Another Chapter in the History of the Evanston Fire Department
Following the devastating fire at the Lincoln Avenue schoolhouse in March 1894, the city of Evanston took a significant step toward improving public safety. At a cost of $4,000, a Gamewell Fire Alarm Telegraph system was installed between November 1894 and February 1895, starting with 20 fire alarm boxes. Over time, the network expanded rapidly—by 1905, 37 boxes were in use, and by 1935, that number had grown to 51. In 1958, the system was replaced by a more modern setup: 80 emergency telephones from Western Electric, used by both police and fire departments.
The fire alarm system did more than just allow citizens to report fires—it also served as a vital communication tool for firefighters. Company officers or the chief’s buggy driver could send updates from the scene to the chief’s home, fire stations, the waterworks pumping station, or the police switchboard. This two-way communication allowed firefighters to stay informed about other incidents happening across the city or receive critical information in real time.
Just months after the fire alarm system became operational, the Evanston City Council approved an additional $4,000 to purchase the department’s first steam fire engine. Built in Cincinnati by Ahrens Manufacturing Company, a subsidiary of the American Fire Engine Company, the engine was named “City of Evanston No. 1.†It was a second-size Metropolitan steamer, equipped with a two-horse hitch and capable of pumping 600 gallons of water per minute. The engine was deployed at Station #1 in April 1895, only two months after the fire alarm system was completed.
Since no new horses were acquired to pull the steam engine, the two horses originally assigned to the Babcock chemical engine were reassigned, leaving the chemical engine out of service until 1899 when more horses became available.
In 1895, J. A. “Dad†Patrick, a former waterworks engineer, was hired as the fire department’s engineer. He was responsible for operating the steam engine. In 1896, Edward Mersch joined as an assistant engineer, helping Patrick and taking over when he was unavailable. During the steam era, engineers were highly valued, often earning the second-highest salary in the department—just behind the chief. Even in 1904, the salary of the assistant engineer on Engine Co. 1 was equal to that of the company officer.
Civil Service was introduced for city employees in 1895. Only five fire department members—Jack Sweeting, George Hargreaves, Carl Harms, Edwin Whitcomb, and J. A. Patrick—qualified under the new system. The position of fire marshal 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 in 1895–96 after passing Civil Service exams. Like soldiers on duty, all firefighters were always on call, though they were allowed short meal breaks and occasional furloughs.
In 1897, a new fire and police headquarters was built at the northwest corner of Grove and Sherman. Funded by a $40,000 bond approved in 1896, the building housed four large bays for fire apparatus and a fifth bay for a horse-drawn police ambulance. The facility was eventually abandoned in the summer of 1949 and later demolished. For over 25 years, the land was used as a parking lot for the Valencia Theatre before becoming the site of One American Plaza, a 18-story office building constructed in the 1970s.
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