Skokie Fire Department recently celebrated the return and restoration of its very first hand-pumper, a historic piece of firefighting equipment that has now been brought back to life. The Niles-Herald Spectator covered the story, though readers should note that the article includes an auto-playing video with ads. This rare piece of local history was originally purchased by the Niles Centre fire crew in 1881, long before Skokie became a recognized town.
The engine, known as the Rumsey Pumper, was built in Seneca Falls, New York, in 1865. It was used during one of the most significant fires in the area in 1910, which destroyed half of the village’s business district. At the time, the pumper was not enough to handle such large-scale blazes, prompting neighboring communities to step in and help. The engine served from 1881 until 1912 or 1913, after which Skokie acquired its first motorized pump in 1914. The original pumper was then sold to Mount Prospect for $60.
Mount Prospect used the engine for a short time before it was displayed at the 1933 World’s Fair as part of a fire-fighting history exhibit. After being rediscovered, it was returned to Mount Prospect, where some basic restoration took place—but it eventually fell into disrepair. That’s when Skokie Fire Lt. Ron Smith stepped in, driven by his deep interest in preserving local history.
Smith led the effort to reclaim the pumper and oversee its full restoration. Today, the engine stands as a symbol of Skokie’s past, reminding residents of the early days of firefighting and the dedication of the volunteers who once operated it. The Rumsey Pumper was operated by ten men, with five on each side pumping 60 gallons of water per minute. Weighing around 700 pounds, it was a heavy but essential tool in the fight against fires before modern technology took over.
The pumper could be operated in two ways: either by connecting to a cistern—common on every home at the time—or by filling the engine directly from tubs inside. A photo at the Skokie Heritage Museum shows the original volunteer fire department with the pumper behind them, capturing a moment in time that is now preserved thanks to the efforts of dedicated individuals like Lt. Smith.
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