My neighbor’s house had a major fire a couple weeks ago and is nearly a total loss. It was so difficult to watch the destruction of that one building. I can’t imagine what it would be like to see whole neighborhoods on fire. It must be horrible and affect people for a long time.
All structure fires that the Fire Department arrive at are total losses. Only people ignorant to the effects of smoke and water damage believe that the Fire Department are going to save their house. They show up so that the structures around them down catch fire. That chore has gotten increasingly difficult since building codes for spacing between structures in neighborhoods have been ignored in the name of profit recently.
I love learning about fire history and and early fire dept tactics. Makes me the firefighter I am. Keep it up! I could only imagine how it was during that time. We are lucky to have the equipment we have now, and learning from past incidents.
It is difficult to imagine fighting such a large fire in such conditions. Firefighters were always getting hit by spray from the hoses, which froze almost immediately. One paper said that some had to have their frozen clothes cut off them.
@@TheHistoryGuyChannel I’ve had my turnout gear frozen solid after an interior extinguishment and had to sit in a heated bus to thaw, winter is the worst for fires 😂
What is remarkable is the unflagging spirit of New Yorkers in bouncing back from this calamity. This gives hope to us New Yorkers as we face our current calamity.
If you are any way involved in firefighting, you must read the book, “Strong of Heart” by Thomas Von Essen, Fire Commissioner of NYC at the time of Sept. 11, 2001. It is a history of the FDNY from colonial beginnings up through that dreadful day. It doesn’t matter where firefighters are stationed or the type of firefighting they do, they are all strong of heart, and I thank them one and all.
My uncle was a firefighter. When it's convenient, I try to always wish them a "quiet shift". Good for them and th surrounding community, in my opinion.
THG is the one on fire with another piece of history. The sheer amount of historic reportage and graphics from the events described are masterpieces of research. My hat off to you! (As if you needed another) ;)
For as long as I can remember and that’s a long long time, I’ve always heard of the connection between insurance and Hartford but didn’t know why until this video. Thanks for the enlightenment.
At 9:46 in the lower right corner of the lithograph you can see a man holding a pole to control the crowd. That is High Constable Jacob Hays, my G.G.G. Grandfather. The story of the fire is part of our family folklore.
The extra-wide cross streets like 23rd, 42nd, 72nd, and 96th in Manhattan were designed originally as fire stops, and not so much as faster ways to get from the west side to the east side.
History has always been a love of mine, even when I was young, unlike most of my peers. It continues unabated to this day - thank you History Guy, for continually fueling my fire.
Oh great god of the mighty algorithm, bless this Guy of History, educated he be, with likes, comments, and for the viewer of his content to give a subscription. For his bow tie be classy. Praise be to history.
@@ZadakLeader you’re so brainwashed and full of hatred, you’re blaming the media and the Biden administration for what? Hiding 190 year old disasters? Everyone knows natural disasters happen. They happened worse then compared to now because of primitive technology and practices. Dont see why you have to attach politics and media to it. Get off the internet. It’s making you angry over nothing
@@jtgd my very true statement was addressing that the media and politicians are all full of crap and will use anything as propaganda to further their agenda. And it was also to the fact there have always been dramatic swings in weather and climate. I don't listen to the news or any politician so I can't speak to whether any of them are currently using natural weather events as rhetoric. But I can safely assume that they probably are.
@@runningintohistory Yeah, the vast majority of people don't know what happened this month, let alone 100-150 years ago. Assuming that most people know what you know is usually wrong.
Being from CT, I always knew that Hartford, CT was the insurance capital of the world. It was a nice plug and to know that The Hartford was instrumental in rebuilding New York City.
My father is a retired NYFD member. I love history, so this was something that peaked my interest! I had never heard of this before. 30 years later.... Draft Riots!! NYC was burning AGAIN!!! 🔥🔥😖
I kept wondering why I had never heard of this fire until you got to the part about Hartford, then it all clicked into place. It's not that I had never heard of it, I just never heard such a detailed and compelling telling of the story. I've heard the story many times of why Hartford is the insurance capitol, which of course mention that there was a big fire in NYC, but I never realized just how large and destructive it was until now. Thanks for another excellent video.
Love all of your videos! Thanks for feeding my hungry brain. A fairly new love of history! Something I didn't think I liked! Can't get enough! Keep up the great work!
Video idea: history of badges. Why are some shaped like a shield and some like a star? Firemen and police wear them, but what’s the history of this little piece of metal?
