Excerpts from the ChicagoSunTimes.com:
Long before GPS and digital maps, there was Kenneth F. Little.
Mr. Little, who passed away on Friday in Glenview at the age of 84, was a senior fire-alarm operator for the Chicago Fire Department. His deep knowledge of the city's streets, alleys, and shortcuts made him an invaluable asset, helping emergency crews reach fires faster than ever before.
Over his 36-year career, he played a key role in saving lives, according to former Fire Commissioner James Joyce. "He had a sixth sense for knowing which fire companies were closest. He was one of a kind," Joyce said.
Little co-authored six books on the history of the Chicago Fire Department and helped establish the Fire Museum of Greater Chicago, where a library is named in his honor. His dedication to preserving the legacy of firefighting in the city was unmatched.
One memorable moment came after a 1957 fire engulfed the Chicago City Council chambers. Mr. Little stayed at his post, working alongside other dispatchers in the old Fire Alarm Office, earning a commendation for his bravery and commitment.
His quick thinking once saved Schulien’s, a famous German restaurant on West Irving Park Road. When a radio message mentioned a Snorkel squad returning to their station, Ken realized they were likely heading down Western Avenue. Instead of calling the usual units, he directed them to the scene. The firefighters arrived in just 30 seconds and quickly contained the fire.
As a child growing up in Old Town, Ken would often visit firehouses, listening to radio calls. As he grew older, he explored every corner of the city by bus, streetcar, and train, memorizing routes, shortcuts, and even one-way streets. He even rode the entire length of Western Avenue, walking to learn the city's layout better. Later, he studied factory layouts to warn firefighters about potential hazards like toxic chemicals in basements.
On quiet nights, when the fire radio was still, Ken and his colleagues would challenge each other to name every bar and grocery store along Western Avenue, from Howard Street to 119th Street. This unique skill made him a popular guest on late-night radio shows hosted by Eddie Schwartz.
When Ken joined the Fire Alarm Office in 1957, fire companies were still dispatched from City Hall and another location at 63rd and Wentworth. Many calls came from the red fire-alarm boxes that dotted the city—remnants of a time when people didn’t have phones.
He also knew the stories of some of the most tragic fires in Chicago history, including the 1903 Iroquois Theater fire and the 1910 Stockyards fire. He even met a fire-alarm operator who was involved in the 1929 St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. According to his son, Ken also knew that slide-down fire poles were invented in Chicago.
During the Blizzard of ’67, he remained at the office for 36 hours, unable to leave and with no one able to get in. His dedication never wavered.
In addition to his work in the fire department, Ken taught history at Wright College. He enjoyed the music of Errol Garner and collected coins and Tootsietoys. A Tootsietoy fire truck will be placed in his casket as a final tribute.
Ken and his wife, Alice, who passed away in 1986, had ten children, including triplets. He is survived by his son Philip, daughters Anna, Rita, and Mary Ellen, sons Kenneth, Robert, Stephen, Richard, and Raymond, and four grandchildren. His son Thomas passed away before him.
A funeral Mass is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday at St. Michael’s Church, the church where Ken grew up, located at 1633 N. Cleveland Ave.
Thanks, Dan
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