**Another Chapter in the History of Evanston Fire Department**
*The Villa Celeste Incident*
In 1892, the Village of Evanston absorbed the neighboring South Evanston, creating what is today known as the greater City of Evanston. Advocates for this merger argued that without unification, both villages faced the real possibility of being swallowed up by Chicago. Their concerns gained traction when Rogers Park, just south of South Evanston, was annexed by Chicago in 1893.
Following the annexation of Rogers Park, some South Evanston residents, led by the fiery Third Ward Alderman Pat O’Neill, pushed for Evanston to voluntarily join Chicago. They believed that a larger city like Chicago could provide superior municipal services, particularly in terms of policing and firefighting. In 1894, Chicago indeed made an annexation proposal to Evanston, but the citizens voted it down. For a while, it seemed the debate had been settled. However, it resurfaced unexpectedly fifteen years later.
On March 11, 1909, at noon, the Evanston Fire Department received a call about a fire in the attic of the Villa Celeste, a grand South Evanston estate owned by P. Leonard ("Guy") McKinnie at 721 Sheridan Road. As per his standard practice, Chief Fire Marshal Carl Harrison directed the firefighters to tackle the blaze in the attic using soda-acid from one of the chemical engines. His aim was to limit water damage to the rest of the house. However, the fire had spread deep into the walls and ceilings, making it difficult to pinpoint and extinguish the source.
As the firefighters worked tirelessly, they eventually used over 3,000 feet of hose—two 2.5-inch lines from Engine 1, one direct line from a nearby hydrant, and a line from the chemical apparatus—to try and douse the flames. Despite their efforts, progress was slow. Neighbors joined forces with children from nearby Lincoln School to help the McKinnies remove their precious art collections and antique furniture from the lower floors.
By late afternoon, it was evident that the fire was relentless. Frustrated, McKinnie urged Chief Harrison to summon the steam fire engine ("City of Evanston No. 1"), which was stationed at Fire Station #2 on Chicago Avenue. Even offering his own team of horses to fetch the engine, McKinnie was adamant. Chief Harrison declined, explaining that the issue wasn't a lack of water.
For six exhausting hours, the firefighters battled the inferno. Yet, the flames advanced further into the structure. By nightfall, the Villa Celeste was largely gutted. Six firefighters were injured during the ordeal:
- Chief Carl Harrison suffered a severed finger due to glass shards.
- Assistant Chief Jack Sweeting experienced smoke inhalation.
- Fireman William Hofstetter sustained a hand laceration.
- Fireman Edward Johnson hurt his foot.
- Fireman John Wilbern suffered smoke inhalation.
- Fireman William Wilbern endured smoke inhalation and bruising from falling debris.
Adding insult to injury, the fire reignited around 11:30 PM, five hours after the firefighters had departed. They returned to battle the remnants for another hour.
The final damage estimate stood at $40,000, marking it the fourth most costly fire in Evanston's history up to that point. Only three previous fires had caused more damage: the tragic Mark Manufacturing Company fire in 1905, the Lincoln Avenue schoolhouse fire in 1894, and the Willard Block fire in 1872.
Chief Harrison later remarked, "Dozens of engines wouldn't have saved the house... the only way to put it out would have been to sink the whole place into the lake."
Post-fire, controversy brewed. Guy McKinnie and other affluent South Evanston residents renewed their calls for Evanston to seek annexation by Chicago. However, Fire Marshal James Horan of the Chicago Fire Department dismissed the idea outright. He bluntly stated that some parts of Chicago lacked fire protection, and Evanston would likely be overlooked until more pressing issues elsewhere were resolved. Horan pointed out that Chicago urgently needed upgrades to its fire services, particularly in the Stock Yards area and the downtown district.
Tragically, Horan's assessment proved accurate. On December 22, 1910, he and 20 other Chicago firefighters lost their lives when a collapsing wall crushed them while battling a fire at the Stock Yards.
This fire marked a pivotal moment in Evanston's history, highlighting the challenges of maintaining adequate fire protection in a growing community.
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