I first learned about the 1835 Fire in High School, bu then I am from Long Island. My only issue on this piece is with the term "Professionalzed" regarding the creation of FDNY in 1865. I served as a Volunteer Firefighter on Long Island for 16 years, while working as a career paramedic with FDNY. Using the term "Professional" regarding career firefighters, presents that Volunteers are Amateurs. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have worked along side some very professional volunteers and very amateurish "professionals". Please note that the preferred terms are "career" and "Volunteer". Many career FDNY firefighters are also volunteers in the communities they live in outside the city.
I get your point, and have known both career and volunteer firefighters quite well, so I know that both are trained at the same places. However, the general public doesn't know what "career" means in this context, so it's an editorial choice for clarity.
woke up to my house on fire when i was 13. It was a total loss, i cant imagine and entire row of homes or something of the like. Fascinating. also hilarious being 20 min from hartford that my family endured a 5 year battle with the insurance companies only to settle for pennies. thanks THG.
I especially like the fire department's "aerial" device. A bunch of firefighters holding up a ladder with a smaller bunch of firefighters holding a ladder with two firefighters holding a hose and nozzle! I'm glad they don't teach that in fire school anymore.
Sounds absolutely horrific. I cannot imagine trying to put out a fire with everything being frozen and the temps around zero, and the firefighters already exhausted. Bad night in the Big Apple. 😟
Just recently discovered your channel on YT. Cant' imagine how much time and research must go into each video. I love history and I am enjoying all them.
Thank you! You inadvertently answered a question I have been wondering about for years: there is at least one version of the song "Blow the Man Down" in which several verses refer to a "blackballer", for example "It's when a blackballer's returning to dock, and away-hey blow the man down, the lads and the lassies to pierheads do flock, give me some time to blow the man down"
Thank You. I wish that you were my History teacher in school because I would have paid attention instead of being bored and falling asleep lol. Very well done sir. Cheers
Thanks for this video, as your ability to bring these historic events to life is so compelling. Your recounting of that history made it viscerally real. It's hard to imagine what it must have been like for them to see everything they held dear burnt to ash, while being unexpectedly homeless in the midst of harsh winter weather.
THG is always good at finding history stories that feel relevant to current events without directly referencing the current event - this all brings to mind the recent fire in Colorado, which I have to imagine was the most destructive urban fire in the US in numerous decades.
THG if you see this will you please update the podcast playlist here on YT? Thanks again for all you do, so cool to think of a world class mercantile exchange as a physical building, almost the internet of it's day
I wonder how much we learn from History. Just today 20 and possibly more perished in a New York fire, many children. Have we not advanced so that doesn’t happen. Better warnings, better escape routes. I wish our city officials would not forget the history that you so importantly have us remember.
I first heard about the Great Fire of New York of 1835 in a Discovery Channel documentary about the real Gangs of New York. I also learned about the 1863 Draft Riots in the documentary.
Interesting bit of meaning shift there at the end with the 1835 Gentleman's Magazine. Compare the 70's euphemism gentleman's magazine. It shows how the usage of gentleman has changed in the intervening years to become just a synonym for man.
I wonder how the aqueduct project dovetailed with the canal projects? You might do a piece about the history of the transportation of materiel in the USA; before the highways there were railroads, and before the railroads the canals and rivers were how goods were moved away from the coast. It is fascinating to see the remnants of these exceptional works, and a little sad to think how so many of them had been filled in and forgotten. Dramtreeo does an exceptional rendition of "the boys who broke the ground close quote, a traditional song about the navvies- the men and boys who dug the canals.
As you recited all the conflagration that spread with the speed that seemed unstoppable, and hearing the real accounts of the observers and reports of that day, it brought to mind the description of the biblical ruin of Babylon, to which some scholars have compared NYC. I wondered if the accounts of the day perhaps recalled that passage when they saw the horrifying flames and no one being able to stop it's destruction.
I have long been fascinated by the fire departments huge ladder trucks with steering in the rear Do you have any history of the evolution of these amazing machines?
One would have thought that the insurance companies would have had a vested interest in keeping the fire fighting brigades up to a reasonable standard. Apparently not.
I’ve lived in New York City all my life and never heard of this! Thank you.
My neighbor’s house had a major fire a couple weeks ago and is nearly a total loss. It was so difficult to watch the destruction of that one building. I can’t imagine what it would be like to see whole neighborhoods on fire. It must be horrible and affect people for a long time.
I can imagine it because I've seen it. My buddies and I used to chase after fires and we saw some doozies.
I read the investigative report and they determined the cause of the fire was a vape pen battery.
