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Evanston Fire Department history Part 38
From Phil Stenholm:
Another Chapter on the History of the Evanston Fire Department
During the Great Depression, the roles of Engineer and Assistant Engineer were combined with Fireman I in 1930. However, firefighters operating trucks or serving as tillermen needed certification as drivers, while those handling motor pumps on engines had to be certified as both drivers and pump operators. Three experienced firefighters—Frank Altenberg, Max Kraatz, and William Richards—became certified steam pump engineers and were the sole EFD members authorized to maintain, repair, and operate the reserve tractorized steamer stationed at Station #4. Among non-officer firefighters, only two mechanics—J.K. “Karl†Wilen and Norman “Foxy†Fochs, assigned as motor drivers on different shifts at Engine Co. 5—remained distinct and better compensated.
Between 1928 and 1932, the maximum daily staffing for EFD units was 41, with a minimum of 34 if each company ran one person short. Firefighters received two weeks of paid vacation annually, though this was prohibited between November and March. Aside from vacation time, firefighters weren’t compensated for absences due to illness, jury duty, family emergencies, or injuries sustained on the job. If a company fell below full strength, a firefighter from the opposite shift would cover the deficit and later receive a compensatory day off once the unit returned to full staffing.
Annual EFD salaries ranged from $4,800 for the Chief Fire Marshal down to $1,920 for Fireman III. As the economic downturn worsened, City of Evanston employees went unpaid for the final two weeks of 1932. Starting January 1, 1933, the city implemented staffing and salary reductions across all departments. Six positions were eliminated from the EFD, including 1st Assistant Chief Ed Johnson, Captain George Hargreaves, and Fireman George Gushwa, who either retired or passed away. The least senior firefighters—Philip Line, Lincoln Dickinson, and John Kabel—were let go. Interestingly, Kabel suffered a gunshot wound while hunting just before his layoff!
Hargreaves, with 38 years of service, was the longest-serving member until surpassed in the 1940s. He joined in 1894, became lieutenant in 1902, and captain in 1903. Gushwa started in 1901. The January 1933 cuts reduced Engine Co. 1, Truck Co. 2, and Engine Co. 2 by one firefighter per shift, lowering the maximum daily staffing to 38. Minimum staffing dropped from 34 to 31, with Engine Co. 5 and Truck Co. 1 maintaining five-person shifts but others dropping to four. This staffing level never recovered.
Salaries decreased by 7.5% in 1933 and further in 1934, totaling a 20-25% reduction. By 1934, annual EFD salaries ranged from $3,900 for the Chief Fire Marshal to $1,920 for Fireman. Pay began increasing slightly in 1937, but pre-depression levels didn't return until 1944. During this time, Evanston's population grew to 61,754, nearly doubling since 1923.
In addition to EFD cuts, the Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol shuttered two of its eight stations on January 1, 1933, including Patrol No. 8 at 3921 N. Ravenswood Avenue. Established in 1922, it covered Evanston's high-value areas, universities, hospitals, and residential zones. With its closure, the nearest patrol station moved 10 miles away. Combined with Evanston's budget cuts, the city terminated its contract with the CFIP starting January 1.
This period marked significant challenges for the EFD, reflecting broader economic hardships faced nationwide during the Great Depression.