On May 1, 1948, the village took delivery of the most modern ambulance of its day. And, 66 years later, it’ still here, reminding us of the past.
Prior to 1948, village residents needing an ambulance had to call the Merker funeral home, which operated a private ambulance service. But, the Volunteer Firemen’s Association knew the village needed a better way to handle emergency situations. So, when the local Committee for Civilian Defense was disbanded after World War II, it agreed to transfer the $4,000 remaining in its treasury to the Fireman’s Association toward the purchase of a new ambulance. But, to buy a first-class ambulance, the Association would have to raise another $3,000. As a result, the firemen began a series of scrap drives, similar to what had been done during the war. Thirteen volunteer firemen, plus other supportive residents, went door-to-door collecting old newspapers and metal scrap. And, after several such collections, the firemen reached their goal and were able to order a gleaming white 1948 Cadillac ambulance.
Since Cadillac did not manufacture ambulances themselves, it was purchased from a company that modified Cadillac bodies for ambulance use. So, in early 1948, the vehicle was picked up at the A. J. Miller Company in Bellefontaine, Iowa, and driven back to Western Springs. Here, the firemen installed special equipment, including a two-way radio and first aid accessories. Finally, on May 1, 1948, the firemen’s association presented the keys and title to Village officials at a ceremony in front of the historic Water Tower. And, what an ambulance it was! According to news articles from that period, no other nearby village had a comparable emergency vehicle. The unit carried two stretchers, seats for attendants en route to the hospital, oxygen, and a pulmotor device, which provided artificial respiration by forcing oxygen into a patient’s lungs.
After the vehicle was placed in service, phone calls requesting an ambulance were directed to the police department. They would try to determine whether the request was really an emergency. If not, callers were directed to the local private ambulance service. However, due to a large number of non-emergency calls, the village decided to send a two-page letter to residents in December 1949 reminding them that the ambulance was only for emergencies. In addition, it stated that non-emergency requests would be billed $12 (or roughly $115 in today’s dollars).
While volunteer firemen were trained in first aid, the ambulance did not have the type of advanced life support or equipment that is found on today’s modern “box-like” emergency vehicles. But, the ambulance, originally known as “First Aid No. 1”, continued in service until 1977, by which time it had been replaced by two, more up-to-date vehicles. It was then sold back to the Volunteer Firemen’s Association for $1 to be used as a parade vehicle. Since then, the unique, white ambulance has been beautifully maintained and has become an award-winning vehicle with frequent appearances in local parades and auto shows. When not in use, it is housed in the village’s fire station on 55th Street.