This from Eric Haak:
January 2, 1962. Western at Harrison @ 8:30 am. Fire was in the 3-story Acorn Luggage factory and went to a 4-11. The first image is looking North towards the old Crane Junior College (high school still there but the building you see in the image is gone). You can also see the old Chicago Stadium off in the far distance. Second image looking across Western to the Southeast. Final image showing Snorkels working in the alley or what today would be called the “C” side. The truck company parked on Western looks to be 19 and I am only going off of what the number looks like on the door. Our staff historians will correct me if I’m wrong. If you look closely in the background, you can see the huge Phillips 66 neon sign that used to sit over the Eisenhower and the old Harris Bank Christmas billboard on top of one of the exposure buildings. Hope you enjoy this little throwback.
January 2, 1962. Western at Harrison @ 8:30 am. Fire was in the 3-story Acorn Luggage factory and went to a 4-11. Eric Haak collection
January 2, 1962. Western at Harrison @ 8:30 am. Fire was in the 3-story Acorn Luggage factory and went to a 4-11. Eric Haak collection
January 2, 1962. Western at Harrison @ 8:30 am. Fire was in the 3-story Acorn Luggage factory and went to a 4-11. Eric Haak collection
#1 by Bill Post on August 4, 2017 - 3:28 PM
Erik that 1956 Chevy Sedan was a spare buggy as at the time of the fire in January 1962 all of the Battalion Chiefs were using Station Wagons.The Chicago Fire Department had converted the Battalion Chief Buggy’s over to Station Wagons in 1958 when CFD had put both Chevy and Ford Station Wagons in service.That year the CFD had bought from both manufacturers.The Battalion Chiefs were then equipped with a metal frame cot/stretcher that was made from a strong canvas material that was attached to the metal frame so that the Battalion Chief Buggy’s could be used as ambulances when the ambulance in an area wasn’t available. The Battalion Chief Buggy’s weren’t equipped with inhalators (resuscitators) however and they were only sent out on accidents or injured people if needed. The Squad companies were called out on inhalator runs when the ambulances weren’t available. The Battalion Chiefs weren’t equipped with Inhalators until 1967/68 when the Squad companies were taken out of service.
In January 1962 the CFD had 30 Battalions in service however on February 16 Battalion 31 was put in service at Midway Airport at what was then Engine 118’s house which was on the east side of Central at approximately 5845 south.The building is still standing there. Don’t confuse it with Engine 127’s old quarters which was just 5 blocks south of there also on the east side of Central south of 64th street. By then Engine 118 responses were confined to the Airport itself and Engine 127 was the still Engine on runs off of the Airport. The Division Marshalls and the Deputy Marshalls (Chiefs) still used sedans however.
#2 by David on August 4, 2017 - 3:05 PM
Guys thanks a lot for the info on the buggies! Had to google both cars and it’s like you say a ’56 Chevy 150 two door and a ’61 Ford wagon. Never seen any of these before, I thought they only had the 1960 Ford wagons but when I look closer at some details on the 2nd photo this must be definitely the ’61 model. Again, thanks much for the info.
#3 by Bill Post on August 3, 2017 - 11:49 PM
This is just a correction Truck 3 was on the north side of Erie, a little west of Lasalle Street in 1962 and it was the headquarters of the 2nd Battalion. The address was 158 W Erie and it is still there but it was converted into an office.
Trucks 3 and 39 were both using 144-foot Magirus ladders in 1962. Truck 3’s house was closed when they moved the truck and the 2nd Battalion chief into Engine 42’s new house on opening day November 1, 1968. Eventually the old house was sold and converted.
Truck 39’s old house was and is still being used as a firehouse however Truck 39 was temporarily taken out of service on June 16, 1969. On the same day Engine 103 moved in and Engine 103’s old house at 1459 W Harrison (east of Laflin) was permanently closed. The two houses were less then a mile apart.
#4 by John on August 3, 2017 - 8:24 PM
The wagon in photo 2 appears to be a 61 Ford.
#5 by Bill Post on August 3, 2017 - 7:38 PM
That truck company in the 2nd photo I believe is Truck 39 which was using one of two, 144-foot Magirus ladders on a 1959 Mack B-Model chassis. Truck 39 was located at what is now Engine 103’s station. The other 144-foot Mack/Magirus aerial ladder was at Truck 3’s old house on the south side of Erie just west of Lasalle Street.
Thanks for posting those interesting shots. By the way the Snorkel Squads weren’t in service yet but Chicago was in the process of getting several new Snorkel companies that were just put in service.
#6 by Eric Haak on August 3, 2017 - 7:28 PM
The one in the first photo parked on the corner is a 1956 Chevrolet 150 I believe. It is marked “Chief Battalion” on the door but no number. There is also a monster of a buggy parked in front of the Zambreno Food Store that I can’t make out but it is a huge vehicle. Have no idea about the wagon in photo 2.
#7 by David on August 3, 2017 - 4:06 PM
Awesome stuff, love the old buggies (any ideas what model and make are they?), great photos, thanks for sharing Eric!