The Waukegan Fire Department shared their rich history with us for the website. Here is the first part of their story: The History of Waukegan Fire 1849 – The first Hook and Ladder Company was established in Little Fort, though it wasn’t officially recognized as a village until February 12, 1849. On March 31, 1849, residents voted to rename the town Waukegan. That same day, the first village government was formed, with D.O. Dickenson serving as president. 1850 – A committee was formed on May 3rd to assess the cost of acquiring a fire engine and to find a suitable building to protect the Hook and Ladder Company from the elements. 1852 – On November 18th, the village board authorized the purchase of a fire engine from Chicago and ordered 300 feet of hose from Charles E. Peck. 1853 – By October 5th, the Fire Company’s Bucket Brigade #1 reported that the new engine was ineffective during testing and recommended its abandonment. The village board then hired an attorney to inform Chicago of the machine’s failure. 1854 – On March 13th, the village bought a new fire engine from L. Button & Co. of Waterford for $825. It was a 32-man operated unit. The December 14th meeting approved $32.50 for freight costs, and the December 30th meeting allocated $50 for the first six months’ rent of a building owned by S.W. Dowst. They also approved a $275 payment for the new engine, funded through subscriptions. 1855 – On June 21st, the village purchased land from Joseph Wallon to build a firehouse. The board also directed James Wiseman to clean up and return the old engine to Chicago, which accepted it and returned the city's bonds. 1859 – A resolution was passed requiring all men between 21 and 50 years old (except those exempted) to provide three days of labor for public works, or pay 75 cents per day. Fire department volunteers were exempt. Later that year, Waukegan received a special charter from the state, leading to incorporation on February 23rd with 407 votes in favor and 122 against. 1860 – An ordinance was introduced to create a fire limit, restricting wood buildings within certain areas to prevent fires from spreading. 1870 – The Fire Department requested heating for the engine house because the equipment was freezing and unusable. 1874 – The council approved the purchase of a Selsby Steam Fire Engine and a hose cart for $4,800. They also hired William H. Wright as engineer at $125 per year. Efforts to buy land for a new station faced delays due to competing proposals. 1875 – Discussions began about using water from a new artesian well for fire hydrants and storage tanks. 1876 – The Fire Department received funds for uniforms and a water main was laid on the Southside to improve access to water for firefighting. 1880 – A telephone was installed to connect the fire station with the city engineer’s residence, improving communication during emergencies. 1882 – A cistern was built in the engine house to store water for the steam engine, with a capacity of 300 barrels. 1884 – A bill was delayed until a map of water mains could be created, ensuring proper billing and distribution of water. 1888 – A tax levy was approved, allocating $3,000 for fire and water services. 1889 – Central School was destroyed by fire, forcing the use of church basements for classes. 1891 – P.W. Cunningham resigned as chief, and George D. Wardil was appointed. The new chief highlighted the need for modern equipment and more personnel. A request was made to allow a fireproof building on State and Washington Streets, which was approved. 1892 – Plans were prepared for a new water plant to draw directly from Lake Michigan. 1893 – A power plant was constructed for the water system. During a fire, a house was partially demolished to stop the spread of flames, and the owner was compensated. 1894 – An ordinance was adopted to regulate the city’s water works systems. 1912 – The Central Fire Station underwent a major renovation. 1918 – The Manufacturers Terminal fire led to increased demands for better fire protection from the U.S. government. Black Shading Tape,High Temperature Resistance Shading Tape,High Viscosity Single Sided Tape,Black Color Shading Tape Shanghai Huike New Material Technology Co., Ltd. , https://www.shhuike.com