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25Z Modern Fire Department Serves McHenry Township AUGUST A. 1975 • PLAlNDEALER CENTENNIAL t L>l I ION-PAGE 7 1948 FIRE PROTECTION -- This photo is 1M8 vintage, when McHenry Township Fire department trucks were based in back of city hail. STATION I - McHENRY • >• • v-.w STATION II - JOHNSBURG STATION HI - LAKEMOOR In the old days when McHenry was first founded, almost every man available was a volunteer fireman. Their fire fighting equipment con­ sisted of the buckets they carried in their hands. These many years ago, when a fire broke out, someone would run up and down the street calling, "fire". The church bells would ring and this was the signal for everyone to find out where the fire was and to come running with their buckets. The nearest hand pump was their source of water. Later, when chemical tanks were manufactured, a tank was erected on a two-wheel cart with a hose attached. The volunteers would pull the cart or attach a horse and wagon to pull it to the nearest fire. In 1892 the first source water supply was built in McHenry. This provided fire hydrants for the town. It was not long after this that the two- wheel hose carts were brought into use. These two wheel carts were located in three different locations in the town; one on the west side of town near the corner of Main and Front street; the second located in the center part of town on Green street, where Bolger's drug store now stands. The third hose cart was situated where of Walgreen's Tru-Value drug store is located today on Riverside drive. Also at this time, Borden Milk company's plant was located where Tonyan Con­ struction company now stands on Borden street. This was the source of the alarms. The plant had a big steam whistle that would notify the town of a fire. The whistle had three dif­ ferent meanings. One long blast meant the fire was on the west side of town, two long blasts meant the center part of town north of Boone creek, and three long blasts meant the blaze was in old town or along Riverside drive and in that area. As the years passed the town of McHenry purchased a fire engine. This made the volun­ teers' job much easier. During the 1920's and 30's, there were many major fires in McHenry due mostly to frame buildings and other fire hazards. People on the outlying farms and dwellings on the outskirts of McHenry decided they needed fire protection also. In 1939 the McHenry Township Fire Protection district was formed. For sometime, the district had only one fire truck to depend on. Later, a second truck was added. The chassis was bought and the firemen built the rest of the truck with material to construct a tank to hold 1,150 gallons cf water on wheels. During this time, the fire department headquarters was still at the city hall in McHenry. When the territory was changed to a district, the Circuit judge appointed three trustees to manage the affairs and tax money. They were Anton M. Schmitt, Joseph Regner and Clayton Harrison Some of the first firemen who served the district in 1939-40 were as follows: Nick Adams, Floyd Covalt, Thomas Diedrich, Earl Dowell, Paul Gerasch, Harold Hobbs, Raymond Hughes, Herman Kreutzer, Jerry Kubovy, Ted Miller, Lester Page, James Perkins and George Worts. As time progressed, sub­ division after subdivision was built up and there was a demand for more volunteer firemen, more fire apparatus and also a new fire house. As a result, a new fire house was erected in 1956 on Route 120 near the intersection of Route 31 in the city. During this time, fire calls were transmitted through the telephone company and telephone operators. When a fire was called in, the person reporting the fire would talk to the chief or one of the firemen before the operator was told to push the button for the alarm. The siren was also controlled at the telephone office. Today, firemen are alerted by radio from the central dispatching desk at the McHenry Police department. Since population in the district was growing rapidly, it was soon decided to add two more trucks and locations for those trucks. As a result. Company No. 2 was formed in Johnsburg and a fire house was erected in that community. A new addition to that fire station was completed in late 1974. Company No. 3 was formed in the Lakemoor area and a new fire house was erected in 1971 at the corner of Route 120 and Lily Lake road. Each company has its captains and lieutenants who are in charge of the stations and the volunteer men who help maintain them. Gus Freund served as the first fire chief of the District from 1939 to 1950. He was followed by Harold Hobbs who served from 1950-1960 and Edward Justen, 1960-1969. Glenn'Peterson was appointed chief in 1969 an still serves in that capacity. Peterson, who serves as Chief of the entire McHenry Township Fire Protection District is aided by Gary Gough, assistant fire chief of Company No. 1, McHenry; Lloyd Freund, assistant fire chief of Company No. 2, Johnsburg and John Sulak, assistant fire chief of Company No. 3, Lakemoor. Sulak has served as assistant chief at Lakemoor since 1956. Fire Chief Peterson stated, "The District has developed into one of the largest volunteer departments in this part of the state with three stations to man and maintain, and 68 men on 24-hour call. We now have fourteen pieces of equipment to maintain along with other s p e c i a l i z e d e q u i p m e n t . Training is being carried on continually for all personnel, old as well as new." District Trustee Officers for 1975 are James H. Althoff, president; Hiliary Rodenkirch. secretary and George Schmitt, treasurer. Proud Service Provided By McHenry Rescue Squad The McHenry Area Rescue squad began operations of­ ficially on Jan. 10, 1972, but was actually formulated many months before. In the Spring of 1971, the McHenry Area Jaycees decided to help organize a rescue squad as their annual project. They received state­ wide recognition for this project. 1 ne rescue squad was formed to fill the need for a complete emergency service to assist people who are sick or injured. Under the direction of Tom Bitterman arid Phil Bartmann, the Jaycees ran an ad­ vertisement asking for people who' would be interested in beginning members on a voluntary basis. A meeting was set up at' the McHenry firehouse Aug. 25, 1971', to discuss operating procedures of a rescue squad. Carmon Hodges, local American Red Cross First Aid instructor, was on hand to explain what training would be necessary. Bob Meyer and John Olson of the Johnsburg »scue squad were also fesent to demonstrate Hp pre equipment and discuss business procedures. A committee was formed to apply for a state charter, locate suitable quarters and locate and purchase suitable equip­ ment. The committee was able to arrange for the basement of the City Wide Carpet company as a temporary squad quarters. The (Continued on page 8) mi I SERVING HAPPY NOTE PAST YEARS m m I i 1 I i % CROWING WITH A MUSICAL McHENRY SINCE m m WE SALUTE THE McHENRY PLAINDEALER ON THEIR 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY. LOCAL NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING IS THE KEY TO A STRONG BUSINESS COMMUNITY. m I m McHenry I I IT! ACROSS