Then and Now: Daehn Tailor Shop/ Huntley Fire Department

          A single postcard of a large wood-frame structure sheds new light on a street hardly photographed. Little is known about the Coral St. structure that was replaced by the Huntley fire station. What is known is that the building, an 1800s two story gable structure with a one story wing, was owned by Ernest Daehn (pronounced Dane). Ernest Daehn was born October 29, 1867 in Germany. In 1893, he emigrated to the United States, settling in Chicago. Records show that Daehn, who only received an elementary education, set up his tailor shop at 525 Wieland.  He met Elizabeth Fuss, who was born January 9, 1870 in Fishernick, Germany.  They married about 1899 and moved to Huntley around that time. In Huntley, he continued his tailor business and also became a member of the volunteer fire department. Ernest was known as a large but gentle man, who was also remembered by one resident for making his own wine. From the sounds of it, it was a very good wine. The story goes that a local woman who played cards with Mrs. Daehn had some of the Daehn's homemade wine. Now the woman who came over never really drank, and the wine hit her so hard she couldn't even lift her hands off the table when dealing the cards! Both Ernest and Elizabeth lived in Huntley until their deaths, with Elizabeth passing May 6, 1935, and Ernest on April 21, 1948. Both are buried in the Huntley cemetery.

          The next structure to occupy the site was the Huntley fire station. Prior to this location, the fire department was located in the old village hall on Railroad St. and later included a small, round roofed wood-frame garage on Main St. After the new village hall was constructed in 1939, the fire department was allowed to keep their fire truck in the garage there.
          In the years prior to their Coral St. location, the fire department was made up of volunteers. In the late 1950s, however, a proposal was put in front of the village residents to set up the Huntley Fire Protection District. Village members were more than happy to set up the district, and in 1957, the proposal was passed . After the district was set up, a new fire station was needed. A proposal went out to the residents shortly after the district was set up. Like the district proposal, village members approved the construction of a new station, and in 1960, the new station was dedicated. The 4 bay station contained all the needs for the fire fighters and was sufficient for the village for multiple decades. After a recent renovation the station is down to two bays, allowing more space for more comfortable use, but the exterior was restored as close as possible to the original 1960 looks. Even with the addition of three more stations, this station still remains the headquarters for the district. Such a fitting structure for the site of a former volunteer fireman's shop.

 

Ernest Daehn tailor shop, 1913

 

Huntley fire station, photo taken by Gene and Norma Lindsey. 1976. Photo courtesy the Huntley Area Public Library





 

Huntley fire station, January 2013