This from Wayne Mutza:
I’m working on a book devoted to “Big Water” apparatus, to include high volume, high pressure rigs, tenders, hose wagons with monitors, etc. Can anyone ID this Cicero engine, especially year, make and GPM? The year 1967 is written on the back. Thank you. I hope you have seen my book covering the history of Milwaukee apparatus, by McFarland Publishing.
photographer unknown
More from Luke Whalen:
Indiana
This from Dennis McGuire, Jr:
Found on Facebook
X-Cicero, Illinois
Patrick Shoop photo
Larry Shapiro photo
More Cicero Fire Department history from the files of Joseph Salerno:
from the files of Joseph Salerno
from the files of Joseph Salerno
from the files of Joseph Salerno
More Cicero Fire Department history from the files of Joseph Salerno:
Here are a few more. We grew up in the houses. Picture is of me at 6 months (1970) on the hook and ladder. Good memories ! The newspaper clipping of the smashed truck was the truck that my grandfather got thrown off of after getting hit on the way to a call- I think it was a Seagrave.
from the collection of Joseph Salerno
from the collection of Joseph Salerno
from the collection of Joseph Salerno
from the collection of Joseph Salerno
from the collection of Joseph Salerno
from the collection of Joseph Salerno
from the collection of Joseph Salerno
from the collection of Joseph Salerno
from the collection of Joseph Salerno
from the collection of Joseph Salerno
from the collection of Joseph Salerno
My grandfather, Joe Salerno , who turned 93 years old this month, was the asst. fire marshal for the Cicero Fire Dept. a very long time ago. As kids we grew up in the fire house and saw several of the trucks that we named as kids when visiting the guys at the house. Here are some old black and white pics .
I have newspaper clippings with the pics which describe the fires fought. My grandfather started in Cicero in 1954 and became asst marshal in 77. He saved a lot of people including a baby dropped to him from a three story building engulfed in flames . He turned 93 years old last month and he tells us stories of the firefighting days like they were yesterday . We all remember the Cicero firemen from the different fire stations as we literally grew up in the houses . All of the firefighters, both younger and older than my grandfather, have passed . He is the last of his kind and although he still drives and is somewhat active I know that his days are limited as he recently lost his wife last year at 92 years old after 70 years of marriage. He is alone now and his days are long and quiet, but he brightens up when he is able to relive the firefighting days.
Being a WW2 vet, serving in the pacific at the time the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan, and after saving many people during Cicero fires, I am hoping to show him that he leaves a legacy. I believe that we tend to forget the value the our lives had on others as we get older. I hope that his pictures can be added to the website for future generations to see. It would make us proud to show him the value that his life has had on others. I will send any pics I have for the site. On Christmas I showed him your site and we found the houses were he was stationed and we saw trucks that we took pictures in when we were kids as we all had our own trucks at the station. The firefighters were like a second family. He was so excited to see the pics on your site so I am hoping to add to it as the Cicero fire dept archive site has not responded to us.
Bob
Cicero Firefighter Joseph Salerno
click to download
click to download
click to download
Excerpts from wthr.com:
A piece of firefighting history has left an Indianapolis museum and is headed for the auction block.
The 1889 American La France steam engine was loaned to the the Indianapolis Firefighters Museum in 1994 by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation. The foundation is auctioning several items this Saturday (March 11) and the engine is among those up for bid.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to have had such a beautiful piece of firefighting history on display in our museum for the last 24 years. We hope that wherever the Steamer lands, it will provide as much enjoyment to them as it did for us,” Indianapolis Firefighters Local 416 President Hank Harris said.
The engine served the community of Cicero, Illinois and has long generated the most interest from visitors at the museum, IFD Battalion Chief Rita Reith wrote in a release. Reith says visitors often stopped to ask how the engine worked and how many horses it took to pull it.
The museum is located at 748 Massachusetts Avenue in the old IFD Fire Station #2, which is the oldest fire station in Marion County. It was built in the late 1870s. The museum opened in 1994.
thanks Scott
Kevin Griffin spotted this at IndianaFireTrucks.com:
Frank Wegloski photo
Frank Wegloski photo
Bill Friedrich photo
This from Steve Redick:
I found some of my images from the Hawthorne Racetrack fire. The slides are stamped Nov 78. My buddy Hank and I were fanning at 84 truck 51 when the man on watch woke us up and told us to look out the 2nd floor window of the firehouse. Needless to say we went running for our cars. I recall the Cicero ALF tiller arrived about the same time we did and took a corner so fast we thought the tiller wheels were gonna come off. CFD had sent a few companies as well … 34, 364, 88, a turret wagon, and a buggy. This was a real old time classic suburban extravaganza!Steve
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Excerpt from theChicagoTribune.com:
Another big fire, on Nov. 19, 1978, destroyed the grandstand and heavily damaged the clubhouse at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney. The park was rebuilt and reopened in September, 1980.
Before they were destroyed, Hawthorne and Washington Park were considered extremely susceptible to fire because of extensive wooden structures. Hawthorne was built in 1891 and Washington Park in 1926, when building restrictions and fire codes were not as strict as today`s.
Jul 26
This from Bill Friedrich:
I am sharing some old Cicero photos from my collection. I did have the opportunity to photograph the 700 series American LaFrance when it was nearing the end of its career.
Bill
Cicero Engine 1, an Ahrens Fox. Bill Friedrich collection
Cicero Engine 6. Bill Friedrich collection
Cicero engine with personnel. Bill Friedrich collection
Early group shot of Cicero apparatus. Bill Friedrich collection
Cicero Truck 2, 700 Series American LaFrance TDA. Bill Friedrich collection
Cicero Truck 1, an American LaFrance TDA. Bill Friedrich collection
Cicero Engine 3. Bill Friedrich collection
Hawthorne station. Bill Friedrich collection
Morton Park station. Bill Friedrich collection
Cicero Station 1. Bill Friedrich collection
Cicero Station 2. Bill Friedrich collection
Cicero Truck 2. Bill Friedrich collection
For the finest department portraits and composites contact Tim Olk or Larry Shapiro.
