Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-05-09
BY PHILIP H. LOVE,

by ThtLlI n. LIVE.
Washlngtons No. fire fan''-and.
incidentally, its first and only honorary
deputy fire chiefs a middle-aged
business man who hasn't missed a
good fire" since he was big enough
to toddle after the engines.
Thirty-five years ago, Henry c.
Stein, then about 90 renowned his
ambition to become a fireman in order
to win the girl of his choice. With
her consent. however, he became a sort
of one-man volunteer fire department,
with regulation helmet, uniform and
all other MISUNDERSTANDING. even
tually, siren and official license plates
for the family automobile
Il didn't care about him running
to fires the girl-now Mrs. Hattie
M. Stein-eXplained today But in
those DAYS firemen were on duty prac-
tlcally all the time, and I was afraid
that if he joined the Fire Department
Id never see anything of him"
so Mr.. Stein cut in, Il took up
another line of work and went only
to the bigger fires-you know; three
alarms or better"
Sometimes. if they're in the day.
time and I'm MOI too busy with my
houseWork,' said the attractive, gray
haired wife, Il 60 with him
And if it's late at night" Mr..
Stein added, she wakes me up and
sends me off. Fires are my hobby and
she knows it, the same as your wife
might know that collecting stamps,
say. or taking pictures is yours"
Radio Always Turned On.
To make certain that they don't
miss any fires of serious proportions.
the Stems have two short-wave radios
in their home at IS Franklin street
N.E.-one in the living room and the
other in their bedroom One or the
other is turned on constantly.
IF it's real fire, one of us nearly
always hears it on the radio" Mr..
Stein explained But just in case
We miss. the Fire observation-disclosures
times my son, who is lieutenant in
No. Is Engine Co.. or my brother. a
lieutenant in No. Engine Co.-calls
me up. And, of course, I get up and
go, no matter what time it is"
Mr.. Stein, who holds an executive
position with a laundry, attributes his
lifelong interest in fires to the fact
he was born directly across the street
from No. 6 Engine Co., in the 400
block of Massachusetts, avenue NV
the same company. incidentally, to
which his brother, 1t. John C. Stein,
is now attached.
GAS boy used to hang around the
fire house practically all the time"
Mr. Stein said. Il just grew up liking
to see the engines run and chasing
after them whenever they did. And I
get just as much fun out of it now
as did then"
Son Joins Department., Too.
The Stems son, 1t. Elmer F. Stein,
set out to become a patent attorney.
His studies became too hard on his
eyes, however, and-since he'd been
chasing off to fires with his father ali
his life, anyhow-he decided to Join
the fire department. That was IL
years ago, and although he has suf-
fered fractured skull, broken ankle
and two fractures of the same wrist
while fighting fires, he still drops
whatever he's doing to follow the
engines" whenever he hears a third
alarm.
I don't think about being off duty"
1t. Stein said ITO me a fires a
fire, and wouldn't miss a good one
for anything!"
To the older 1t. Stein, however, fires
are strictly business" according to
his nephew. Uncle Johnny likes his
work. said the younger 1t. Stein, but
fres just aren't hobby with him,
like they are with pop and me-"
And don't think that Mr.. Stein con-
tents himself with merely standing off
at safe distance and watching fires.
AS a matter of fact, he gets into his
fire-fighting togs-helmet, slicker and
boots-and goes to work, lust like q
regular fireman"
H0n0red in 1928.
Mr. Stein was made honorary dep
uty fire chief in 1928 by Mai. Gen.
Herbert c. Crosby, then police and
nre commissioner. The late George
S. Watson, then chief engineer of the