HISTORY OF BROOKLYN

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER I.

HISTORY OF THE TOWN UNTIL THE INCORPORATION
OF THE VILLAGE OF BROOKLYN.

1812-1816.

1812. September 23d. A serious fire, originating in Benjamin Smith’s large stable, on the east side of Main street, near the Old Ferry, consumed that building, together with nine horses, and communicated to Charles Hewlett’s grocery store, T. Hicks’s and Van Mater’s stables, and the large stone building known as the “Corporation House,” 1 which were totally destroyed. Three dwelling houses were also injured and, had it not been for the opportune arrival of a floating 2 and other engines from New York, the fire would, in all probability, have crossed the street and endangered the safety of the whole village. The flames could have been sooner arrested, bad not the New York firemen been hindered at the ferry, the only large ferry boat happening to be on the Brooklyn side at the time of the alarm. Public houses and private residences were freely thrown open to the brave firemen who had come to the rescue, and the inhabitants vied with each other in

1 See pages 311 and 312 of first volume.

2 Furman’s manuscript (dated 1856), says: “About forty years ago, Brooklyn was Often visited by large fires, the buildings being, with very few exceptions, all frame. The village had but two small and inefficient fire engines and relied mainly upon New York for relief; principally upon what was called the "floating engine," a large, Powerful engine, fitted in a scow and propelled by oars, and which was worked by about fifty men, by means of large, long handles, turning cranks. This engine lay in the East river, near Peck slip, and when a fire occurred in Brooklyn the villagers were always intensely anxious for its arrival.”