University Archives News

Northwestern offers city second "purple pumper"

You may have noticed in the news recently that Northwestern is purchasing a new fire truck for the City of Evanston. If you weren't aware, here's the article. Although this might seem like an odd gift, it was actually at the top of the city's list of needs for the upcoming year.

It was also at the top of their list of needs 40 years ago, according to the October 10, 1968 edition of the Evanston Review.

According to the article, the gift of this previous fire engine was "one of the conditions recommended for council approval...of the university's graduate student housing complex on Maple Ave". The building is Engelhart Hall, at 1915 Maple Avenue, which was dedicated in June, 1971.

Also of note is the price of the fire truck in 1968: $30,000. That's about $186,000 in 2009 money. The new one is considerably more expensive, but includes first responder supplies and will serve as an Advance Life-Support Unit.

If you'd like to read this article or investigate other fire truck-related events in Northwestern's history, stop by University Archives!