All structure fires that the Fire Department arrive at are total losses.
Only people ignorant to the effects of smoke and water damage believe that the Fire Department are going to save their house.
They show up so that the structures around them down catch fire.
That chore has gotten increasingly difficult since building codes for spacing between structures in neighborhoods have been ignored in the name of profit recently.
I love learning about fire history and and early fire dept tactics. Makes me the firefighter I am. Keep it up! I could only imagine how it was during that time. We are lucky to have the equipment we have now, and learning from past incidents.
Thanks for your efforts in keeping the rest of us safe.
It is difficult to imagine fighting such a large fire in such conditions. Firefighters were always getting hit by spray from the hoses, which froze almost immediately. One paper said that some had to have their frozen clothes cut off them.
@@TheHistoryGuyChannel I’ve had my turnout gear frozen solid after an interior extinguishment and had to sit in a heated bus to thaw, winter is the worst for fires 😂
It honestly must have been a sketchy shitshow back then. A big set of balls must have been standard equipment
@@misledprops That's likely part of fire departments' affinity for brass and bronze. :D
What is remarkable is the unflagging spirit of New Yorkers in bouncing back from this calamity. This gives hope to us New Yorkers as we face our current calamity.
If you are any way involved in firefighting, you must read the book, “Strong of Heart” by Thomas Von Essen, Fire Commissioner of NYC at the time of Sept. 11, 2001. It is a history of the FDNY from colonial beginnings up through that dreadful day. It doesn’t matter where firefighters are stationed or the type of firefighting they do, they are all strong of heart, and I thank them one and all.
My uncle was a firefighter. When it's convenient, I try to always wish them a "quiet shift". Good for them and th surrounding community, in my opinion.
@@sherylcascadden4988 Thank you.
As always, a wonderful history lesson. My favorite part was the little factoid about Hartford, CT at the end. Fascinating!
Real history always has a lasting impact. Events that happened in the past that still shape the world we live in today.
Anyone who is an "old time radio" fan knows what Hartford means in the insurance world just by listening to "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar", LOL.
THG is the one on fire with another piece of history. The sheer amount of historic reportage and graphics from the events described are masterpieces of research. My hat off to you! (As if you needed another) ;)
THG keeps the fire of history education alive.
For as long as I can remember and that’s a long long time, I’ve always heard of the connection between insurance and Hartford but didn’t know why until this video. Thanks for the enlightenment.
Yes, much of the competition being thrown suddenly out of business gave a competitive edge.
Now we know why Johnny Dollar was based in Hartford.
Looters during disasters, not just a scourge of modernity.
At 9:46 in the lower right corner of the lithograph you can see a man holding a pole to control the crowd. That is High Constable Jacob Hays, my G.G.G. Grandfather. The story of the fire is part of our family folklore.
The extra-wide cross streets like 23rd, 42nd, 72nd, and 96th in Manhattan were designed originally as fire stops, and not so much as faster ways to get from the west side to the east side.
History has always been a love of mine, even when I was young, unlike most of my peers. It continues unabated to this day - thank you History Guy, for continually fueling my fire.
Oh great god of the mighty algorithm, bless this Guy of History, educated he be, with likes, comments, and for the viewer of his content to give a subscription.
For his bow tie be classy. Praise be to history.
Nowawadays, NYFD is one of the most renowned fire departments in the world. Good episode!
I may live in the Canadian wilderness but I love History and I love New York. I've been there many times and know it well. Great video!
Never heard of this incident. Thank you.
@@ZadakLeader you’re so brainwashed and full of hatred, you’re blaming the media and the Biden administration for what? Hiding 190 year old disasters?
Everyone knows natural disasters happen. They happened worse then compared to now because of primitive technology and practices. Dont see why you have to attach politics and media to it.
Get off the internet. It’s making you angry over nothing
@@ZadakLeader very true.
@@runningintohistory is it ? No one denies past natural disasters.
@@jtgd my very true statement was addressing that the media and politicians are all full of crap and will use anything as propaganda to further their agenda. And it was also to the fact there have always been dramatic swings in weather and climate. I don't listen to the news or any politician so I can't speak to whether any of them are currently using natural weather events as rhetoric. But I can safely assume that they probably are.
@@runningintohistory Yeah, the vast majority of people don't know what happened this month, let alone 100-150 years ago. Assuming that most people know what you know is usually wrong.
Being from CT, I always knew that Hartford, CT was the insurance capital of the world. It was a nice plug and to know that The Hartford was instrumental in rebuilding New York City.
