A Chicago Firehouse: Stories of Wrigleyville's Engine 78 (IL) (Voices of America) [Paperback]

Karen Kruse (Author), Mike Ditka (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 17, 2001

From its humble beginnings in 1884 as a one-story frame building with one bay to house Hose Company 4 and its team of horses, Engine Company 78 has been the firefighting sentinel at the end of Waveland Avenue, sitting in the shadow of Wrigley Field. Using vintage photographs and moving stories from firefighters themselves, Karen Kruse captures the spirit and heroism of this historic Chicago landmark. Captain Robert F. Kruse served the Chicago Fire Department for 30 years, half of those at Wrigleyville's Engine 78. Growing up within the tight-knit firefighting community, Ms. Kruse records the dramatic and touching stories from her father's and his peers' experiences, and combines them in this volume exploring the unique history of Lakeview's firehouse, including a foreword by Mike Ditka and preface by Fire Commissioner James Joyce. With details about little known historic districts and a brief guide to Chicago's cemeteries and their relations to firefighters, A Chicago Firehouse: Stories of Wrigleyville's Engine 78 relays in first-hand accounts some of Chicago's most fiery tragedies, the brave men who battled them, and the diversity of the neighborhood that housed them.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Author Karen Kruse, a descendant of three generations of Chicago firefighters, is a member of Mensa and the author of several articles on Chicago cemeteries.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing; First edition. edition (April 17, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738518573
• ISBN-13: 978-0738518572
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #701,604 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars True American Heroes, September 28, 2001

By 

Lane Bresticker "Irish Lane" (Elburn, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Chicago Firehouse: Stories of Wrigleyville's Engine 78 (IL) (Voices of America) (Paperback)

In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, all Americans developed an appreciation for true American heroes---fire fighters. Long before that day, Karen Kruse knew the character of fire fighters and what it takes to join their ranks. In her book "A Chicago Firehouse," she tells of the hearts and souls of all fire fighters. Yes, it's the tale of one firehouse, but that firehouse captures the spirit of firehouses across America and throughout our history. As Karen presents fire fighting, she defines familiar words and terms we thought we knew. The book is highlighted with dazzling photography from aged newspapers and Karen's own camera. Her unique perspective of growing up in a fire fighting family brings a loving touch to a moving story. Here's a tribute every fire fighter would love to own.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Fireman's Daughter, July 6, 2001

By 

Betty (Prospect Heights, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Chicago Firehouse: Stories of Wrigleyville's Engine 78 (IL) (Voices of America) (Paperback)

I loved reading what to me was a love story from a proud daughter to her fireman father. The information that is packed into this small book knows no boundaries and Karen has made the stories come alive with her knowledge and her ability to put these words on paper. The reader is put in the midst of some of Chicago's worst fires through the use of pictures and words. To anyone who grew up in the Wrigleyville area, this book is priceless.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great piece of Chicago Fire Department history, April 27, 2004

By 

Kevin O'Brien (So.Dartmouth, Ma USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Chicago Firehouse: Stories of Wrigleyville's Engine 78 (IL) (Voices of America) (Paperback)

This was a well written book about a historic engine company of the Chicago Fire Department. The author's father was a member of that company during his career with the CFD. There are quite a few accounts of the fires and other incidents the firemen of Engine 78 responded to in that time frame. Not all the incidents are major but all were very interesting and detailed. Having read a large number of firematic books over the years , it compares very favorably to most if not all first efforts. Although Ms. Kruse was not a member of the fire service herself , she was able to convey the facts in a manner that both a novice and a veteran of fire departments could easily follow.