From Phil Stenholm: Another installment about the History of Evanston Fire Department The Changing Face of Evanston At the same time, the city council required railroads operating within Evanston—specifically the Chicago and North Western (C&NWRR) and the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul (CM&StP, or "The Milwaukee Road")—to elevate their tracks. This led to the construction of viaducts along key sections of the rail lines, from Howard Street up to the Wilmette border. However, not all tracks were elevated. The C&NWRR's freight tracks, known as the Mayfair Division, remained at ground level south of Church Street because they served industrial areas. Similarly, the Milwaukee Road tracks—now part of the CTA system—were only raised as far as Church Street, after an agreement that trains would not run north of downtown Evanston. On April 26, 1912, at 1:00 AM, the Evanston Fire Department (EFD) responded to a fire at Church and Dodge Streets. A structure fire broke out in an unfinished home at 1819 Church Street, owned by Renaldo Roberti, and quickly spread to nearby residences, including the William Marion house at 1817 Church Street. During the blaze, Marion’s daughter, Pearl, jumped from a second-floor window into the arms of neighbor Emil Pavel, who had just helped his wife and daughter escape from their home at 1715 Dodge Avenue. Though the Pavel residence was saved, several other homes were lost, including those of Frank Kuzik, Lewis Titus, and Ludwig Veiter. Strong winds made firefighting efforts more difficult, but EFD crews managed to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading further. No casualties were reported among civilians or firefighters. This was the first time all three EFD engines—the Robinson motor engine, the American-LaFrance Metropolitan steamer, and the Ahrens Metropolitan steamer—were used together at a single incident. The total damage amounted to $11,250. Prior to this, the Ebenezer A.M.E. Church had been firebombed in 1903, and a fire in 1911 destroyed two houses and a barn in what was known as the “Italian settlement†at Dewey and Payne. However, the 1912 fire at Church and Dodge was the worst to date in the 5th Ward. At the time, the 5th Ward was home to many immigrants and African Americans, making it the poorest and most politically isolated ward in the city. It lacked a business district, high-value housing, and any connection to the City of Chicago, which limited its influence in city politics. In 1912, EFD Chief Carl Harrison proposed building a fourth fire station at Emerson and Ashland, the heart of the 5th Ward. However, the city council showed little interest beyond the support of the two 5th Ward aldermen. A month later, on May 29, 1912, the entire Evanston Fire Department, along with Engine Companies 70 and 112 from Chicago, fought a large fire at the Bogart Building on Sherman Avenue. The fire gutted the Workers Cooperative Grocery store and the North Shore Creamery on the first floor, as well as apartments on the upper levels. Total damages reached $16,700, marking one of the ten worst fires in Evanston’s history up to that point. In the summer of 1913, the EFD introduced the “Lung Motor,†a mechanical resuscitator that proved to be a lifesaving innovation. Demonstrated at Evanston Hospital the previous October, the device was so effective that the department was awarded $25 by the Life Saving Devices Company of Chicago for being the “Top Life Savers in the Nation†at the end of 1913. The Lung Motor was soon requested by neighboring suburbs, and even occasionally deployed to Rogers Park in Chicago. Initially placed on the fast-moving Robinson auto-truck at Station #1, it became too disruptive to operations. In May 1916, when a new automobile police ambulance replaced the horse-drawn unit, a joint police-fire policy was established. A firefighter was assigned to ride with two officers in the ambulance during inhalator calls, ensuring the engine remained available for fire responses. The first police ambulance was built by William Erby & Sons on a White Motor Company chassis and served for 11 years before being involved in a collision with a bus in September 1927. After that, the inhalator was returned to Engine Co. 1. In 1952, it was mounted on the EFD’s new rescue truck, Squad 21, and by 1959, inhalators were assigned to all five engine companies. Some key features of ADA room number signs include: Braille House Number,Braille Sign Plate,Acrylic Plate Braille Signs,Braille Script Numbers Shanghai Caide Printing Co.,Ltd. , https://www.caideprinting.com
Evanston underwent a major transformation between 1907 and 1912, both in terms of geography and infrastructure. One of the most significant changes was the construction of the North Shore Channel, a sanitary canal built by the Sanitary District of Chicago. This canal connected Lake Michigan at Wilmette Harbor to the North Branch of the Chicago River near Foster and Sacramento. By using water flow from the lake, it allowed sewage from Evanston and Wilmette to be flushed southward toward a treatment plant on Howard Street, reducing the risk of waterborne diseases like typhoid and cholera.
1. Raised Characters: The room number must be raised or embossed to allow tactile reading by individuals with visual impairments.
2. Braille: ADA signs must include Grade 2 Braille, which is a system of raised dots that allows individuals with visual impairments to read through touch.
3. High Contrast: The color contrast between the background and the characters must be high to ensure readability for people with low vision.
4. Pictograms: In addition to the room number, ADA signs may include pictograms or symbols to provide additional information, such as indicating accessible restrooms or wheelchair accessibility.
5. Mounting Height: ADA guidelines specify the appropriate mounting height for room number signs to ensure they are easily visible and accessible for individuals using wheelchairs or mobility aids.
It is important for public buildings, such as hotels, hospitals, and offices, to have ADA room number signs to ensure equal access and navigation for everyone, regardless of their abilities.