Skokie (Niles Centre) FD history

SKOKIE — When the town’s very first fire engine was built, Abraham Lincoln was still alive; when it was last used to put out a fire, the Chicago Cubs had just won a World Series. At the time, there was no Skokie — only Niles Centre — as evidenced by the gold lettering on the small red pumper that spells out the town’s name.

This remarkable story is largely due to Skokie Fire Lieutenant Ron Smith, whose deep passion for local history led to the reacquisition of the original fire engine, known as the Rumsey Pumper. About five years ago, Smith played a key role in bringing this piece of history back to its roots, after it had been lost to time.

The Rumsey Pumper was instrumental during a major fire in 1910, which destroyed half of the village's business district west of Lincoln Avenue. At the time, Niles Centre had to call on neighboring communities for help, highlighting the limitations of their aging equipment. The pumper was in service from 1881 until around 1912 or 1913, and the town eventually upgraded to a motorized pump in 1914, selling the Rumsey Pumper to Mount Prospect for $60.

Mount Prospect kept the pumper for a few years before it was displayed at the 1933 World’s Fair, where it was featured in an exhibit on the history of firefighting equipment. It was later rediscovered and returned to Mount Prospect, but little was done to preserve it beyond basic repairs. Over time, it fell into disrepair once again.

The Rumsey Pumper was originally built in Seneca Falls, New York, in 1865. In 1881, Niles Centre purchased it after bucket brigades proved ineffective against larger fires. Operating the engine required ten men — five on each side — who could pump up to 60 gallons of water per minute at its peak. Weighing approximately 700 pounds, the pumper was a crucial tool in early firefighting efforts.

There were two primary methods of operation. One involved connecting to a cistern, which most homes had on their property at the time. The fire station itself had the town’s largest cistern, which was also used. The other method was more challenging — filling the engine directly with water from tubs inside the pumper. A photo at the Skokie Heritage Museum shows the first volunteer fire department of Niles Centre, with the Rumsey Pumper positioned behind them.

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