More from Dan McInerney about Engine 77’s house on the day it was closed. Here are some descriptions of the images:
Views from both the officer and engineer sides, highlighting the tight fit of the space.
Outside the firehouse on a cold January day, just under 16 hours before it would close for good.
This is a 1984 E-One 1250/500. The photo was taken during a visit in the late '80s or early '90s. It shows the apparatus outside the station so the apparatus floor could be cleaned. While primarily an equipment shot, it also captures the front of the building with the sign “WE NEVER CLOSE.†Above the door is a large medallion with a small skull on top, likely a goat—symbolic of the firehouse's spirit and the tough neighborhood it served. Notice the condition of the house to the south; it reflected the area’s state at the time, which would soon change.
Joker stand.
The next set of photos features my grandfather’s retirement badge, awarded when he retired as one of two engineers at Engine 77 in 1952. Back then, the department still used the two-platoon system. He joined the Chicago Fire Department in 1917, was promoted to Engineer at E77 in 1935, and retired in 1952 after decades of service.