History of Evanston Fire Department – Part 6

On the early morning of Saturday, September 14, 1889, a devastating fire broke out at the newly constructed J. J. Foster Building, a mixed-use structure housing stores and apartments at the northeast corner of Church and Benson streets. With Fire Marshal Sam Harrison away from the village, former EFD Chief W. R. “Bob” Bailey stepped in to take command, supported by several veterans from the legendary Pioneer Fire Company.

The situation quickly escalated when a main pipe burst after water pressure was increased, rendering the direct-pressure system ineffective. With insufficient water pressure, firefighters struggled to control the flames, which soon spread to the 2nd Baptist Church chapel to the north and threatened the nearby Haven School to the east. The original Haven School stood at the northwest corner of Church and Sherman. Recognizing the severity, Bailey requested help from both the South Evanston and Chicago fire departments. A Chicago F.D. engine company eventually arrived with a steam fire engine, and after a long battle, the fire was finally extinguished—though not before causing $25,000 in damage.

Just over two years later, on December 26, 1891, another major fire struck the barn behind the French House, located at the northwest corner of Hinman and Greenwood. The French House was one of only two hotels in Evanston at the time. The barn and its contents were quickly consumed by flames, and strong winds posed a serious threat to nearby homes and even the hotel itself. Chief Harrison called for reinforcements, and firefighters from South Evanston, Rogers Park, and Chicago arrived to assist.

While all the support was valuable, it was the arrival of Engine Co. 55 from the Chicago Fire Department under Captain Galbraith that proved decisive. Equipped with three 2.5-inch hose lines, Engine 55 quickly brought the fire under control, saving the neighborhood from total destruction.

In 1892, the Village of Evanston annexed the Village of South Evanston, creating what is now known as the City of Evanston. The decision came after South Evanston’s waterworks failed in 1891, and Evanston agreed to provide water only if the residents consented to annexation—something they did, though reluctantly. As part of the new arrangement, Evanston’s firefighting force expanded from four to seven men, and the position of Fire Marshal became full-time, with the salary rising from $200 to $1,000 annually. In 1893, line firefighters also saw their pay increase from $480 to $600 per year.

By 1893, the fire and police departments moved into the new city hall, located at the northwest corner of Davis and Sherman. However, by 1897, the fire department was forced to relocate due to complaints about smoke from the steam fire engine and the unpleasant smell from the stabling of horses inside the building.

At the time of the annexation in 1892, Lincoln Avenue was the name given to what is now Main Street. By 1894, the street name had still not changed. The Lincoln Avenue schoolhouse was the only school in South Evanston at the time, located at the southeast corner of Lincoln and Benson—the future site of Central School. It was a three-story brick building with an attached wooden and brick annex built in 1890.

This tragic event occurred on the first day of spring—Wednesday, March 21, 1894, at 10:20 AM.

“SOBS AND MOANS FILLED THE AIR AS THE FLOOR WHERE THE CHILD WAS LAST SEEN BROKE AND CRASHED DOWNWARD. BUT THEY WERE SUDDENLY CHANGED TO SHOUTS OF JOY AS BRAVE SAM HARRISON AND GEORGE HARGREAVES CAME INTO VIEW BEARING THE LIMP FORM OF THE CHILD FOR WHOM THEY HAD RISKED THEIR LIVES. THEIR FACES WERE BLACKENED AND THE BLOOD WAS RUNNING FROM A PAINFUL WOUND IN HARRISON’S HAND.

THEY FOUND THE CHILD IN ONE OF THE AISLES, LYING FACE DOWNWARD. THE SMOKE WAS SO THICK THAT IT WAS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THEY RETAINED STRENGTH TO REACH THE DOORWAY LEADING TO THE STAIRS. ONCE HARRISON FELL, BUT FORTUNATELY RETAINED HIS SENSES. IT WAS THEN THAT HE INJURED HIS HAND.

JUST AS THEY REACHED THE HALL OF THE REAR ANNEX, THE FLOOR AREA OVER WHICH THEY HAD GROPED WENT DOWN. HAD THEY BEEN A MOMENT LATER, BOTH RESCUERS AND GEORGE HARGREAVES MUST HAVE PERISHED.”

Chicago Herald, March 22, 1894.

The fire destroyed the Lincoln Avenue schoolhouse, but all the children were safely rescued. Much of the credit goes to Evanston firefighters Sam Harrison and George Hargreaves, as well as an expressman named Sam Mack. While passing by the school on his way to the South Evanston C&NW RR depot, Mack noticed smoke coming from the windows and children crawling onto a second-floor ledge. He calmly helped them jump into his arms, repeating the process until the Evanston Fire Department arrived. Chicago F.D. Engine Co. 70 also joined in to help put out the blaze.

The Lincoln Avenue schoolhouse fire would remain the worst in Evanston’s history for over a decade, until the Mark Manufacturing Company fire in December 1905. In the aftermath, the Evanston City Council gave the EFD significant freedom to improve operations. Chief Harrison successfully pushed for the installation of a fire alarm telegraph system, including fire alarm boxes placed on street corners to allow citizens to report fires more quickly. During the Lincoln Avenue fire, a citizen had run three blocks to alert Fire Station #2 on Chicago Avenue in person.