Me too.
I was born and raised in Queens N.Y. (1956) and lived there until I moved out of town in the late 90s. I had never heard of this fire until now.
How have I never heard of this before? Thanks once again for broadening my knowledge of history Lance.
Same. And im native here
Because it was all staged!!
My father is a retired NYFD member. I love history, so this was something that peaked my interest! I had never heard of this before. 30 years later.... Draft Riots!! NYC was burning AGAIN!!! 🔥🔥😖
There was also another "great fire" in 1845. More about the Draft Riots here: ruclips.net/video/1bxnUh86RB8/видео.html
I kept wondering why I had never heard of this fire until you got to the part about Hartford, then it all clicked into place. It's not that I had never heard of it, I just never heard such a detailed and compelling telling of the story. I've heard the story many times of why Hartford is the insurance capitol, which of course mention that there was a big fire in NYC, but I never realized just how large and destructive it was until now. Thanks for another excellent video.
How quickly we forget.
Although not a native English speaker, I specially enjoy the rich and beautiful English language you use,
I grew up in NYC and we never learned about this. We did learn all about why our water, from the Croton aqueduct was so good.
Love all of your videos! Thanks for feeding my hungry brain. A fairly new love of history! Something I didn't think I liked! Can't get enough! Keep up the great work!
Video idea: history of badges. Why are some shaped like a shield and some like a star? Firemen and police wear them, but what’s the history of this little piece of metal?
I first learned about the 1835 Fire in High School, bu then I am from Long Island. My only issue on this piece is with the term "Professionalzed" regarding the creation of FDNY in 1865. I served as a Volunteer Firefighter on Long Island for 16 years, while working as a career paramedic with FDNY. Using the term "Professional" regarding career firefighters, presents that Volunteers are Amateurs. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have worked along side some very professional volunteers and very amateurish "professionals". Please note that the preferred terms are "career" and "Volunteer". Many career FDNY firefighters are also volunteers in the communities they live in outside the city.
I get your point, and have known both career and volunteer firefighters quite well, so I know that both are trained at the same places. However, the general public doesn't know what "career" means in this context, so it's an editorial choice for clarity.
woke up to my house on fire when i was 13. It was a total loss, i cant imagine and entire row of homes or something of the like. Fascinating. also hilarious being 20 min from hartford that my family endured a 5 year battle with the insurance companies only to settle for pennies. thanks THG.
Nice video! Keep up the good work!
You have schooled me again History Guy. Thanks you ever so much. Happy New Year to you and to all and please stay safe.
Love ya for years. Puh-KIHP-see. Your pronunciation made me look up! Hola from a retired New Yawker on the beach in Baja Mexico's San Felipe.
I especially like the fire department's "aerial" device. A bunch of firefighters holding up a ladder with a smaller bunch of firefighters holding a ladder with two firefighters holding a hose and nozzle! I'm glad they don't teach that in fire school anymore.
Sounds absolutely horrific. I cannot imagine trying to put out a fire with everything being frozen and the temps around zero, and the firefighters already exhausted. Bad night in the Big Apple. 😟
Thank you for the lesson.
I had never heard of this incident.
Under the Buttonwood tree... Sounds like a title for an old fashion tune. Thanks History Guy!
Just recently discovered your channel on YT. Cant' imagine how much time and research must go into each video. I love history and I am enjoying all them.
Great post. I learned alot about the city's history. Thank you.
Thank you! You inadvertently answered a question I have been wondering about for years: there is at least one version of the song "Blow the Man Down" in which several verses refer to a "blackballer", for example "It's when a blackballer's returning to dock, and away-hey blow the man down, the lads and the lassies to pierheads do flock, give me some time to blow the man down"
Your videos are a breath of fresh air in the cesspool of the internet.
Very interesting - never heard of this fire before. Thank you.
History Guy videos are never a waste of time!
Thank You. I wish that you were my History teacher in school because I would have paid attention instead of being bored and falling asleep lol. Very well done sir. Cheers
Heard many stories of the Great Chicago Fire all my life. This is the first time I've been told of the New York Fire.
At least they didn't lay the entire blame on a poor, old lady, and a cow...!
Like Chicago did 🙄
Excellent content as always thanks THG
I came for the fire, but stayed til you mentioned (and I knew you would) Croton. Thx. Michael from Croton on Hudson!!!!
Really enjoyed this. Thanks history guy.
I had no idea this had happened, thank you!
