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

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.

• 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:

• 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:

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

• 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

Tags: 1947 Ford Darley fire engine, 1948 for van for fire department, 1957 Ford station wagon fire chief car, Bill Friedrich, Deputy Chief Drew Smith, fire apparatus history, fire department history, historic truck photos, history of Prospect heights FPD, Prospect Heights Fire District history