Evanston Fire Department history Part 48

After returning from Germany in 1949, Lt. John Schmidt was promoted to captain, following Lt. William Owens’ promotion and subsequent retirement after 20 years of service. Meanwhile, Lt. Ed Fahrbach also climbed the ranks to become a captain and took charge of Engine Co. 4. Capt. Michael Garrity, an Irish-born officer, used his seniority to move from Station #4 in the less-developed southwest part of Evanston to Station #3 on Green Bay Road in North Evanston, which offered better access to public transportation. At the same time, Fireman Charles Novak was promoted to lieutenant, marking another shift in leadership.

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 struggled to keep up with these changes. Despite hiring 50 new firefighters between 1946 and 1949—mostly WWII veterans—the department’s leadership was aging, exhausted, and out of touch. Change was coming, though, and it arrived in the form of tragedy.

On September 24, 1950, EFD Chief Albert Hofstetter passed away at age 70, after serving the department for 49½ years, including 36+ years as Chief Fire Marshal. He had hoped to retire on his Golden Anniversary in March 1951, but his health had deteriorated rapidly in the months before his death. 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 EFD and was the first Fire Prevention Inspector, running the bureau single-handedly for over two decades after a leg injury in 1927. His passing marked the end of an era.

That year also saw the retirement of two other long-serving chiefs: Assistant Chief Tom McEnery (46 years) and Assistant Chief Carl Windelborn (38 years). Together, they had served a total of 178 years with the EFD—an average of more than 44 years each. Their departures left a significant void in leadership.

The last major fire under Hofstetter’s leadership occurred in April 1950 when a warehouse on Chicago Avenue caught fire. Located just a few hundred feet from Station #2, Engine Co. 2 responded quickly, but the fire proved difficult to control. Truck Co. 1 helped ventilate the roof, while Engine Co. 1 provided a second line. Despite their efforts, the heat and smoke forced crews to retreat. Additional units were called in, and the fire eventually burned out, causing $70,000 in damages.

Following the incident, assistant chiefs organized training sessions on proper ventilation techniques. During this time, they noticed that the wooden aerial ladder on Truck No. 1 was in poor condition. The truck’s ground ladders had been replaced in 1938, but the aerial ladder, trailer, and tractor were 25 years old. With Hofstetter on medical leave, Assistant Chief Henry Dorband met with city officials to discuss options for upgrading the equipment.

Three proposals were presented: replace the wooden ladder ($15,000), replace the ladder and trailer ($25,000), or replace all three components ($35,000). The city chose the third option. A contract was awarded to Peter Pirsch & Sons of Kenosha, Wisconsin, who submitted the lowest bid. The new TDA would be the first non-Seagrave apparatus purchased by Evanston since 1911.

For decades, Evanston had been one of Seagrave’s top customers, spending over $135,000 between 1917 and 1949 on pumpers, ladder trucks, and repairs. But by 1950, Seagrave was overwhelmed with post-war orders, often delaying deliveries by up to two years. The city’s decision to go with a different manufacturer signaled a turning point in the department’s modernization efforts.