Mount Prospect Fire Department Open House 1952

              Mount Prospect Volunteer Fire Department extends an invitation to you to attend an Open House to inspect the new fire truck Sunday Afternoon, February 10, 1952 from two to five o'clock  FRANK J. BIERMANN, Chief EDWIN HABERKAMP, Asst. Chief FRED MEESKE, Asst. Chief FRED C. BUSSE, Secretary GILBERT BUSSE, Treas. and Chief Engineer EDWIN L BUSSE JOHN BENCIC PAUL HOLSTE FRED W. BUSSE EMIL GREINKE ALVIN C. BEIGEL LAWRENCE HODGES CLARENCE WINKELMANN DR. A, WOLFARTH WALTER CARLSON AMBROSE KRANZ RALPH WILLE CLARENCE NIEBUHR FRANK B. SCHMIDT CLARENCE PIEPENBRINK FRED MEESKE, JR. WALLACE BUSSE ROBERT HABERKAMP EDWARD J. BUSSE HAROLD BUSSE ROY WILLE FLOYD HOLSTE (in Korean service)  The Story of the Mt. Prospect Fire Department (Reprint from Paddock Publications) In 1913 Mt. Prospect was a settlement of some 20 homes, a church and public school, a bank and stores. A form of government had been set up in 1911, known as the Mt. Prospect Improvement association. Prompted by the realization that the community was destined to grow and develop, a group of public minded men met the evening of September 29 in the school house to organize a volunteer fire department. They got right down to business and wrote a constitution and by-laws which were adopted November 8. C. D. Busse was elected the first chief. Others of the original roster who still live in the village or nearby include John Pohlman, first secretary; L. H. Haberkamp, treasurer; A. E. Busse, engineer, and Herman Meyn, Christ Wille and Albert Wille. THEY SHOPPED AROUND for equipment, testing out a chemical tank and bucket system, and investigating a pumper offered for sale by Glenview. Early in 1914 the hand pumper now on dispaly in the station was purchased for $60 from Niles Center (Skokie). Next the department purchased a fire bell from Arlington Heights for $8, and had it mounted in a special belfry on Wille's Hall at Wille st. and Northwest hwy. The modern Wille store building incorporates part of the hall. An extension ladder, roof ladder, two axes, two pick poles, and six lanterns completed the equipment. Most of the calls were for chimney and prairie fires. They were never more than a couple of blocks away, and the pumper was drawn to the fire by hand. It was the duty of the chief to pick out the road to the fire, and at night to carry a lantern. The first nozzleman was to "run on the drag rope just in front of the poleman." Arriving at the fire, he was ready to instantly direct a stream of water from his 100 feet of 1%" hose. Before the 10 gallon prime tank of water on the pumper could be used up, the assistant chief and second nozzleman, also designat- ed axman, were delegated to make a connection with the nearest cistern or well. STRICT DISCIPLINE was required. The by-laws list as a special duty of the chief "to scalp anyone who borrows anything from the engine or any other apparatus," Provision was made to vote out of the department any member who failed to attend three consecutive meetings, and judging from the early minutes, no quarter was given. Occasionally a repentant member was allowed to reinstate his name on the waiting list. There were frequent parties, smokers, dances, picnics and banquets, but primarily then as now the men were organized to be ready in case of fire, and they ran no risk of insubordination or indifferent interest on the part of any member. As the settlement spread south of the railroad, A. F. Jahncke opened a general store where the flat building at 208 S. Emerson now stands. The little hand pumper was ineffective when a spectacular fire burned