took over as 1st Assistant Chief Fire Marshal following McEnery’s departure. Captain Henry Dorband moved up to Assistant Chief, taking charge of Truck Co. 1 and becoming a platoon commander. Captain Jim Geishecker filled Windelborn’s shoes as company officer of Truck Co. 2 and a platoon commander.
That year also saw promotions for several lieutenants. Ed Hanrahan, who aced the 1947 captain’s exam, became the company officer of Engine Co. 1. William Murphy ranked second on the test and assumed command of Engine Co. 5. Firefighters Lincoln Dickinson, Ronald Ford, William Owens, and Fred Schumacher earned promotions to lieutenant.
The departures of seasoned firefighters in 1948 were significant. Veterans like John Monks (38 years), John Lindberg (28 years), John Anderson (21 years), and Lou Knockaert (21 years) retired. So did Fire Equipment Mechanic Norman Fochs (21 years) and firefighters Dominic Bartholme (25 years), John Gleeson (21 years), Ted Thompson (21 years), and Walter Janz (20 years).
To fill the void left by retirees, 30 new recruits—most of them World War II veterans—passed the entry-level civil service exam between 1946 and 1949. This influx made the EFD noticeably younger.
As I reflect on these events, it strikes me how critical leadership and adaptability are in maintaining public safety. These stories remind us of the dedication required to protect our communities, especially during challenging times.
**Phil Stenholm**
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