Fire Department Chronology 1871-1899
Niles Center Volunteer Fire Company
Sharp Corner Volunteer Fire Department
Skokie Fire Department Chronology
1871 through 2006
Compiled by Lt. Ron Smith, Skokie Fire Department Historianfor the Skokie Historical Society
| 1871 - 1899 | | | 1900 - 1924 | | | 1925 - 1949 | | | 1950 - 1974 | | | 1975 - 1999 | | | 2000 - 2006 | | | Home |
1871 |
The devastation caused by the Great Chicago Fire results in many former Niles Centre residents returning to Niles Centre.
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1872 |
October - A major fire destroys 18 businesses and one home in Evanston. Two months later, three more homes are destroyed on Hinman Avenue. Shortly thereafter, Evanston forms its first Fire Company. These events in Evanston and Chicago are believed to have influenced Niles Centre in its decision to form a Bucket Brigade.
After the Chicago Fire, a bucket brigade is formed to provide fire protection. Volunteer firefighters bring a bucket to hold water and a shovel for dirt. Dirt is also an effective extinguishing agent.
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1876 |
September 25 - Gertrude Schmitz purchases 25' x 300' of Lot 34 and 25' x 300' of Lot 35. This lot is located between Lincoln Avenue and Floral Avenue and will become the future home of the Niles Center Volunteer Fire Company.
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1880 |
Niles Centre residents begin to assess the need for a volunteer fire company due to the increase in population and in the number of buildings located in the downtown area.
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1881 |
The Iserman home burns to the ground proving the bucket brigade ineffective. The home was located on the southeast corner of Elm Street and Niles Center Road.
April 19, 12:00 - The Evanston Fire Department responds to a fire in William Enders' home located east of Niles Centre at the edge of the Prairie (possibly East Prairie area). Two children, five-year-old Russ and three-year-old Lila, are left unattended and perish.
May 6 - Town leaders meet in George C. Klehm's Tavern. The Niles Centre Volunteer Fire Company is formed and officers chosen. Fire equipment is stored in a barn at the rear of Ludwig Schmitz's property. Other sources indicate that local townfolk take turns storing the equipment. This was common practice in other small towns. Officers of the newly formed Niles Centre Volunteer Fire Company are:
The first fire alarms are sounded by Band Leader, August Siegel, using his bugle from the front porch of his home near the Engine House.
An 1860s Rumsey Hand Pumper, a Hand or Horse-drawn Hose Reel Cart with 500 feet of hose, and a two-horse hitch Hook and Ladder Truck is purchased. The Hose Reel cart is assigned 'Engine Co. #1' and the Hook and Ladder Truck is assigned 'Truck Co. #1'.
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1882-1883 |
Date Unknown - First fire occurred at the John Theobald home. Christ Baumann Jr. drove the engine. The first ladder used by Niles Center Volunteer Fire Company was built by volunteer Fireman, Fred Hauser.
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1884 |
Niles Centre's population is 250.
October 21 - The Niles Center Volunteer Fire Company is incorporated. Forty-six shares at $100.00 per share are sold.
Niles Center Volunteer Fire Company members:
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1886 |
St. Peter Evangelical Church bells are used to alert the volunteer firemen instead of August Siegel using his bugle to sound alert.
September 1 - Ludwig and Gertrude Schmitz donate the West 133' of their lot to the Niles Centre Volunteer Fire Company to build an engine house and meeting hall.
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1887 |
The Engine House is built on Millimans Street. (The current 2007 address is 8031 Floral Avenue). George Klehm donates the material to pour a concrete floor. Firemen build the Engine House. Many people donate money. A Holland-type furnace furnishes heat. The Engine House has two stairwells, at the front door and at the back door with a landing in between the stairwells. The second floor is rented as a means of financial support. Christ Hachmeister performs janitorial work for approximately 30 years. The Engine House is dedicated by Rev. Frederick Detzer of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church.
The first ball is held in the Engine House. It is called the "Calico Hop" because the women wear calico print dresses.
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1888 |
March 6 - An election is held in the Engine House and townsmen vote to incorporate the Village of Niles Center. Volunteer Fire Chief Adam Harrer is elected Mayor.
March - Ludwig Schmitz is voted Volunteer Fire Chief.
April 23 - The Niles Centre Village Board of Trustees holds an organizational meeting at the Engine House and ordains the first village ordinances.
April 31 - The Village board members form a committee to confer with the officers of the Niles Centre Volunteer Fire Company about renting the second floor for village board meetings and the area under the stairs for two jail cells.
May 8 - Ordinance #10, Section 2 states that any persons who do not have visible means of support or who are found idly loitering around the Engine House will be deemed vagrant, and if convicted of vagrancy, could be fined $2 - $100.
May 8 - Ordinance #10, Section 15 states that any person who turns in a false fire alarm is subject to a fine not less than $10.
May 8 - Committee reports that the cost of renting the second floor of the Niles Centre Volunteer Fire Company meeting room will be $40 a year and trustees must complete the jail at the Village's cost.
December 10 - Fred Stielow is paid $10.95 for an iron bed, mattress, and pillow for jail cell.
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1889 |
August 6 - Niles Centre purchases two pairs of handcuffs and one pair of feet shackles for the new jail.
August 13 - Ordinance #16 establishes the town calaboose, or jail, in the Engine House below the stairs. Prior thereto, all prisoners are held in the living quarters of the Schmitz Saloon to which Mrs. Schmitz objected.
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1895 |
November 7 - The Village requests the Fire Company to repair the well located in front of St. Peter Catholic Church. This well is the town's fire well or cistern and is used only for fires. It is the second-largest well in town.
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1897 |
George Landeck, a farmer, who lives north of Niles Centre, is forced to abandon his farm due to several fires caused by an arsonist. Police are sent to stake out the farm.
September 1 - School District #7 (later District #68) leases the second floor of the Engine House to conduct classes. The lease expires on December 6, 1897.
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1898 |
Sam Meyer is voted Fire Chief for a two-year period.
March 7 - Fire breaks out at the Nibbleden Tavern located east of Niles Centre on Church Street (currently Oakton Street). Evanston Fire Chief Sam Harrison refuses assistance as the tavern violates the "Four Mile Limit" law which did not allow alcohol to be served within a four-mile radius of Northwestern University.
October - The Niles Centre Volunteer Fire Company sells 46 stock certificates at $100 each.
A bell tower is constructed atop the Engine House. Funds for construction are to be realized by fundraising efforts and stock sales. The bells of St. Peter Evangelical Church are no longer needed to sound alarms.
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1899 |
January 10 - Peter Baumhardt and Peter Barg are appointed to purchase fire hose at a cost not to exceed $100.00.
February 7 - The New York Belting & Packing Company is paid $100 for a new firehose.
Summer - An arsonist has a drink at George Klehm's saloon and leaves. He starts two fires in barns owned by Emil Blameuser and George Landeck. The arsonist is seen leaving town on horseback. Townsmen with guns and pitchforks chase the arsonist towards Evanston but lose him in the woods in the East Prairie area.
September 4 - The Volunteer Fire Company picnic realizes a $87.17 profit.
October 5, 1899 - The New York Belting & Packing Co. is paid $50 for a new suction hose for the hand pumper.
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