A question was directed to Bill Post by Mike McAuliffe:
"Bill, regarding the topic of Snorkels, could you shed some light on why Fire Commissioner Quinn was so frugal with funds that he didn't buy a new small Snorkel for SS-3 or a replacement for Snorkel 1, which later became SS-3? Most importantly, why didn't he acquire a new Snorkel to replace Snorkel 7?
Snorkels were clearly Commissioner Quinn's favorite, but it seems his attachment may have clouded his judgment regarding the potential benefits of tower ladders. Why didn't he purchase replacements? During that era, Snorkels were quite common, and some departments were even using smaller Snorkels as secondary engines. Crown was producing excellent Snorkels on the West Coast. The LACityFD had two they were eager to sell. It shouldn't have been too challenging to find a good deal on a used or even a new one.
I've always thought it was a downside for Quinn that the city only had one Snorkel on the South Side, Snorkel 3, for most of the 1970s. When a South Side still or box call came in, you'd often hear over the radio, 'Snorkel 5 to Snorkel 3?'
Looking forward to your response."
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Mike, you hit the nail on the head. Financial constraints were a significant issue for the Chicago Fire Department in the 1960s. This is why, from the early 1960s until late 1966 or early 1967, the department primarily bought unique or specialty vehicles. These included the Magirus 144-foot and 100-foot aerial ladders, Snorkels, Snorkel Squads, Fog Pressure Wagons, the original helicopter (441), jet (rescue) boats, ambulances, and chief buggies.
The Chicago Fire Department was desperate for capital funds. Eventually, the City of Chicago had to ask voters in 1966/67 to approve a bond issue to secure funding for much-needed infrastructure, including new fire trucks. I recall there was even a half-hour TV special on Channel 9 highlighting the department's need for new equipment. Commissioner Robert J. Quinn appeared in the program, saying, "I don't see how the voters could deny us new fire apparatus when it's so desperately needed."
The bond issue passed. Regarding Snorkel Company 1, Commissioner Quinn felt the need for a new Snorkel Squad on the bustling West Side. He converted Snorkel 1's rig into Snorkel Squad 3 and purchased three Fog Pressure Wagons on longer chassis to serve as the new second pieces for the three Snorkel Squads. Snorkel Squad 3 began operations on May 16, 1965, at the firehouse at 2858 W. Fillmore, previously home to Engine 66 and Squad 7. Engine 66 moved to Engine Company 44, and Squad 7 was decommissioned that day.
Another key reason the CFD didn't purchase a new Snorkel 1 was due to limited space on the West Side. For instance, to accommodate Snorkel Squad 3, Engine 66 had to relocate, and Squad 7, one of the city's busiest squad companies, was shut down. Commissioner Quinn decided to replace it with a more modern and better-equipped Snorkel Squad. This made logical sense. Squad 3, located with Engine 61 at 54th and Wabash, was also one of the top two busiest squads. Its location near Engine 60, Truck 37, and Snorkel Squad 2 in their new station meant Squad 3 stayed operational. However, this wasn't feasible on the West Side.
Commissioner Quinn's decision to place Snorkels 4 through 7 in service between 1961 and 1962 was partly driven by his desire to have at least one Snorkel in each of the seven Fire Divisions at the time.
Snorkel Company 1, the smallest at 50 feet, was moved from Engine 50 on the South Side to Engine 109 on the West Side. The only fire station in the 2nd Division with enough room for a Snorkel was Engine 109. Despite the tight fit—Engine 109 had two bays, one housing Truck 32 with its 1954 FWD tillered aerial ladder—Snorkel 1 managed to squeeze in due to its shorter length compared to other Snorkels.
In the early 1960s, when most Snorkels were deployed, the South Side wasn't significantly better than the West Side in terms of accommodating these larger vehicles. At the time, there were three divisions on the South Side: 4, 5, and 7.
Division 5, on the far Southeast Side, had enough space for Snorkel 6 at Engine 46's house, thanks to its unusually large apparatus bays. Division 7, covering the far Southwest Side, including Englewood, had Engine 84's station as the sole option, located at Halsted south of 57th Street, just two blocks south of the 4th Division's southern boundary on Garfield Boulevard.
Snorkel 3 moved to Engine 84's station after leaving Engine 50's house, where it had temporarily replaced Snorkel 1 for six months. The fit was cramped at Engine 50. Eventually, Light Wagon 3 at Engine 84 swapped places with Snorkel 3. From 1962 to 1964, there was no Snorkel assigned to the 4th Division until Engine 28's new station opened, allowing Snorkel 2 to move there. Prior to this, Snorkels 2 and 4 were stationed less than a mile apart from May 6, 1961, until October 28, 1964. Snorkel 2 was with Engine 5, and Snorkel 4 was with Engine 25 at the Fire Academy—a situation lasting over three years due to insufficient space for Snorkels in many city firehouses.
This is part one of a three-part article.
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