Yet another momentous event in history I had no idea had even happened. Thanks again, History Guy
Excellent presentation in NYC history
Thanks for this video, as your ability to bring these historic events to life is so compelling. Your recounting of that history made it viscerally real. It's hard to imagine what it must have been like for them to see everything they held dear burnt to ash, while being unexpectedly homeless in the midst of harsh winter weather.
Another fascinating video!!! Thanks
THG is always good at finding history stories that feel relevant to current events without directly referencing the current event - this all brings to mind the recent fire in Colorado, which I have to imagine was the most destructive urban fire in the US in numerous decades.
My nephew and a cousin are members of the professional fire fighter community in NYC.
Lived in NJ and worked in NYC, never heard of the fire until today.
First thing that came to mind was the Great Fire of London of 1666. Great info and narration...
Thank you for making this !
Yet another great episode! Thank you THG!
Another great production!
Honestly, the erie canal may not be used much anymore, but driving along it you really can get a sense of how important it was.
Thank you
Another fascinating video!
Really digging the cat paintings in the background!
Keep history coming !
Fascinating video, as usual. One small thing though. When i lived by NYC, Poughkeepsie was typically pronounced pu-KIP-see.
I had no idea. Thanks for teaching us all how fascinating is history!
THG if you see this will you please update the podcast playlist here on YT?
Thanks again for all you do, so cool to think of a world class mercantile exchange as a physical building, almost the internet of it's day
As always, thoroughly enjoyed and resoundingly informative. Kudos, Sir.
Feeding the algorithm. I dig the research and presentation of THG
Excellent episode Professor!
I was amazed by the frozen and useless fire hoses strewn about.
happy new year dude. great vid
I wonder how much we learn from History. Just today 20 and possibly more perished in a New York fire, many children. Have we not advanced so that doesn’t happen. Better warnings, better escape routes. I wish our city officials would not forget the history that you so importantly have us remember.
All that destruction and only 2 lives lost. Thanks for another interesting piece of history.
I first heard about the Great Fire of New York of 1835 in a Discovery Channel documentary about the real Gangs of New York. I also learned about the 1863 Draft Riots in the documentary.
The THG 🎀👀....Thank you 👍
Very useful information
Excellent content.
That someone else would somehow start a fire in a building I lived in in any city, NY or anywhere has always frightened me.
New fire protection materials and equipment saves untold lives.
Except now you have less time to get out of your house then several years ago.
@@jsp7410 at least you can be warned at home of a fire, or toxic gas
@@jtgd only if you have detectors that actually work.
@@jsp7410 yep, modern furnishing has made it to where a fire in a structure will typically double in size for every 30 seconds that passes by
One of the best innovations in fire resistance is also one of history's disasters - asbestos. THG has done a video on that too.
Interesting bit of meaning shift there at the end with the 1835 Gentleman's Magazine. Compare the 70's euphemism gentleman's magazine. It shows how the usage of gentleman has changed in the intervening years to become just a synonym for man.
Great episode!
I wonder how the aqueduct project dovetailed with the canal projects?
You might do a piece about the history of the transportation of materiel in the USA; before the highways there were railroads, and before the railroads the canals and rivers were how goods were moved away from the coast. It is fascinating to see the remnants of these exceptional works, and a little sad to think how so many of them had been filled in and forgotten.
Dramtreeo does an exceptional rendition of "the boys who broke the ground close quote, a traditional song about the navvies- the men and boys who dug the canals.
New York strong!
Hey Hi Guy👋
superb!
I thought of being a Historian. I appreciate your efforts.
I didn’t know about this fire and found it fascinating. Have you also done an episode of the 1845 (?) fire? Thank you!
Well done. Maybe put in your rotation a regular series on "great fires of. . ."
As you recited all the conflagration that spread with the speed that seemed unstoppable, and hearing the real accounts of the observers and reports of that day, it brought to mind the description of the biblical ruin of Babylon, to which some scholars have compared NYC. I wondered if the accounts of the day perhaps recalled that passage when they saw the horrifying flames and no one being able to stop it's destruction.
Sometimes too, those huge fires are the best thing that can happen to a city, and make it possible for it to rebuild.
I have long been fascinated by the fire departments huge ladder trucks with steering in the rear
Do you have any history of the evolution of these amazing machines?
Very interesting
One would have thought that the insurance companies would have had a vested interest in keeping the fire fighting brigades up to a reasonable standard. Apparently not.
A story of the rebuild would be great!
Loved it!
This was really good!
Wow who knew? Now we all know, thanks for posting.
thanks
Thank you, another great video. How about one on the 1832(?) hurricane that hit NYC