Eastlake Village Fire Department
serving Proudly since 1881
See our site for a little of our history

I was a member of the La Grange Illinois Fire Department for 38 years. The department was first orginized in September of 1879 when like most departments a building burned down. This one happened to be the hotel in the downtown area. The village board spent $118.00 to buy one hand pumper and some hose and spanner wrenches. The town police chief was put in charge of the fire dept . This continued until 1951 when the first full time chief was hired. The first full time fire fighters were hired in 1938 when three men werte put on as the first full time men. This number continued to grow, when I was hired in 1964 as full time thier were 4 members on each shift and three shifts. We worked 24 on 48 off. Before that they worked 24 on and 24 off for ever The only reason that they got better hours was that the state passed a law about hours worked and made it a 56 hour workweek otherwise it would not have been changed uintil a unoin came in and got the hours changed, La Grange was the first department in the area to have full time professional fire fighters on it until after WW 2 when several other departments in the area went with full time members.

The current fire house that I belong to dosent have a lot of history. I will though dig up as much as I can.. The other departments that I have helped does and I will gather and share later. I do though enjoy whats here. Thanks

Nathan Iposted in past about My orginal assigned Old house I wasonly there for a year before transferingto a house That was built in 1983 single story, 3 bay boring drive through... from My Bunk to my position on the apparatus floor seemed like walking two blocks... anyway, That house consolidated 2 engines and a Truck from two firehouses (single engine a block north and engine and truck house in the 1880's) One of the houses was build in part Financed by PTBarnum tohelp protect his Circus winter grounds, and employees residences The single house was originally a "Chemical Squad" company and eventually a full Engine Company ... The interior of thenew house is all cinderblock painted Tan so obviously gets pretty boring to look at, The Kitchen is situated in the middle as is the dayroom which is perpetually Dark... with this sort of History l got kindapumped up about it when They closed down a truck in 1995, which was Traditionally the 1st Truck company of The career department, and had been assigned to the "old House" around 1890 or 91.. That truck was "replaced" downtown when thecity purchased a 100' horse drawn, That 85' er went out to the "burbs" anyway The idea That I was assigned as one of the last 20 guys after well over a hundred years of men that manned the company day and nite... My answer was The Board That I created out of an old engine hose bed and some old tools, Photos of the truck over the years and I posted here on one of the threads... It was pretty cool because it got the otherguys doing similar stuff, instilling some pride .. check em out just because your in a new building doesnt mean youdont have some local history to find out about....

SMOKEnPipesJim thanks for the info, that kind of history sounds neat. I know that the department that I am on now has some history and the station that we moved from was very small, It had 4 bays and they had trucks packed 2 deep and they felt like sardines. I didnt come into the picture untill they had already moved to the new station but we still have alot of old timers that have alot of stories. I'll share more as I get them..

Yes, I would like to learn all history at the fire service.

Portland, Maine Vintage flix

Hey iam going to get one of these.......

More vintage horse drawns responding Brooklyn NY (NYFD)

Albany NY turns out circa 1901

Montreal On runners

This was Our headquarters Circa 1876

Just a comment to a Post from Mark Ferris from back in April about the hay loft. My father recently retired from my hometown department but, he used to tell us about how in certain spots on the apparatus floor if you hit the wall in just the right spot, grain would fall from the celing. Something like that...I never actually saw this for myself and I was a teen when he told us about it. The building was built around the turn of the century. Your "hayloft" made me think of that.

Does anyone call a hydrant a plug. Here in ST. Louis we call hydrants plugs. Back in time their was a water line that ran down the side of the streets. When their was a fire the Fire Dept would put a whole in the pipe in front of the fire . When they were done with the fire they would put a plug in it. So on our pumpers we have the pipeamn, the plugman , the captain and the driver.

This is the old Hose Company # 8 in ST. Louis before it became ST. Louis Fire Dept. in 1857 the second paid Dept. in the country.

Nice Hose wagon Pics Michael, are they from The department museum? Private, city owned? as far as Using the term Plug man, back east it is mainly a slang term, we call our Hydrantman a Hydrantman and the pipeman is more popular around in general, but again we use firefighter or nozzleman... Moot I know,but I suppose it came with an enlarged diversity to better allow ease in communication with "accents" not always like your own.. My city, like many others east coats and beyond has historically been and still is a melting pot of diversity, and slang terms tend to be put aside for seemingly more proper english ... I dunno..lol.. If You said I was the Pipeman or plugman or for that matter plugperson or Pipeperson, I would know my job.. :)

The hose wagon is in the MO history Museum in ST. Louis

I am very happy to join this group I belong to the Volunteer Firefighters of Lomas de Zamora in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This is the headquarters of Fire No. 6 created in my country and is close to 100 years,This is the Unit No. 1 Republica with Christmas decorations

wow they are nice we have a 1819 am,lafrance steamer as soon as i get pics ill post them

this is our 41' ford.

Ford fire truck beautiful and very good work of restoration, I congratulate you!

Esta Unidad pertenece al Primer Cuartel Argentino "La Boca" Chau un fuerte abrazo!! from Argentina This unit belongs to the First Station Argentinian "La Boca" Chau a big hug! from Argentina

Send them a big hug me and my fellow Argentine to all members of this group, having a happy Christmas with those who believe and Chau Beware!

I'm very proud of my depts 1891 ahrens steam fire engine

My great grand father Roy B. Cline took this pic. about 1900 in Union City Michigan, this was pulled from a glass neg.

Mystic Connecticut Hook & Ladder Co. No.1
The truck ifo quarters circa 1890

The orginal building was expanded after the turn of the century, eventually housed a Motorized city service Truck and triple combination ALF pumper during the 20's 30's and 40's, and Later a 55 ALF 65' quint and B model mack pump (both open cabs) the firehouse was replaced in 1967 in a differant location, This site became a water pumping station. The old station when it was expanded was built On pilings over the river ...
(yikes!)

Mystic, Ct. HOOK & Ladder Co.No.1

Truck house circa 1890 Note The upper lantern on the hand drawn truck is the centerpiece of the company trophy Cabinet as are a couple of the brass spitoons (buffed up) and some period Silver loving cups from Victorian era social , muster and parade events etc.

Gotta love this..

First Deaf Fire Patrol Chief from New Jersey (1921) Mr. Turner's responsiblities included taking other firefighters who were deaf on patrol in an assigned zone. (From the collection of Steven L Schrader) Author of Silent Alarm; On The Edge With A Deaf EMT'

I have read your messages on a wall of group have been surprised, history of your fire protection:)