Posts Tagged history of Prospect heights FPD

Prospect Heights Fire Department history

Bill Friedrich recently added the image below to his collection, and he asked Drew Smith for assistance in dating the photo.

Prospects Fire Department history

Here is the historical information that Drew provided.

I’ve confirmed the photo is from 1963

A few comments:

  • When the station was first built a neon sign of FIRE DEPARTMENT was installed above the overhead door. Later that sign was replaced with red letters PROSPECT HEIGHTS FIRE DEPARTMENT.  The photo Bill obtained has the new lettering installed. Also, the paint store sign to the left indicates this is a later photo as that paint store existed until the new Walgreens was built. I have photos showing this newer red PHFD lettering with a different occupancy in the paint store’s location. Also when the station was first built there wasn’t a curb between the road and the  apron. It was a gravel transition.
  • Below you can see the years and details of these three pieces.

Year

Type

Signature(s)

Make/Mfr.

Pump GPM

Tank

Other

47

Pumper

#3

173

Ford/Darley

750

500

Purchased new

48

Car

#4

174

Ford

“Pie wagon”

57

Car

?

Ford

Red & white wagon used by fire chief
  • The station wagon was the chiefs car and it would have been used by the first two. There have only been four chiefs in the history of the PHFD:

Fran Foor (1944-1962) *Served as president of IL Fire Chiefs Assn. in 1954

William Andrew (1962-1969)

Donald Gould, Sr. (1969-1988)

Donald Gould, Jr. (1988-present)

  • I’m going to say this photo was taken in 1963 based on the license plates. According to this webpage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_registration_plates_of_Illinois , in 1963 license plates were dark green with gold letters.  This is how the plates appear to me.
  • This red and white 57 Ford was replaced in 1966 with a Chevrolet Impala station wagon.
  • Between 1964 and 1968 the PHFD purchased three new pieces:

Year

Type

Signature(s)

Make/Mfr.

Pump GPM

Tank

Other

64

Squad

#5

175

Squad 9

909

Chevy

Utility body truckBreathing air cascadeGenerator

66

Pumper

#2

172

Engine 9R

Ford/Darley

750

1000

Twin high-pressure booster reels

68

Tanker

#6

174

Tanker 9

Ford/Darley

750

1500

  • The 47 Ford Darley pumper remained until sometime in the 1970s. In 1973 the department purchased a new Dodge station wagon for the chief, a Ward LaFrance pumper, and it’s first ambulance built on a Dodge van.

 

I have attached a few photos:

Prospect Heights FD 1957 chief's car

  • This appears to be the 57 Ford when it was new. The red license plate with white letters is from 1957.

Prospect Heights FD 1948 Ford van

  • This is the 48 Ford “pie wagon” (that’s what it was referred to by every old-timer when I joined even though it was long gone) It has been restored by someone in the NW Suburbs (no contact info available).

Drew Smith

Deputy Chief

Prospect Heights Fire Protection District

10 East Camp McDonald Road

Prospect Heights, IL 60070

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Prospect Heights history

This from Deputy Chief Drew Smith:

Here are a few pages from an old Prospect Heights log book.  Many departments still keep a hand-written log book, but for whatever reason this practice was discontinued here by 1981.  The first working fire entry is recorded by Captain Ron Olsen who was later promoted to deputy chief. He retired from that rank and continues to serve with the PHFD as a part-time fire inspector.

Chief Olsen also made the second entry. It has additional entries by Lieutenant Warren Lippert and Captain Norm Bittner.  Lt. Lippert’s son is retired Arlington Heights firefighter Dean Lippert. Also, it appears that around November 1, 1971 is when the PHFD adopted the Code 1, 2, 3, 4 system used by many fire departments.  I believe the origin of this can be attributed to the Elk Grove Village FD.

Prospect Heights Fire District history log book entry

Prospect Heights Fire District history log book entry

Prospect Heights Fire District history log book entry

Prospect Heights Fire District history log book entry

Prospect Heights Fire District history log book entry

Prospect Heights Fire District history log book entry

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