Evanston Fire Department history Part 44

THEY CALL ME “OBERBRANDDIREKTOR”

Between 1934 and 1942, there were only two promotions within the Evanston Fire Department (EFD), both taking place 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 due to a fatal heart attack.

Following Lt. Dorband’s death, the EFD saw a wave of change with twenty promotions over the next seven years. Fireman John Schmidt was the first to rise through the ranks, topping the promotional list for lieutenant after the vacancy created by Lt. Dorband's passing. Before his promotion, Schmidt had served as a long-time driver for the chief and as Hofstetter’s administrative assistant and personal secretary. When he was promoted to lieutenant, Chief Hofstetter made a strategic move by transferring Lt. Frank Sherry from Engine Co. 1 to Engine Co. 3, ensuring that Schmidt remained at Station #1, continuing 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, Schmidt took a leave of absence in 1947 when he was appointed temporary Oberbranddirektor (Chief Fire Officer) of the fire brigade in the U.S. Sector of Berlin, Germany. In this role, he played a crucial part in helping the severely damaged Berliner Feuerwehr recover from the destruction caused during World War II, especially after the Soviet army entered the city in its final days.

Schmidt held the position of Oberbranddirektor until the Federal Republic of Germany was established and Berlin was returned to local governance on May 23, 1949. Upon returning to Evanston, he was promoted to captain, as he was next on the promotional list. 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.

Despite being a top candidate for assistant chief, Capt. Schmidt chose to retire in 1952 at the age of 51 after 25 years of service. He was appointed Midwest Regional Fire Coordinator for the U.S. Civil Defense Agency by President Harry Truman. While few in the EFD had careers as unique as Schmidt’s, others left their mark during the 1940s.

For instance, Lt. Dan McKimmons retired in 1943 after 32 years of service, and Fireman John Reddick was promoted to lieutenant and took over as assistant company officer of Truck Co. 2. This is not the same John Reddick who was fired in 1906 for drinking while on duty at Station #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 became trapped and overcome by smoke during a basement fire at 1015 Dempster Street.

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