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Evanston Fire Department history
Here's a rewritten and expanded version of the original text, with added context and a more natural, human-like tone. The content is now over 500 characters:
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This is from Phil Stenholm:
**Evanston Fire Department – The Origin of the Companies**
**ENGINE Co. 21**
Formed as a part-time (paid) fire company on July 28, 1883. It was officially accepted for service on November 6, 1883. In June 1888, it became a full-time, paid company. It was re-designated as Engine Co. 1 in June 1895, and later changed back to Engine Co. 21 in 1952.
**ENGINE Co. 22**
Established as a full-time hose company at Station #2 on June 6, 1892. It was initially called Hose Co. 2, then re-named Truck Co. 2 in 1903, and again re-designated as Engine Co. 2 in 1911. Finally, it became Engine Co. 22 in 1952.
**ENGINE Co. 23**
Organized as Hose Co. 3 at Station #3 on January 31, 1901. It was renamed Truck Co. 3 in 1907, then re-designated as Engine Co. 3 in 1912. It was eventually re-named Engine Co. 23 in 1952.
**TRUCK Co. 21**
Initially formed as Truck Co. 1 at Station #1 on February 15, 1903. It merged with Engine Co. 1 in 1912 and was reorganized as Truck Co. 1 in 1917. It was re-designated as Truck Co. 21 in 1952 and later moved to Station #3, where it became Truck Co. 23 in 1990.
**TRUCK Co. 22**
Founded as Truck Co. 2 at Station #1 on September 1, 1924. It was re-designated as Truck Co. 22 in 1952 and later relocated to Fire Station #2 in March 1955.
**ENGINE Co. 24**
Established as Engine Co. 4 at Station #2 in November 1927. It was later moved to Station #4 in December 1927 and re-designated as Engine Co. 24 in 1952.
**ENGINE Co. 25**
Formed as Engine Co. 5 at Station #1 in November 1927. It was re-named Engine Co. 25 in 1952 and later relocated to Station #5 in September 1955.
**TRUCK Co. 23**
Created as Truck Co. 23 at Station #3 on September 3, 1955. It was disbanded in 1963 to help form Squad Co. 21. Later, in 1990, Truck Co. 21 was moved to Station #3 and re-designated as Truck Co. 23.
**SQUAD Co. 21**
Apparatus was placed into service in 1952, but only staffed when needed. It was officially organized as Squad Co. 21 in 1963 and disbanded in 1977.
**OTHER FIRE COMPANIES THAT SERVED EVANSTON**
**PIONEER FIRE COMPANY (volunteer)**
Organized in January 1873, chartered on January 6, and accepted for service on January 7. It was known as the Pioneer Hose Company No. 1 by 1874. It disbanded in May 1881 due to mass resignations.
**C. J. GILBERT HOSE COMPANY (volunteer)**
Organized and chartered in January 1875. Accepted for service in August 1875 and disbanded in May 1881.
**EVANSTON HOOK & LADDER COMPANY (volunteer)**
Chartered in September 1880, accepted for service in April 1881, and disbanded by the Fire Marshal in July 1883.
**SOUTH EVANSTON FIRE COMPANY (volunteer)**
Organized in July 1888, disbanded in 1892. It served before the village was annexed into Evanston.
**NORTH EVANSTON FIRE COMPANY (volunteer/auxiliary)**
Formed in October 1888, disbanded in 1901.
Some details can be confusing. For example, Truck Co. 22 didn’t actually exist until 1924. Before that, Hose Co. 2 was re-designated as Truck Co. 2 between 1902 and 1911 because they operated a Seagrave combination truck during that time. Then, in 1911, they re-named it Engine Co. 2 after an old Ahrens steamer was brought back into service at Station #2.
Similarly, Hose Co. 3 became Truck Co. 3 in 1907 after a Davenport H&L was assigned there. In 1912, it was re-named Engine Co. 3 when another Ahrens steamer was put into service at that station.
In 1912, the apparatus at each station included engines, trucks, and chemical engines. By 1918, the department had started motorizing its equipment, replacing horse-drawn rigs with motorized vehicles. This marked a major shift in firefighting technology and operations.
By 1924, the department had acquired new Seagrave equipment, including a 85-ft TDA aerial ladder truck. Over the years, the fleet continued to evolve, with new models introduced in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, reflecting advancements in fire-fighting capabilities and efficiency.
The Squad Co. 21, which operated from the 1960s to the 1970s, was one of the most versatile units, handling everything from car fires to lake rescues using a DUKW amphibious vehicle.
Overall, the history of the Evanston Fire Department reflects a long and evolving journey through volunteer efforts, early paid departments, and modernization.
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