Another Chapter in the History of the Evanston Fire Department In addition to the fire at the Lincoln Avenue schoolhouse in 1894, the dramatic blaze aboard the steamer Morley on Lake Michigan in 1897, and the devastating fire at the Harvey Hurd estate in 1899, the Evanston Fire Department faced a number of other significant fires between 1894 and 1899. These incidents highlight both the dangers firefighters faced and the evolving challenges of urban firefighting during this period. On Sunday morning, February 25, 1894, at 9:20 AM, choir member Walter Clark discovered a fire at the First Presbyterian Church located at 1427 Chicago Ave. The fire was caused by a faulty furnace that had been lit by the church janitor early that morning. As with the church’s destruction in 1875, the fire spread to the roof. Firefighter Ed Densmore was injured when bricks fell on him, but his injuries were not life-threatening. Chief Sam Harrison became trapped in the basement due to heavy smoke but managed to escape before being overcome. Though the fire did not spread to neighboring homes, one suffered exterior heat damage. The church was completely destroyed, resulting in a loss of $30,700—the third-largest fire loss in Evanston at that time. At 3 AM on Tuesday, April 14, 1896, the Evanston Fire Department responded to a fire in the basement of the Bartlett Building at the northwest corner of Davis and Chicago. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered thick smoke and burning natural gas. Flames quickly spread through the building, destroying several businesses, including a millinery shop, a plumbing store, a barber shop, a jewelry store, and the Bartlett Building itself. A total of $13,500 in damages was reported. Captain Jack Sweeting injured his foot after falling from a ladder, and rookie firefighter William Wheldon Ely suffered a severe eye injury. Ely, who had recently scored perfectly on the first-ever Civil Service test, lost his job due to the injury, as no pension or assistance system existed at the time. On October 26, 1897, at 6:20 PM, 5th Ward Alderman and gasworks foreman Thomas Ryan rescued a two-month-old infant from a burning house at 1720 Emerson Street. Tragically, the child's mother, Kate McDermott McDonnell, died in the fire—marking the fourth fatality in an Evanston fire since organized firefighting began in 1873. Ryan later died in December 1899 from gas fumes while investigating the fire department, but no foul play was suspected. At 10:30 AM on Thursday, February 3, 1898, a fire broke out at the St. Nicholas School at 806 Ridge Ave. Four teachers and 140 children were safely evacuated, but Sister Martha was overcome by smoke and had to be rescued by firefighters. Poor-quality hydrants in South Evanston, inherited after annexation, hindered the initial response. Fireman George Hargreaves was knocked unconscious and suffered serious leg injuries when he fell through a window. He was out of action for over six weeks. The parish house was heavily damaged, with $10,475 in losses. On January 6, 1899, at 1 PM, the Evanston Fire Department responded to a fire at the Oliver Building, just west of where the Bartlett Building had burned two years earlier. The fire started in the basement and spread to the first floor, causing large stoves and a furnace to collapse. Five lines of hose were used, and despite the cold weather, many spectators gathered to watch. The hardware store was severely damaged, and later that evening, the fire reignited, leading to the complete destruction of the building, including a real estate office, an architect’s office, and McConnell Hall. Total losses reached $13,000. On February 9, 1899, at 10 PM, the department responded to a fire at the luxurious home of Zalmon G. Sholes, heir to the Remington Typewriter fortune. Sholes, his wife, son, daughter, and two servants were all rescued. However, a natural gas explosion knocked five firefighters off the front porch. Other firefighters narrowly avoided being hit by falling chimneys. Despite multiple attempts to extinguish the fire, it reignited each time. A crew from the Northwestern Gas Light & Coke Company worked for 2.5 hours to shut off the gas supply. The fire caused $7,000 in damage. To read all the installments of this history, click HERE. Chemical,Precursor Reagents,Precursor De,Precursors Deutsch Guangdong Huate Gas Co., Ltd , https://www.huatehfc.com