This is the first of what we hope are several posts from Andrew McCullough:
These were taken by my father John McCullough in the 60s. He was a Chicago fireman for many years. He passed away a few years ago, and I’ve started scanning some of his old slides. All of these were taken by John McCullough or someone else in the house that he handed the camera to. This group is from 1969 and early 70s.
Best,Andrew
Chicago Fire Department Hook & Ladder 31. John McCullough photo
Buff the firedog at Chicago Engine 5’s quarters. John McCullough photo
John McCullough and Chicago Engine 5. Andrew McCullough collection
Chicago Engine 5. 1969 Seagrave. John McCullough photo
Chicago Engine 5 and crew. Andrew McCullough collection
Buff the firedog in Deputy Chief’s car (217) and helmut. John McCullough photo
Chicago Engine 5 at quarters. John McCullough photo
Chicago Engine 5 and crew. Andrew McCullough collection
Chicago Engine 5 at quarters. John McCullough photo
Chicago Squad 2 at Engine 5’s quarters. John McCullough photo
Still Alarm, 700 W Jackson, Chicago Illinois, April 1967 John McCullough photo
Chicago Engine 5’s kitchen. John McCullough photo
#1 by Martin on November 22, 2012 - 6:01 PM
Thanks Bill for the information you give us. It is very helpful.
#2 by Bill Post on November 22, 2012 - 11:33 AM
In case anyone is wondering what that big red half oval shaped object is behind the ladder hanging on the side of the old 1920’s era hook and ladder trailer in the first photo, it was a life net with a red cover on it. In those days life nets were standard equipment on the truck companies.
Engine 5’s new Seagrave (at the time) had the distinction of being the CFD’s first 1,500 gpm rated pumper. Several other Seagrave pumpers were delivered at the time but they either rated at 1,000 gpm (gallons per minute) or 1,250 gpm. For a short period of time they were Chicago’s largest pump capacity pumper, however that didn’t last very long as about a year later the the CFD had 7 Ward La France 2,000 gpm pumpers delivered.
#3 by David on November 22, 2012 - 1:57 AM
Awesome pics. Thanks for posting them here!
#4 by Bill Post on November 21, 2012 - 10:40 PM
Andrew, thanks for putting up your late father’s photos, they are terrific. The truck company in the first photo was definitely not Truck 31’s regularly assigned apparatus. It may have been a spare rig or could have been another truck company. Truck 31’s rig before August of 1963 was a 1944 Pirsch with an 85-foot wooden aerial ladder. After August 1st 1963 Truck 31 was given Truck 6’s 1942 American LaFrance 100-foot metal aerial ladder when the original Truck 6 was taken out of service.
The truck company in the photo was using either a 1942 or 1946 Mack tractor and an older trailer with a wooden aerial ladder. The ladder was most likely from the 1920s (more or less) as the CFD had a number of them and they were still in use on some truck companies until the late 1960s. That was when the delivery of new truck apparatus allowed the last of the old 1920s vintage trailer and 1940s vintage Mack tractors to be retired.
#5 by Bill Post on November 21, 2012 - 4:32 PM
Martin even though the photo isn’t mine, the International Harvester next to Snorkel Squad 1 was Salvage Squad 2. Squad 2, which was taken out of service in December of 1966, had initially become Salvage Unit 1, but about 2 months later in February of 1967, it was redesignated Salvage Squad 2. That is when Squad 1 was redesignated as Salvage Squad 1.
By then, the International high-pressure wagons were being used as squad company apparatus, and both Salvage Squads 2 and Squad 4 were using International Harvester high-pressure wagons as their regularly assigned “rigs”.
The last high-pressure company was taken out of service in late 1964. As the Auto Car squads were being incapacitated, the old high-pressure wagons were the perfect replacement as both the high-pressure wagons and the squads were built with fixed turrets on the truck bodies.
Snorkel Squad 1’s International was also initially built as a high-pressure wagon but had a new body and a 40-foot Snorkel installed on it in 1961. There were five 1956 model International Harvester high-pressure wagons that were delivered, however two of them were converted to Snorkel Squads 1 and 2 in 1961/62.
#6 by Martin on November 21, 2012 - 11:40 AM
In the 2nd to last picture those three trucks are internationals. Is that squad 1 or 4?