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Bill Friedrich recently shared an image with his collection, and he reached out to Drew Smith for help in determining its age. Below is the photograph in question, which features updated signage that was installed at the fire station later than its initial construction.
Drew provided some valuable historical context regarding the photograph:
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I’ve verified that this photo dates back to 1963. Initially, the fire station had a neon sign reading "FIRE DEPARTMENT" above the main entrance. This was later replaced with red lettering that reads "PROSPECT HEIGHTS FIRE DEPARTMENT." The image you have shows the newer version of the signage. Additionally, the paint store visible to the left confirms that this is a later-era photo since that store was replaced once the new Walgreens was constructed. I also have other images showing the same red and white lettering but with different businesses occupying the paint store space. Furthermore, when the station was originally built, there wasn't a curb separating the road from the apron—it was just a gravel transition.
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A few additional points to consider:
- The fire station went through several changes over the years, including modifications to its exterior design and vehicle fleet.
- Below are some key details about the vehicles mentioned in the timeline.
### Vehicle History Summary (1947–1968)
| Year | Type | Signature(s) | Make/Manufacturer | Pump GPM | Tank Capacity | Other Details |
|------|-----------|--------------|-------------------|----------|---------------|-----------------------------|
| 1947 | Pumper | #3 | Ford/Darley | 750 | 500 gallons | Purchased new |
| 1948 | Car | #4 | Ford | N/A | N/A | Known as the "pie wagon" |
| 1957 | Car | ? | Ford | N/A | N/A | Red and white, used by chief|
The station wagon served as the chief's vehicle and would have been utilized by the first two chiefs. Over the years, the Prospect Heights Fire Department (PHFD) has had only four chiefs:
1. Fran Foor (1944–1962) – Served as president of the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association in 1954.
2. William Andrew (1962–1969)
3. Donald Gould, Sr. (1969–1988)
4. Donald Gould, Jr. (1988–present)
Based on the license plate style, I believe this photo was taken in 1963. According to this Wikipedia page [Vehicle registration plates of Illinois](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_registration_plates_of_Illinois), in 1963, license plates were dark green with gold letters—exactly how they appear in this image.
In 1966, the red and white 1957 Ford was replaced with a Chevrolet Impala station wagon. Between 1964 and 1968, the PHFD acquired three new pieces of equipment:
| Year | Type | Signature(s) | Make/Manufacturer | Pump GPM | Tank Capacity | Other Details |
|------|-----------|--------------|-------------------|----------|---------------|-------------------------------------|
| 1964 | Squad | #5 | Chevy | N/A | N/A | Utility body truck, breathing air cascade, generator |
| 1966 | Pumper | #2 | Ford/Darley | 750 | 1000 gallons | Twin high-pressure booster reels |
| 1968 | Tanker | #6 | Ford/Darley | 750 | 1500 gallons | N/A |
The 1947 Ford Darley pumper stayed in service until sometime in the 1970s. In 1973, the department added a new Dodge station wagon for the chief, along with a Ward LaFrance pumper and their first ambulance built on a Dodge van.
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Attached are a few more photos for reference:
- This appears to be the original 1957 Ford when it was brand-new. The red license plate with white letters is characteristic of 1957 plates.
- This is the 1948 Ford "pie wagon," affectionately called so by longtime members. It has since been beautifully restored by someone in the northwest suburbs (though no direct contact information is available).
Best regards,
Drew Smith
Deputy Chief
Prospect Heights Fire Protection District
10 East Camp McDonald Road
Prospect Heights, IL 60070
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Let me know if you need further clarification or additional details!