On May 23, 1881, the Village Board of Trustees received a letter that had been delivered earlier that day to the Fire Marshal. The message came from the members of the Evanston Fire Department, specifically the Pioneer and C. J. Gilbert hose companies, who had met in joint assembly. Their decision was clear: they would resign as members of the fire department immediately.

“To: W. R. Bailey, Esq.
Fire Marshal of the Village of Evanston

Sir:

It has come to the attention of the members of the Evanston Fire Department that the village trustees have failed to meet the needs of the department. In response, the Pioneer and C. J. Gilbert hose companies, having met together, have decided to resign from the fire department at once.

However, the members of these companies will still respond to any fire alarms for the next 15 days, but not as firefighters, rather as concerned citizens.

A. Simpson, Foreman, C. J. Gilbert Fire Co.
A. Hallstrom, Foreman, Pioneer Hose Co.

May 23, 1881”

The firemen had requested that Chief Bailey deliver this letter to the board, and it was reported that the trustees accepted it without comment. If their goal was to force the board to act, the firefighters were left disappointed.

This wasn’t the first time the fire companies felt ignored by the village board. Whether it was about uniforms, equipment, or the lack of support for a 2% tax on foreign insurance firms—money that could have helped fund the fire departments—the Pioneers and the Gilberts often felt disrespected. The final blow came when the board officially accepted the Evanston Hook & Ladder Company into service on April 21, 1881.

The hook & ladder company had only been training for a short time, but the board rushed its acceptance after a tragic house fire on April 19th claimed the lives of two children at the Enders cottage. This was the first known fire-related deaths in Evanston since the formation of the Pioneer Fire Company in 1873. Some believed that a properly trained hook & ladder unit might have saved the children.

The Pioneers and the Gilberts strongly opposed the new company’s integration into the EFD. They had originally proposed the idea of a hook & ladder unit in 1875, wanting it to be under their control. But the board wanted to keep it separate, likely to prevent either of the existing companies from gaining more influence.

The unity shown in their joint resignation letter was rare—before this, the rival companies had only met during emergencies. Now, they stood together, united in frustration.

After the resignation, the Police & Fire Committee was tasked with creating a new fire protection plan. They brought in Chief Denis Swenie from the Chicago Fire Department, who suggested purchasing new equipment and transitioning to a paid fire department. His recommendation included replacing volunteers with a smaller, professional team.

Despite the urgency, the plan was delayed for months. When finally discussed in September 1881, the board decided to keep the department volunteer-only, citing financial constraints. No compensation would be given to firefighters, and the plan for a paid department was postponed until the next fiscal year.

The new volunteer setup included a 15-man hook & ladder company, a 30-man hose company managed by the street superintendent (and not affiliated with the old companies), and a chemical company made up of local merchants. However, the new structure was largely ineffective. The hose company lacked organization, and the chemical company never even formed.

By November 1, 1881, the department’s performance had become embarrassing. Fire Marshal Bob Bailey offered his resignation, but the board convinced him to stay, promising better plans for the future.

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