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These machines are commonly used in industries such as mining, construction, agriculture, and manufacturing, where large volumes of materials need to be moved, sorted, or processed efficiently. They are designed to handle a wide range of bulk materials, including minerals, ores, grains, chemicals, and construction materials.
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Evanston Fire Department history Part 48
From Phil Stenholm:
Another chapter in the story of the **History of Evanston Fire Department**
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**THE END OF AN ERA**
Lt. John Schmidt returned from Germany in 1949 and was promptly promoted to Captain after Lt. William Owens was elevated to Captain, only to retire almost immediately following 20 years of dedicated service. Meanwhile, Lt. Ed Fahrbach moved up to Captain and took charge of Engine Co. 4. Irish-born Capt. Michael Garrity, leveraging his seniority, transferred from Station #4—then considered the less desirable southwest corner of Evanston—to Station #3 on Green Bay Road in North Evanston, which offered better access to public transit. Around the same time, Fireman Charles Novak was promoted to Lieutenant.
By 1950, Evanston's population had surged to 73,641, marking a 20% increase from 1930. This growth was largely due to the post-WWII baby boom and the development of southwest and northwest Evanston. Yet, despite hiring 50 new firefighters—most of them WWII veterans—the leadership of the EFD remained entrenched in older, declining figures. Change was inevitable.
Tragically, EFD Chief Albert Hofstetter passed away on September 24, 1950, at the age of 70, after 49½ years of service, including 36+ years as Chief Fire Marshal. Even though he was gravely ill in the weeks preceding his death, Chief Hofstetter had hoped to retire on his Golden Anniversary in March 1951. His wish went unfulfilled. Just 17 days later, 67-year-old 1st Assistant Chief Fire Marshal J.E. Mersch succumbed to a heart attack while leading the annual Fire Prevention Week parade up Orrington Avenue. Chief Mersch had served 45 years with the department, becoming the first Fire Prevention Inspector in 1927 and running the Fire Prevention Bureau singlehandedly until his untimely death.
These losses followed the retirements of two other long-serving chiefs—46-year veteran Assistant Chief Tom McEnery and 38-year veteran Assistant Chief Carl Windelborn—just two years earlier. Together, these four veterans had collectively logged 178 years of service, averaging over 44 years each!
One of the last major fires under Chief Hofstetter occurred in April 1950 when the North Shore Flour Supply Company warehouse at 709 Chicago Ave caught fire. Located mere feet from Station #2, Engine Co. 2 arrived within a minute, securing a hydrant to the south and attacking the blaze through the front door. Engine Co. 1 and Truck Co. 1 provided backup, with truckmen climbing the roof and ventilating it while pipemen from Engine Co. 1 followed Engine Co. 2 into the building. However, Truck Co. 1 struggled to properly ventilate the reinforced roof, forcing the interior crews to retreat to avoid smoke inhalation and extreme heat. Engine Co. 4, Engine Co. 5, and Truck Co. 2 responded to a second alarm, with Engine Co. 3 relocating to Station #1. Off-duty personnel were called in to staff reserve vehicles at Stations #3 and #4 and relieve exhausted firefighters. Nearby Station #2 served as both a staging area and a rest station. Ultimately, the fire was extinguished, but not before causing $70,000 worth of damage to the building and its contents.
A few days later, the assistant chiefs overseeing Truck Co. 1 and Truck Co. 2 organized training for their respective companies on proper vertical ventilation techniques. During the session, they noticed significant deterioration in the wooden aerial ladder on Truck No. 1. Although the ground ladders had been replaced in 1938, the aerial ladder, trailer, and tractor were now 25 years old.
With Chief Hofstetter incapacitated due to illness, Assistant Chief Henry Dorband (officer of Truck Co. 1) met with Evanston’s mayor and aldermen to discuss replacing the aging aerial ladder. Three options were presented:
1. Replace the wooden aerial ladder with a metal one ($15,000).
2. Replace the aerial ladder and trailer ($25,000).
3. Replace the tractor, trailer, and aerial ladder ($35,000).
The city council chose option #3, issuing a bid request for a new tractor-drawn aerial ladder truck. Specifications included an 85-foot metal ladder, waterproof equipment compartments, and a canopy cab with rear-facing bench seating for four.
Surprisingly, Peter Pirsch & Sons of Kenosha, Wisconsin, submitted the lowest bid and secured the contract. Expected to arrive in August 1951, this would be the first non-Seagrave apparatus purchased by the City of Evanston since 1911. Over the years, Evanston had been one of Seagrave’s most loyal customers, investing over $135,000 between 1917 and 1949 for eight pumpers, three ladder trucks, a tractor, and major repairs in 1927 and 1928. However, by 1950, Seagrave was overwhelmed with post-war orders, sometimes delaying deliveries by two years, and losing bids they once would have easily won.
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I hope this revised version captures the essence of the original text while adding depth and authenticity!