Evanston Fire Department history – Part 2

On May 2, 1875, the Evanston Fire Department (EFD) responded to a fire at the First Presbyterian Church on Lake and Chicago streets. Though firefighters arrived quickly, the building was lost due to a critical communication error. At the scene, firefighters thought they heard an acknowledgment from the Waterworks engineer that water pressure was increasing—but it was actually the whistle of a C&NW RR train. By the time a messenger rode to the engine house, the church had already burned down.

Later that month, the village established a telegraph line between the village hall and the Waterworks. Although communication improved over time—switching to telephones in the 1880s—the issue of poor coordination between firefighters and the Waterworks engineer would resurface. The First Presbyterian Church was rebuilt, only to be destroyed again by fire in February 1894.

The EFD was officially formed by ordinance on May 25, 1875, and became effective on May 29 after being published in the newspaper. However, the department’s real start came earlier: on January 7, 1873, when the Village Board accepted the Pioneer Fire Company for service.

In January 1875, the C.J. Gilbert Hose Company was organized and evaluated for six months before being accepted by the village board in August 1875. It joined the Pioneer Hose Company No. 1 as one of Evanston’s two volunteer hose companies.

Each company was given a hand-drawn, two-wheeled, one-axle hose cart (one made by Silsby, the other by G.W. Hannis), 1,000 feet of 2½-inch hose, nozzles, tools, and equipment. William Gamble, the foreman of the Gilberts and a local grocer, served as village Fire Marshal from November 1876 to May 1878. W.R. “Bob” Bailey, the Pioneer foreman and a butcher, took over as Fire Marshal from May 1878 to July 1883. His meat market was among the businesses destroyed in the Willard Block fire of 1872.

From January 1875 to April 1881, the EFD consisted solely of the two volunteer hose companies. All equipment was owned by the village, and both companies kept their gear in the first floor of the village hall. Each held its own annual Firemen’s Ball—Pioneers on St. Patrick’s Day, Gilberts on New Year’s Eve. Which party was better? That remains a mystery.

Company leadership included a foreman, three assistant foremen, a secretary, and a treasurer—all elected annually by the members. New members required approval from existing members. Most were local merchants or their employees.

The Pioneers were considered elite in Illinois, often competing in state musters with fancy uniforms: navy caps, red flannel shirts with black trim, and numbered front panels. They usually got the best new equipment and often secured the Fire Marshal position. The Gilberts, formed by former Pioneers, were seen as underdogs, with simpler uniforms and less recognition.

Despite their rivalry, both companies enjoyed friendly competition, racing to fires and blasting each other with water. The Village Board sometimes played them against each other, giving equipment or appointments to one side, which left the Gilberts feeling shortchanged.

One of their most memorable nights came on January 2, 1879, when firefighters battled a fire at Dempster Hall, a historic dormitory at Northwestern University. After three hours, the building was gutted, and the men were exhausted. Later that night, they responded to a fire at the gasworks, destroying coal and tar before turning their hoses on each other. These antics, while entertaining, were not typical of today’s EFD.

By early 1879, two major fires struck the West Ridge area, damaging homes of notable residents. Both companies demanded better gear and compensation, but the village only provided limited supplies. Chief Bob Bailey, once a Pioneer foreman, allocated the gear, favoring the Pioneers. This led to tension within the EFD.

In response, the Pioneers offered a muster at the town picnic, with the winner getting a new play-pipe. The Gilberts refused, fearing it would set a precedent. The Pioneers won, and the Gilberts became the subject of jokes. Later that summer, the Gilberts challenged the Pioneers to a formal muster, which they won after the Pioneers were disqualified for a technicality.

On December 31, 1880, the Pioneers and Gilberts faced another tough fire at John H. Kedzie’s home. Many missed the alarm due to cold weather, and despite saving furniture, the house was lost. One firefighter, Harry Housel, died of tuberculosis just two years later.

These events sparked renewed demands for better pay and equipment. When ignored, the two companies resigned en masse on May 23, 1881, marking the end of volunteer firefighting in Evanston.

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