Evanston Fire Department history Part 44

THEY CALL ME “OBERBRANDDIREKTOR”

Between 1934 and 1942, only two promotions occurred within the Evanston Fire Department (EFD), both happening on the same day in May 1937. This was a significant moment for the Dorband family, as Lt. Henry Dorband—later to become chief of the EFD—was promoted to captain and took over as company officer of Engine Co. 2 from Capt. John Wynn. At the same time, his older brother Carl was promoted to lieutenant and became assistant company officer of Engine Co. 3. Tragically, Lt. Dorband passed away at age 50 in May 1942 while sitting in front of Station #3 on a Sunday afternoon.

Following Lt. Dorband’s death, there were twenty promotions over the next seven years, marking the rise of new leadership in the EFD. Fireman John Schmidt was the first to be promoted, topping the Civil Service list for lieutenant that followed Lt. Dorband’s passing in 1942. Before his promotion, Schmidt had served as a long-time driver for the chief and as an administrative assistant and personal secretary to Chief Hofstetter. When he was named lieutenant, Chief Hofstetter made a strategic move by transferring Lt. Frank Sherry from Engine Co. 1 to Engine Co. 3, ensuring that Schmidt would remain at Station #1, continuing his role as the chief’s trusted right-hand man and also serving as assistant company officer of Engine Co. 1.

Fluent in both English and German, Lt. Schmidt took a leave of absence in 1947 when he was appointed temporary Oberbranddirektor of the fire brigade in the U.S. Sector of Berlin, Germany. In this role, he helped restore the severely damaged Berliner Feuerwehr after World War II, especially following the Russian invasion in the war's final days. He remained in this position until the Federal Republic of Germany was established and Berlin was returned to local governance on May 23, 1949, after which he returned to Evanston.

Because he was next on the promotional list for captain when he left, Schmidt was promoted upon his return in 1949. He initially served as company officer of Engine Co. 5 before taking over as commander of the Fire Prevention Bureau after the sudden death of Assistant Chief J. E. Mersch in October 1950. A standout member of the EFD, Schmidt was expected to become chief, but instead chose to retire in 1952 at the age of 51 after 25 years of service. Despite being next in line for assistant chief, he accepted a position as Midwest Regional Fire Coordinator for the U.S. Civil Defense Agency under President Harry Truman.

While few members of the EFD during the 1940s had careers as unique as John Schmidt’s, several others made their mark. Lt. Dan McKimmons retired in 1943 after 32 years of service, and Fireman John Reddick was promoted to lieutenant, taking over as assistant company officer of Truck Co. 2. This is not the same John Reddick who was fired in 1906 for drinking alcohol while on duty at Station #1 with Truck Co. 1.

Dan McKimmons joined the EFD in 1911, one of four new firefighters hired when the Robinson Jumbo automobile pumper was introduced. As a fireman on Truck Co. 1, he was seriously injured in 1916 when the American-LaFrance HDA collided with an Evanston Railway streetcar at Grove & Sherman. Later, as a lieutenant on Truck Co. 2, he nearly lost his life in 1941 when he was trapped by smoke in a basement fire at 1015 Dempster Street and was rescued by fellow firefighters.

Dan’s older brother George was the rookie firefighter whose first day was December 13, 1905—the day of the tragic Mark Manufacturing Company fire, which claimed the lives of two Evanston firefighters. George eventually left the EFD and joined the Chicago Fire Department, where he rose to the rank of captain. He later organized Truck Co. 44 at Engine 55’s station on Sheffield Avenue in 1928.