Evanston Fire Department history Part 33

July 06, 2025

From Phil Stenholm:

Another installment in the History of the Evanston Fire Department.

BOLTWOOD

On a quiet Sunday afternoon, January 9, 1927, at 1 PM, young Boy Scout LeRoy Kreutzer spotted smoke rising from the Boltwood Intermediate School, located at the southeast corner of Dempster and Elmwood. At the time, Boltwood was not only Evanston’s first junior high school but also the headquarters for the local Boy Scouts of America. The building had previously served as Evanston Township High School for four decades until the new ETHS campus opened in 1924 on Church and Dodge. Kreutzer immediately pulled fire alarm box #313 at Dempster and Elmwood and then ran to the home of EFD Chief Albert Hofstetter at 1228 Sherman Avenue, waking him from his Sunday afternoon nap.
 
Chief Hofstetter rushed across the alley and met arriving crews from Station #1. It was quickly determined that the fire was confined to a manual arts classroom in the basement. Despite being limited to one room, the fire proved difficult to reach due to thick smoke throughout the building. Fortunately, a monkey and several white mice in the science lab were rescued. Truck companies tried to ventilate the structure, but a strong gust of wind blew through the building, intensifying the flames. The fire spread rapidly up an interior stairway and burst through second-floor windows.

A “General Alarm” was called, and both on-duty and off-duty firefighters were ordered to the scene. The fire was now out of control, with the risk of it spreading to homes east of the school, including Chief Hofstetter’s own residence, and the nearby Dempster Street business district. After two firefighters narrowly escaped when part of the roof collapsed, Hofstetter ordered a defensive strategy, telling all inside to evacuate.

With the situation worsening, Chief Hofstetter requested help from the Chicago Fire Department. While the CFD had previously sent only two engine companies for past fires, this blaze was far more severe. Under the command of 1st Assistant Chief Fire Marshal Jerry McAuliffe, the CFD sent six engine companies, two truck companies, a high-pressure wagon, and a water tower to assist.

The chaos caused by the massive number of fire trucks and spectators led to at least two traffic accidents. At the height of the fire, engines were pumping water from hydrants across a six-block area. An estimated 20,000 people—nearly a third of Evanston’s population at the time—gathered to watch the destruction. Off-duty police officers were called in to manage the crowds and traffic.

Thanks to the support from the Chicago Fire Department, the fire was eventually brought under control. Although Boltwood School was completely gutted, the homes across the alley and the Dempster Street business district were saved. Three firefighters suffered minor injuries, and the damage was estimated at $308,500—the largest loss ever recorded in an Evanston fire up to that point.

In the aftermath, the city council launched an investigation into the EFD's performance. They found that the department was ill-prepared for such a large-scale incident. The EFD of 1927 was essentially a small-town department operating in a city of 60,000 people—undermanned, under-equipped, and lacking the necessary resources to handle major fires.

Following the fire, Evanston voters approved a $75,000 bond issue in the April 5, 1927 election. This funding led to significant improvements in the EFD:

  • Twenty (eventually 23) additional firefighters were hired within a year.
  • A fourth fire station was built.
  • Two new engine companies were organized.
  • Two 1000-GPM pumpers were purchased.
  • A portable high-pressure turret nozzle was acquired.
  • A Fire Prevention Bureau was established.

This event marked a turning point for the Evanston Fire Department, leading to much-needed modernization and growth in the years that followed.

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