Last Friday the group made the purchase of the building official by closing on the property which they bought from the City for $36,000. The 5,892-sq. ft. Chicago Historic Landmark building built in 1928 will finally be getting the much needed attention it has been lacking. Renovations are set to start this month and could come as early as next week.

Alderman Harry Osterman who was determined to turn the firehouse into a place for the benefit of the local communtiy said in a statement,“On behalf of our entire Edgewater community, I’m very excited that Chicago Filmmakers will breathe new life into the firehouse. We look forward to many years of community partnership.”

The renovation should take seven to eight months. It will include the construction of a new movie theater, elevator, exit stairs, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, sewer and water lines. The Filmmakers are woking with award-winning architectural firm Bureau of Architecture and Design and Finnegan Development. The total cost of the project is around $1 million.

The county will purchase the vehicle chassis in 2016, then attach the rest of the ambulance vehicle, referenced by ambulance director Larry Hanson as the “box” where medical supplies and patients ride, will be attached later. The vehicle is expected to be operational in early 2017.

Because the county purchased almost all of its vehicles at the same time after assuming control of ambulance operations in January 2015, Hansen explained to officials that it would then require all the vehicles to be replaced at about the same time.

The crash caused the power line to fall across the highway. As of noon on Thursday, the westbound lanes of Highway 60 are closed and traffic is being rererouted. The Eastbound lanes of Highway 60 are being shared by east and westbound traffic.

The ambulance had left Winter Haven Hospital and was on its way back to its station in Nalcrest when it jumped a curb and hit the power pole. A paramedic and EMT were in the ambulance. Neither were hurt.

 

The guys who met me were warm, educated, and obviously very competent. Craig Raynor, the president of the Fire Department’s antique truck committee, and Bobby Cox gave me a tour. The first question I asked was: Why was this not open to the public? Apparently they do have designs on a museum, and I think it would be a damn good one — but of course that requires more funding.

The 35-foot American LaFrance Type 14 city service hook and ladder truck, which arrived in Southampton in 1913 (it took three days to drive it out — I wonder if there was backup at the Lobster Inn), was the first firetruck model in America with a gas engine. It cast a particular spell on me: I could visualize firefighters from days gone by scurrying about it, taking ladders off, then trying to scale burning buildings to save people or douse a flame with foam from a copper canister that hung from the side.