**From Phil Stenholm:** Another chapter in the history of the Evanston Fire Department. --- **By Pat Gaynor, Marriage Counselor** It was shaping up to be another challenging winter for the Evanston Fire Department in 1920. Over the span of just 24 hours, from Sunday to Monday, January 4th and 5th, the EFD responded to four separate fires. The first call came in at 9:19 AM on Sunday when Engine Company #1 rushed to the C.M. Haugen residence at 1462 Oak Avenue. Sparks from the furnace had ignited some woodwork in the basement. Fortunately, the fire was confined to the basement and put out relatively quickly. Just two hours later, after returning to the station, the same crew responded to another blaze at the L.H. Kashgarian residence on Elmwood Avenue. This time, sparks from the chimney had set the roof ablaze. With quick action, Truck Company #1 got the ladder up while Engine Company #1 used a 1-1/2-inch hose line to extinguish the flames. The following Monday morning, Engine Company #2 and Truck Company #1 were dispatched to 904 Michigan Avenue after a fire broke out in an unattended fireplace on the second floor. Smoke filled the entire building, forcing the evacuation of all residents. Despite the best efforts of the firefighters, the Hopkins apartment was completely gutted. Meanwhile, Engine Company #1 and Engine Company #3 tackled a fire at an apartment building on Ridge Court after chimney sparks ignited the roof. Although they managed to contain the flames to the second floor, the damage totaled $11,500 across all four fires over that weekend. Just two weeks later, on Saturday night into Sunday morning, the EFD faced another pair of blazes within 12 hours. The first was at 1800 Dodge Avenue, where an overheated furnace sparked a fire in the basement that spread to the first and second floors. After hours of effort, Engine Company #1 and Truck Company #1 managed to control the situation, but the house was a total loss. Later that morning, Engine Company #3 and Truck Company #1 were called to 2243 Orrington Avenue after a chimney fire ignited the roof. By the time it was extinguished, the flames had reached a second-floor bedroom, causing $6,000 worth of damage. Fast forward to March 28th, when a tornado swept through Chicago and its northern suburbs. In Evanston alone, 20 homes near Central Street and Lincolnwood Drive were destroyed or severely damaged, though thankfully there were no injuries. Further north in Wilmette, martial law was declared after 100 buildings in the central business district were obliterated. Then, on May 9th, Engine Company #3 was dispatched to a remote farm at the end of Emerson Street along the North Shore Channel. With no hydrants nearby and the nearest one 1,000 feet away at Leland Avenue, the fire spread rapidly, destroying not only the initial barn but also claiming several livestock. Thankfully, the horses and cows were rescued by Truck Company #1. Finally, on a calm summer day—June 25th, 1920—Lieutenant Pat Gaynor was riding home after completing a 24-hour shift at Fire Station #3. As he approached the South Boulevard “L” station, he noticed a chaotic scene. A man named James McGowan was beating his wife, Laura, with the butt of a revolver. When the gun failed to fire, McGowan resorted to physical violence. Without hesitation, Lieutenant Gaynor sprang into action, disarming the assailant and shielding him from an increasingly violent mob. The police arrived shortly afterward and took McGowan into custody. Though Laura was unconscious and taken to St. Francis Hospital, she survived, and the couple reconciled. Many credited Lieutenant Gaynor with saving their marriage. In October of that year, the Evanston Fire Department became the 387th department nationwide to adopt a two-platoon system, reducing the workweek from 112 to 84 hours. To accommodate this change, the firefighting force grew from 41 to 49 members. Each shift consisted of 24 firefighters, including the chief. Engine Companies #1 and #2 had 12 men each, while Engine Company #3 and Truck Company #1 had 10 and 14 men, respectively. With this new schedule, firefighters worked 24-hour shifts followed by 24 hours off. They were no longer allowed to eat meals outside the firehouse, which now featured kitchens, pantries, and dining areas. Annual paid vacation was granted, but not during the winter months. Only one firefighter per company could be on leave at a time, and absences due to illness required makeup shifts later on. Additionally, the city council approved significant raises for the EFD personnel. The chief’s salary jumped by 25%, reaching $3,000 annually, and would increase again to $3,600 in 1921. Assistant chiefs saw their salaries rise from $1,530 to $2,100, while captains and lieutenants earned $1,980 and $1,920 annually, respectively. Engineers, motor drivers, and firefighters received hikes of $480, bringing their yearly incomes to $1,890, $1,830, and $1,800, respectively. As part of these changes, the EFD retired its final horse-drawn equipment. Without stables at the stations, maintaining horses became impractical. The department had already transitioned to motorized vehicles, so the last remnants of its equestrian past were scrapped. This transformation marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of the Evanston Fire Department, enhancing both safety and efficiency while improving conditions for its dedicated members.

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