Skokie Fire Department History
In 2003, Skokie Public Library received a grant to
digitize materials documenting the history of the Skokie Fire Department. Approximately seven hundred photographs,
documents, and artifacts were digitized, all of them housed in the
Historical Society and collected by Ron Smith of the Skokie Fire Department. Funding for this grant was awarded by the Illinois State Library, a Division
of the Office of Secretary of State, and State Librarian Jesse White, using
funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the
federal Library Services and Technology Act.
For more information on this project or about Skokie history, send an email to a Skokie Public Library Reference Librarian or contact the Information Services Desk at 847.673.3733.
Accidents and Incidents
This is a collection of photographs of accidents involving automobiles, trucks, or public transportation, in which the Skokie Fire Department was called to assist in rescue operations or fire extinction. For images of the Skokie Fire Department in action at fires, see the section on Fires.
Cash Receipts
This is a collection of handwritten, numbered receipts detailing various expenditures of the Niles Centre Volunteer Fire Company, covering the period 1933 through 1939. These receipts were originally interleaved in the Niles Centre Volunteer Fire Company Cash Book.
Documents and Artifacts
This collection contains documents and artifacts that pertain to the history of the Skokie Fire Department. For images that show some of the people named in these documents, see the Fire Fighters collection.
Fire and Police Commission Manual
This nineteen-page document, dated 1945, is the Village of Skokie Fire and Police Commission manual. It sets out the rules for examinations, hiring, promotion, and removal from the Fire and Police Departments.
Fire Drills
This collection consists of photographs of fire drills conducted by the Skokie Fire Department. For images of actual fires, see the section on Fires.
Fire Engines and Other Vehicles
This is a collection of photographs of fire engines, fire trucks, ambulances, and cars belonging to the Skokie Fire Department. For images of fire stations and other facilities, see the section on Fire Stations and Other Facilities.
Fire Fighters
This is a collection of photographs featuring fire fighters from the Skokie Fire Department. To see images of some of these fire fighters in action, check the sections on Fires or Fire Drills. For a roster of members of the Niles Center Volunteer Fire Company as of October 21, 1884, see the Documents and Artifacts collection.
This collection documents some of the efforts of the Skokie Fire Department to promote fire prevention. To view photographs of the Skokie Fire Department's participation in other community events, see the section on Parades, Open Houses, and Other Events.
Fire Stations and Other Facilities
This collection features photographs of the Skokie Fire Department's various fire stations, engine houses, and drill towers. For images of fire engines, ambulances, and other Fire Department vehicles, see the Fire Engines and Other Vehicles collection.
Fires
This collection
consists of photographs of fires in Skokie and neighboring municipalities.
Many of these photographs depict the
aftermath of fires, showing damage incurred by the fire and by the
process of extinguishing it.
Niles Centre Volunteer Fire Company Cash Book
Handwritten treasury book of the Niles Centre Volunteer Fire Company, covering the period 1899 through 1938. This 89-page register lists all income and expenditures for the Fire Company and is interleaved with receipts for various expenditures.
Our Fire Fighter Coloring Book
This item, published in 1976 for the Skokie Fire Department, describes a day in the life of a fire fighter. For other documents pertaining to the history of the Skokie Fire Department, see the Documents and Artifacts collection.
Parades, Open Houses, and Other Events
Over the years, the Skokie Fire Department has been very visible in the Village of Skokie, participating in parades and hosting open houses and demonstrations. This collection consists of photographs of some of those events. For photographs of fire fighters individually and in groups, see the section on Fire Fighters.
Other Fire Department Histories
- Cincinnati Fire Department History
This is a rich and informative site documenting the entire history of the Cincinnati Fire Department, established in 1853. It includes photographs, maps, articles, and a searchable roster of fire fighters. - History of the San
Francisco Fire Department
Part of the Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco, this site features photographs, biographies, and department reports. - New York City Fire Department
The Fire Department of New York City has an official history featuring mostly current information including photographs, press releases, and memorials to department members lost in the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks. The Heritage and History section includes information about the origin of the Maltese Cross and the history of emergency medical services in New York. The unofficial FDNY Web page has a wealth of historical and current photographs and information, including a “What Happened On This Day” feature. - Indianapolis Fire Department has histories of engines and stations, as well as a general history of the department and photographs.
- Valparaiso, Indiana Fire Department History includes detailed articles on favorite equipment and canine companions, as well as historical photographs.