It's hard to believe that E77 is finally gone, after all those years of service. The demolition was completed on September 9, 2012, and I must say, the views from both the north and south sides are quite different now. To the south, at 1226 S. Komensky, the old house has been beautifully rehabilitated and is now occupied. It’s incredible to think that almost a 90-year-old firehouse to the north has disappeared.
E77 holds a special place in history as one of the last single-engine firehouses still standing in Chicago. The last single-engine house was constructed in the early '50s, specifically E113, which is the "next-door neighbor" to E77. These single-company firehouses are becoming rarer by the day, especially ones with such rich histories like E77. For a period, it had a reputation as somewhat of a "punishment house," located on the outskirts of the city. But despite its past, E77 consistently produced seasoned firefighters who were promoted to pass on their valuable experience.
I managed to get some photos from October 24, 2007, before it was torn down. They really capture the essence of what this place once was.
*Photo Credit: Dan McInerney*
*Photo Credit: Dan McInerney*
*Photo Credit: Dan McInerney*
Journal 1 contains a remarkable entry marking my grandfather's retirement. It's fascinating to see the mandatory retirement policy after 35 years of service.
*Photo Credit: Dan McInerney*
Another journal entry shows the company member information page. Back in the day, under the two-platoon system, you'd see just two company officers and engineers listed. The details include birthdates, entry dates into the Chicago Fire Department (CFD), and assignment dates to the company.
My grandfather, John J. McInerney, was transferred to E77 as an engineer on March 16, 1935. His journey began at E103 on Harrison Street in 1917. The journal notes his birthdate as August 15, 1889. Interestingly, his previous occupation was listed as a locomotive fireman, and he hailed from the U.S. His badge number and personal details like his address at 1509 N. Luna and phone number Merrimac7-2510 were meticulously recorded. This kind of detailed information was kept in company journals for decades.
As a child, my father, Donald McInerney, would often visit his father at the firehouse. He affectionately called his dad "ball driver," because shortly after he became an engineer, E77 received an Ahrens-Fox pumper with a distinctive chrome sphere on the front—earning the nickname "ball driver."
Family legend has it that my grandfather met his future wife one day at E103's firehouse. She saw him heading out on an alarm and later visited the station to complain about how he treated the horses.
The last company patch of E77 is something to behold. It’s intriguing how the phrase "I Like It Here" came about—perhaps it reflects the deep-rooted camaraderie and pride among the firefighters.
*Photo Credit: Dan McInerney Collection*
If anyone's interested, I've shared more pictures on my Facebook page "facebook.com/dmcinerney1." You can check them out there if you want to see how E77 looked on its final day or explore other firefighting images I’ve uploaded.
It's bittersweet knowing that such a significant part of Chicago's history has come to an end. But these memories live on through the stories and photographs we preserve.
Titanium Alloy Square Tube
Titanium Alloy Square Tube,Titanium Alloy Oil Pipeline,Customized Titanium Alloy Square Tube,Industrial Titanium Alloy Seamless Square Tube
Jiangsu Maihe New Materials Technology Co., Ltd , https://www.maihetube.com