This from Steve Redick for #TBT:
This is a fun memory. Engine 25 and Snorkel 4 in front of the brand new fire academy in 1961. My dad can be seen in the basket, he’s the one on the right with the glasses. This was a postcard. I have seen it around over the years but I wonder how many were actually produced.
Steve
click for a larger file
#1 by John Antkowski on November 14, 2019 - 4:23 PM
I love the history of the CFD. I applaud you guys for the vast knowledge of the stories and locations of the rigs. Bill Post you should publish a newer version of the apparatus in the CFD. John.
#2 by Bill Post on November 14, 2019 - 5:00 AM
Chuck that was originally my typo. Snorkel 3 was located only 2 blocks south of the 4th Division boundary line in the 7th Division at Engine 84’s old house which was in the 7th Division. The borderline was 55th Street and Halsted.
Some of the Snorkels were shifted around over the years as you probably know. Snorkel 1 which was originally Water Tower 4 was initially at Engine 1. When Snorkels 2 and 3 were first put in service, Snorkel 1 went to Engine 50’s old house at Wentworth north of 47th. Snorkel 2 was at Engine 5 and Snorkel 3 was originally at Engine 35’s old house on Damen near North Avenue. That was in 1959.
Snorkels 4, 5, 6, and 7 were delivered around 1961. Snorkel 4 went in service at Engine 25’s house at the fire academy, however Snorkel 5 replaced Snorkel 3 at Engine 35’s old house. Snorkel 1 was moved from Engine 50s house at 5000 S Union in 1960 to Engine 109’s old house on the West Side.
Snorkel 3 was at Engine 50’s house for only about 6 months when they were moved to Engine 84’s old house about a mile south of Engine 50. That move put Snorkel 3 into the 7th Division. The 4th Division was without a Snorkel for another 2 years when Engine 28’s new house opened in October 1964 and they were able to move Snorkel 2 from Engine 5 to Engine 28. For a couple of years the 4th Division didn’t have a Snorkel but Snorkel 3 and Snorkel 4 were nearby.
Some of those moves were done because of space limitations in the fire stations. For example Snorkel 5 which had a 75-foot boom couldn’t fit into Engine 50’s house so Snorkel 3 which had a 65-foot boom moved into Engine 50. That was still a tight fit so 6 months later they moved them to Engine 84 which had more room.
They moved some of the Snorkels quite a few other times as well but I won’t get into that now.
#3 by Chuck on November 14, 2019 - 1:16 AM
Chris, last time I looked 57th Street was SOUTH of 55th….lol
#4 by chris on November 13, 2019 - 6:38 PM
” no room with Division 7 at Engine 129’s house so Snorkel 3 was placed with Engine 84 on the far north end of the division at Halsted and 57th Street. That was only two blocks north of the 4th Division boundary line at 55th Street.”
Which probably wasn’t all that terribly bad, as the eastern end of the 4th was far busier than the southern half of the 7th at that time
#5 by Bill Post on October 5, 2019 - 11:47 PM
While I can’t answer how many of those post cards were produced, I purchased one years ago though I doubt I still have it.
The unique thing about having Snorkel 4 at Engine 25’s new house at Taylor and Jefferson, the fire academy, was they were less than a mile south of Engine 5 and Snorkel 2 on Des Plaines. Snorkels 2 and 4 were less than a mile apart from September 22nd 1961 until October 28, 1964. Snorkel 2 moved to Engine 28’s new station when it was opened.
While it was normal for the CFD to dispatch two Snorkels to a Still and Box alarm from mid 1961 until approximately 1969, I believe the reason Snorkels 4 and 2 were located so close to each other was simply a matter of space. Perhaps also it was because Fire Commissioner Quinn wanted to show off his new Snorkel at the new fire academy.
When Chicago had seven Snorkels in service, the idea was to have one in each of the seven divisions. There were space problems though in several divisions. Division 4 didn’t have room for a large Snorkel until Engine 28’s new house was opened in October 1964.
There was no room with Division 7 at Engine 129’s house so Snorkel 3 was placed with Engine 84 on the far north end of the division at Halsted and 57th Street. That was only two blocks north of the 4th Division boundary line at 55th Street.