Evanston Fire Department history Part 48

Another part in the History of the Evanston Fire Department.

In 1949, Lt. John Schmidt returned from Germany and was promoted to captain, following Lt. William Owens’ promotion to captain and subsequent retirement after two decades of service. At the same time, Lt. Ed Fahrbach also moved up to captain and took command of Engine Co. 4. Meanwhile, Capt. Michael Garrity, an Irish-born officer, used his seniority to transfer from Station #4—located in the less developed southwest area of Evanston—to Station #3 on Green Bay Road in North Evanston, which had better access to public transportation. Around this time, Fireman Charles Novak was also promoted to lieutenant.

By 1950, Evanston’s population had grown to 73,641, a 20% increase since 1930. This growth was largely due to the post-WWII baby boom and the expansion of residential areas in both the southwest and northwest parts of the city. However, the Evanston Fire Department had not kept up with these changes. Although 50 new firefighters—mostly WWII veterans—had been hired between 1946 and 1949, the department's leadership was aging, worn out, and struggling to adapt.

Tragedy struck when Chief Albert Hofstetter passed away on September 24, 1950, at age 70, after 49.5 years of service with the EFD, including 36 years as Chief Fire Marshal. He had hoped to retire on his 50th anniversary in March 1951, but he didn’t live that long. Just 17 days later, 1st Assistant Chief J.E. Mersch died of a heart attack while leading the annual Fire Prevention Week parade. Mersch had served 45 years with the department and was the first Fire Prevention Inspector, running the bureau alone for over two decades after a serious leg injury in 1927.

This period marked the end of an era. Within two years, four veteran chiefs—Hofstetter, Mersch, Tom McEnery, and Carl Windelborn—had either retired or passed away. Together, they had contributed 178 years of service, averaging nearly 45 years each. Their departure signaled a major shift in the department’s leadership and operations.

The last major fire under Hofstetter’s leadership was the destruction of the North Shore Flour Supply Company warehouse at 709 Chicago Ave in April 1950. Located just a short distance from Station #2, Engine Co. 2 responded quickly, using the hydrant next door and attacking the fire through the front entrance. Truck Co. 1 helped by laddering the roof and ventilating, while Engine Co. 1 provided a second line inside. However, the reinforced roof made ventilation difficult, forcing crews to retreat due to intense heat and smoke.

Engine Co. 4, 5, and Truck Co. 2 arrived on a second alarm, and Engine Co. 3 shifted to Station #1. Off-duty personnel were called in to help, and nearby stations became staging areas for relief and recovery. The fire eventually ended, but not before causing $70,000 in damages.

Following the incident, the assistant chiefs organized training on proper vertical ventilation. During the session, it was discovered that the wooden aerial ladder on Truck No. 1 was deteriorating. Though the ground ladders had been replaced in 1938, the aerial ladder, trailer, and tractor were 25 years old.

With Hofstetter on medical leave, Assistant Chief Henry Dorband met with the mayor and aldermen to discuss the issue. Three options were presented: replacing the ladder ($15,000), replacing the ladder and trailer ($25,000), or replacing the entire unit ($35,000). The city chose the third option.

To their surprise, Peter Pirsch & Sons of Kenosha, Wisconsin, submitted the lowest bid and won the contract. The new TDA would be the first non-Seagrave apparatus purchased by Evanston since 1911. For decades, Evanston had relied heavily on Seagrave, spending over $135,000 between 1917 and 1949 on pumps, ladders, and repairs. But by 1950, Seagrave was overwhelmed with post-war orders, often delaying deliveries by up to two years. This shift marked the beginning of a new chapter for the Evanston Fire Department.

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