From Phil Stenholm: Another installment in the History of Evanston Fire Department THE SEAGRAVE CONNECTION The first Seagrave rig to arrive was the city service truck, which quickly replaced the leased Chattanooga F.D. LaFrance HDA. Michael Shafer, a Seagrave representative, traveled with the truck from Columbus, Ohio, and stayed in Evanston for two months to train drivers and assist with operations. His presence proved invaluable as the department adapted to its new technology. The city service truck's first major call came on December 30, 1917, at the Evanston Strand Theater. It was one of the worst fires in the city’s history up to that point, causing $30,000 in damage. Two men were seen fleeing the theater before the fire was discovered, but no arson could be proven due to the extensive damage. This was the second fire at the Strand in two years; the first had been accidental in 1916. The theater later became the Valencia Theater, part of a chain of Balaban & Katz theaters that served Evanston for decades. The next Seagrave units—three pumpers—arrived after being delayed in Chicago during the Great Blizzard of 1918. Once they reached Evanston, they were tested at Becker’s Pond (now Boltwood Park) under the supervision of Michael Shafer and Chief Albert Hofstetter. All three passed easily, with the 300-GPM pumpers even exceeding their ratings. They were quickly deployed, replacing older models at various stations. By early 1918, all horse-drawn equipment except for an old American LaFrance steamer was retired. That steamer was later tractorized using a Model “K†Seagrave tractor and re-entered service as Engine No. 2. Meanwhile, the Robinson Jumbo, a problematic older engine, was moved to reserve status, and the new Seagrave pumper took its place as Engine No. 3, becoming the first-due pumper for North Evanston for over 20 years. The EFD expanded to 41 personnel in 1918, with three engine companies and one truck company. Firefighters worked 24-hour shifts, meaning about two-thirds were on duty at any time. Leadership changes also occurred, including promotions and the hiring of new drivers following civil service exams. The introduction of motorized equipment transformed how the department responded to emergencies. Truck Co. 1 now followed the first-due engine, and districts were established based on location. With the full adoption of automobiles, the Evanston Fire Department entered a new era of efficiency and readiness.
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In 1917, Evanston took a major step into modern firefighting when voters approved a $30,000 bond to purchase new motorized equipment. This led to the acquisition of five Seagrave fire apparatus, marking the full transition from horse-drawn to automobile-based firefighting. The fleet included a Model “E†city service ladder truck equipped with a 55-foot ground ladder, a 750-GPM triple-combination pumper, two 300-GPM chemical and hose booster pumpers, and a Model “K†front-drive tractor that replaced the old horse-drawn American LaFrance Metropolitan steamer. All of these were purchased for $28,800 and gradually put into service between November 1917 and March 1918.
