From Phil Stenholm:
Another installment about the History of Evanston Fire Department.
The Modernization Plan
When Chief Hofstetter stepped down, he was succeeded by Henry Dorband, a 52-year-old veteran with 31 years of service in the Evanston Fire Department. Dorband had previously served as a company officer for Truck Company 1 and held the position of platoon commander since being promoted to assistant chief fire marshal in 1948. Capt. Michael Garrity took over as assistant chief fire marshal when Dorband became chief, joining Assistant Chief Jim Geishecker as one of the department’s two platoon commanders.
After the passing of Assistant Chief J. E. Mersch in 1950, Capt. John Schmidt took over the Fire Prevention Bureau in 1951, only to retire in 1952 and be replaced by Capt. William Murphy. This period marked a significant shift in leadership, bringing fresh energy and new ideas to the department.
Dorband, Geishecker, and Garrity had all been part of the EFD since the early 1920s, waiting decades for their moment to lead. Now, with the opportunity finally in front of them, they were ready to make an impact.
In addition to the new leadership, several lieutenants were promoted to captain between 1950 and 1952. Capt. Mersch took Engine Co. 1, Capt. Breitzman went to Engine Co. 2, Capt. Dickinson to Engine Co. 3, and Capt. Ford to Engine Co. 4. Capt. Ed Fahrbach moved from Engine Co. 4 to Engine Co. 5 after Capt. Frank Sherry retired in 1951.
At Station #1, Assistant Chiefs Geishecker and Garrity managed opposite platoons and also served as truck company officers. Meanwhile, Captains Mersch and Fahrbach, who led Engine Co. 1 and Engine Co. 5 respectively, were the senior captains, overseeing drills and operations alongside their regular duties.
Alongside the promotions, several long-serving lieutenants retired during this time. Lt. William Rohrer left after 27 years, Lt. Charles Novak after 24, and Lt. Fred Schumacher after 25. Their departure created space for new leaders to rise through the ranks.
Ed Burczak joined the department in 1950 as one of the two equipment mechanics, working alongside Francis “Marvin†Hofstetter. As the older lieutenants retired, several firefighters like Leonard Bach, Herb Claussen, Knud Hanson, George “Bud†Hofstetter, George Jasper, Erv Lindeman, and Willard Thiel were promoted to lieutenant between 1951 and 1952.
Soon after becoming chief, Dorband introduced a bold "Fire Department Modernization Plan." This initiative aimed to fulfill all remaining recommendations from the 1935 NFBU inspection and meet the growing needs of the department.
To fund this plan, Evanston voters approved a $160,000 bond issue in April 1951, with 88% of voters supporting it. A second, larger bond issue of $775,000 followed in 1953, though it passed by a narrower margin (60%). Together, these bonds totaled $935,000 and significantly modernized the EFD.
The first bond allowed the city to purchase five new firefighting units from Peter Pirsch & Sons of Kenosha, Wisconsin, for around $135,000. The purchase included two 85-foot tractor-drawn aerial ladders, two triple-combination pumpers, and a combination pumper/rescue unit. Pirsch won the contract by offering lower prices than competitors like Seagrave, American LaFrance, and Mack.
The TDA that had been acquired in 1950 and delivered in 1951—now known as Truck No. 1—was included in the bond purchase, and the $35,000 allocated for it was returned to the city treasury. Additionally, a 1951 Mercury sedan equipped with a police radio was purchased for the chief using the bond funds.
Chief Dorband assigned all five new Pirsch rigs to Station #1 when they were put into service in September 1952. He even encouraged the public to drive by the station to see the new, modern apparatus. These vehicles remained at Station #1 until 1955, symbolizing the department's commitment to progress and safety.
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