ON THIS DAY: April 10, 1845, Fire destroys a third of Pittsburgh Matt Simmons
The city of Pittsburgh has had its fair share of tragedies and difficult times, always emerging stronger and more vibrant than before. The Great Fire of Pittsburgh in 1845 was no exception, destroying about a third of the city, but also binding its residents together for the monumental rebuilding that changed the face of the city and its surrounding neighborhoods.
By 1845, Pittsburgh’s haphazard growth and tightly packed wooden buildings were typical of early American cities. The booming population outstripped city services (there were only two water mains in all of downtown) and left the dense blocks of mixed housing and businesses ill-prepared for the coming disaster. The volunteer fire companies, such as they were, performed mostly as social clubs and were likewise not ready to defend the city.