La Grange Park Fire History

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La Grange Park Fire History

History of the La Grange Park Illinois Fire Department. Established February 8th, 1900

06/17/2026

On this day in 1924, La Grange Park's 2nd Fire Chief Albert Mesenbrink passed away off-duty at home, after a year long battle with Stomach Cancer. He had served as Chief since 1908. Unfortunately, there are no known photographs of Albert. The photo provided is of his son Paul at an older age, who served as Village Treasurer. The Mesenbrink estate, built in 1905, sat at the corner of Woodlawn and Ashland (444 N. Ashland) which is the current spot of Fire Station 1. The house (pictured below) was torn down in 1975 to make way for the current Village Hall.

06/10/2026

50 years ago on June 6th, 1976, the La Grange Park Municipal Building was officially dedicated and opened to the public, housing all the Village Government, Police and Fire Services.

The building occupied two separate lots, the west lot being the former Village Hall, Police & Fire Station since the late 1800s and the east lot being the Mesenbrink Estate, donated by the family of the 2nd Fire Chief Albert Mesenbrink.

The Village of La Grange Park has been ran out of several buildings through the years:
1892 - President Lyon's house 301 N Catherine Ave
1892-1897 - Poets Corner School Oak & Ashland Ave
1897-1924 - 1 Room 1 Story Village Hall 447 N. Catherine Ave
1924-1976 - 2 Story Hall/PD/FD 447 N. Catherine Ave
1976-Present - 1 Story Hall/PD/FD 447 N. Catherine

Photos of all the village hall buildings attached! Enjoy

06/09/2026

50 years ago today on June 6th, 1976, the La Grange Park Municipal Building was officially dedicated and opened to the public, housing all the Village Government, Police and Fire Services.

The building occupied two separate lots, the west lot being the former Village Hall, Police & Fire Station since the late 1800s and the east lot being the Mesenbrink Estate, donated by the family of the 2nd Fire Chief Albert Mesenbrink who passed away in 1923.

Attached are several photos of the construction/teardown of the Old & New Village Hall & the Mesenbrink House. As well as some photos of the finished New Village Hall and a proposed sketch!

This building still serves the village today as La Grange Park Fire Department's Station 1 & Head Quarters. The Firehouse was dedicated the Chief Gilbert P. Welch Station in 1986.

The Village of La Grange Park has been ran out of several buildings through the years:
1892 - President Lyon's house 301 N Catherine Ave
1892-1897 - Poets Corner School Oak & Ashland Ave
1897-1924 - 1 Room 1 Story Village Hall 447 N. Catherine Ave
1924-1976 - 2 Story Hall/PD/FD 447 N. Catherine Ave
1976-Present - 1 Story Hall/PD/FD 447 N. Catherine

06/04/2026

On this day in 1923, George Wesley Gale Badge 4, was named the 3rd Chief of the La Grange Park Fire Department!
George was a founding member of the department in 1900. Upon the death of the previous Chief Albert Mesenbrink, Gale helped organize the structure of the department with the purchase of their first motorized fire engine, the 1923 Reo-Foamite Childs which was housed out of the village hall when a proper fire garage was constructed for them in 1924. Alongside him, he appointed Herman Diedrichsen and Police Marshal Otto Piltz as his assistant Chiefs. During his tenure he worked for the Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad.
Gale served as Chief for seven years before retiring from the Fire Dept on February 25th, 1930 after 30 years of dedicated service.

06/01/2026

June Service Anniversaries of Retired and Honored Members

6/29/1947 - Lieutenant Michael Ott, Badge 9/109 (Service: 1947 - 1974)
6/1/1961 - Deputy Chief James F. Strnad, Badge 108/102 (Service: 1961 - 1990)
6/7/1962 - Firefighter Armand "Mickey" J. Mandolesi, Badge 125 (Service: 1962 - 1981)
6/14/1977 - Lieutenant/EMT Jeffery Chorley, Badge 138/1283 (Service: 1977 - 2008)
6/1/1981 - Firefighter/PM Sandra Vlcek-Gajeski, Badge 128/135/112 (Service: 1981-1985, 1994-2015)
6/4/1987 - Firefighter Michael Jaslowski, Badge 127 (Service: 1987 - 2010)

05/27/2026

Memorial Day Parade 1950
Fire Station 1 - 447 N. Catherine Ave
New 1950 Pirch Fire Engine No. 3

At the front of the truck; Front row: Birt Pauli, Captain Dick Gleason, Chief Fred Liedtke. Second row: James Milligan, Sam Petrone, Clem Extrom. Back row: Louis Svoboda, Charles Lozar, Christian Christiansen.
Village officials: Trustees L.D. Pridmore, Edgar Fagan, Eugene Cullen, Supt. Roy Wintermute, President Walter Madigan, William Ream.
At the rear of the truck; Front row: Lt. Bill Becker Sr., George Scheive, Assistant Chief Alfred Degener. Second row: Joseph Pesek, Herb Leppke, Michael Ott, Fred Hansen; Back row: Edward Bluder, Lt. Irvin Diedrichsen, Charles Harris.

05/18/2026

This week marks 52 years since 1974, when President Gerald Ford authorized EMS Week (May 17th - 23rd) to celebrate EMS professionals and the important work they do in our nation's communities. Enjoy a gallery of every ambulance that has served La Grange Park through the years.

1960s International Carryall - Police Emergence Unit 222
(Service: 1971 - 1974)
1974 Dodge Tradesman 300 - Ambulance 222/522
(Service: 1974 - 1986)
1981 Chevy Excellence - Joint La Grange/La Grange Park Ambulance 426
(Service: 1981 - 1991)
1986 Ford Econoline E320 - Ambulance 522/1214
(Service: 1986 - 2000)
1991 Ford F350 - Joint La Grange/La Grange Park Ambulance 426/1115
(Service: 1991 - 2000)
1996 Ford Econoline E320 - Ambulance 1215
(Service: 1996 - 2010)
2000 Freightliner FL50 Medtec - Ambulance 1214
(Service: 2000 - 2017)
2010 International Medtec - Ambulance 1215
(Service: 2010 - Present)
2017 Ford F550/Horton - Ambulance 1214
(Service: 2017 - Present)

05/11/2026

The 80th Annual La Grange Pet Parade is scheduled for May 30th, 2026! Here is a collection of photos of La Grange Park Fire Dept participating through the years

05/07/2026

On this day in 1987, Arthur A. "Bucky" Tullis Badge 122/1201, was named the 7th Chief of the La Grange Park Fire Department!
Bucky joined the Department in 1964. During his tenure he worked at Ameritech Illinois Bell Telephone Company .
He was named Chief in 1987 and served for 12 years.
Bucky had served the department for 35 years when he passed away in the line of duty.

Address

447 N. Catherine Avenue
La Grange Park, IL
60526

Website

https://www.facebook.com/La-Grange-Park-Fire-History-112861737019765/

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