It was apparently mandatory that all men attend the annual balls, as this bit of the record shows (dated Jan. Members were prohibited from smoking during meetings each offense and other bylaws brought a fine from $1 to $10. Moved and seconded that 'we buy 18 tickets to the Chicago Fire Department circus'. After a meeting 'spent the rest of the evening celebrating'. This can be seen noted in these entries from the record books: 'ordered paid bills for cigars, telegrams, soda water, and neckties ordered new uniforms and debated whether or not they should have a stripe down the side Moved and seconded that this department go to the World's Fair in a body on Fireman's Day 1893 Decided to have a sleighride(sic) to Elmhurst and invited the Elmhurst firemen to join in the fun'. 'After much discussion', noted the secretary, it was decided that each man would withdraw $5 and 'the remainder be placed in the treasury'.ĭuring the 1890's the department seemed to be more interested in socializing than fighting fires. Usually 100 tickets were printed, firemen and friends getting in gratis. These balls were glamorous affairs held at Gardner's Hall. Before 1898, the department's only income was by donation from fire victims and the receipts of the annual ball. In that year, a petition was passed by the taxpayers asking The Village Board to pay the men for firefighting time. Each man had to refrain from drinking in excess or disporting himself in such a manner as unbecoming to the department, or face expulsion.īefore 1898, the volunteers were not paid anything, even for time spent fighting fires. Dues were $1 a year this money was used for minor expenses. His application was then voted on at the regular meeting of the department. Any man desirous of becoming a member had to make an application and be advanced by an established member. Their bylaws were subject only to approval by the Village. In these early years, the department was a private organization with officers. An African American man, whose name is unknown, served on the department before 1895, possibly making our department the first integrated unit in the western suburbs. The Colored Baptist Church used the upper story every Sunday evening. The lower floor served as a jail, village hall, and police and fire department quarters. During 1881, a 2½ story frame structure was built on the property. Up until this year, the department had its headquarters at 25 E.

They shared quarters, equipment and personnel with the Hose Company, and the two were formally merged on March 6th, 1893, under the name Hinsdale Volunteer Fire Department. Probably in this year the Hinsdale Hook and Ladder Company No. Then, in 1886 the Village made its first purchase of equipment, buying a horse-drawn hook and ladder truck with hose, axes and accessories. Ross, a prominent resident and member of Chicago's Board of Trade, donated a hand-drawn hose cart and bucket wagon to the Hose Company.

Coleman fire commander stove