An 1835 fire burns a quarter of New York City

On December 16, 1835, a devastating fire struck New York City. The fire began in a warehouse on Pearl Street. "The city's undermanned volunteer fire brigades rushed to the scene, but what little water could be pumped from the nearby hydrants turned to ice in the frigid night air."

Within hours, approximately 20 blocks and 600 buildings bounded by South, Broad, and Wall Streets and Coenties Slip were engulfed. The fire consumed prominent structures including the Merchants Exchange building. This disaster helped motivate the construction of the Croton Aqueduct to provide reliable water to New York City.