Another installment about the History of Evanston Fire Department
The 20th Century Man
Since the annexation of South Evanston by Evanston in 1892, the residents of the southern part of the city often felt overlooked by local leaders. This sentiment changed in 1901 when James Patten, a mayoral candidate with a strong connection to the area, campaigned actively for the South Evanston vote. His efforts paid off, and he won the election. Patten promised better services for the community, and he kept his word.
Patten had already made a name for himself as a key figure in Evanston’s development. He was instrumental in founding Evanston Hospital in 1891 and was also a major benefactor of Northwestern University. His support for the 7th Ward—northeast Evanston—had already made him popular there, but his victory in 1901 extended his influence to the 3rd and 4th Wards, which covered South Evanston.
On April 23, 1901, just weeks after being elected mayor, Patten dismissed Sam Harrison, the long-serving Fire Marshal of Evanston. Harrison had been known for his flamboyant personality and had made many enemies over the years. The official reasons for his dismissal were threefold: a conflict of interest due to his dual role as Fire Marshal and Township Constable, lax discipline that allowed civilians into firehouse bunkrooms, and allegations of mismanagement in equipment purchases.
Patten then appointed Ed Mersch, an assistant engineer from Engine Company 1, as the new Fire Marshal. Mersch was not a company officer or even the most senior engineer, but he came from South Evanston and had a college education—a rare achievement for a firefighter at the time. From Patten’s perspective, Mersch was the ideal choice to lead the department into the 20th century.
Under Patten and Mersch, the focus was on improving fire protection in South Evanston. This included hiring more personnel, acquiring new equipment, and upgrading Fire Station #2, which had served as a combined village hall, firehouse, and police station since 1892. By 1901, only three firefighters occupied the building, and the apparatus bay was too small for modern needs.
After evaluating the costs of renovation, the city decided to build a new fire station instead. The old structure was demolished, and a new three-bay station was built on the same site for $6,000. It opened on February 15, 1903, and housed six firefighters, including a captain, a lieutenant, four firemen, and four horses.
The station was equipped with two rigs: a four-wheeled hose cart and a 1902 Seagrave combination truck, which could function as both a ladder truck and a chemical engine. These vehicles were highly advanced for their time and would serve the department well for years to come.
Mersch also used his engineering skills to improve EFD equipment, including refurbishing the Babcock chemical engine in 1902, which extended its service life by another 15 years. However, his leadership was short-lived. He clashed with the firefighters under his command and was eventually fired by Mayor James Barker in May 1905, amid protests from South Evanston residents who believed the move was politically motivated.
Mersch died at the young age of 38 in 1911. Meanwhile, Sam Harrison, despite his controversial departure, continued to serve the community in other roles, such as Justice of the Peace, Deputy County Assessor, and City Building Inspector. He lived to be 86 and passed away in 1939, leaving behind a legacy that spanned decades.
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