April in Pittsburgh had been unusually dry but typically breezy in 1845. "Between the weather, the wind and the dust, the city was excessively unpleasant," according to the April 14 edition of The Daily Gazette and Advertiser.

About five minutes after noon on April 10, what had been unpleasant became catastrophic. A woman had been building an outdoor fire next to a home on Ferry Street -- just west of present-day Market Street -- when it got out of control and engulfed the adjoining house.

"The fire originated in the centre of a nest of wooden buildings, and fed by the breeze, [it] cracked, leaped and fairly licked the dry wood," the April 14 "Gazette" said. "After enveloping the frames, it took across the street in different directions ... ."

By the time the fire was brought under control about eight hours later, it had burned between a quarter and a third of the city. Almost 1,000 buildings were destroyed in an area of about 50 acres. The hardest-hit area faced the Monongahela River, lying roughly between Market and Ross streets, but extending farther east along the river into a neighborhood then called Pipetown.

"At 6 o'clock, P.M., Thursday evening, we sat down to our desk with a sad heart to record the most fearful calamity which ever befel any city the size of Pittsburgh," editor David Wright wrote in the Friday, April 11, edition of the Gazette. "While we now write, an awful fire is raging, consuming the fairest portion of our city, and no human being can tell where it will stay its ravages."

Alerted to the danger by the ringing of the steeple bell of the Third Presbyterian Church, firemen had responded quickly, the paper said. "The engines at this time began to play, and had there been a sufficiency of water, would have subdued the fire. But from want of water, and high wind, the fire extended across Second Street to the Globe Cotton Factory, which, together with a dwelling adjoining, was consumed."

Although damaged, Third Presbyterian was one of only three buildings on its block to survive the blaze.

Loss of life was low. "We regret to learn that SAMUEL KINGSTON, Esq. has been missing since the fire was raging on Thursday afternoon," the Gazette reported two days after the blaze. "He was last seen going into his burning office! It is feared he is lost."

What may be most surprising in the contemporary newspaper reports describing the great fire is how quickly residents and business began to rebuild.

"BUILDING BEGUN TODAY," the April 14th edition of the newspaper reported. "As many of our indomitable citizens are able to build ... and could get contracts made, [they] have done so, and new buildings are begun today. This is the right kind of spirit."

The Gazette and Advertiser had a reputation as the businessman's paper, and it warned against "imposition" by uppity workers. "Some laborers are already asking exorbitant wages," it warned. "Don't give them. There will be plenty [of workmen] here in a short time, and then those who would take advantage of the necessities of the contractors and the Merchants can be marked and refused work altogether."

By May 10, "J. W. Burbridge & Co. -- wholesale grocers and commission merchants" advertised that it was back in business in the middle of the "Burnt District" on Front Street, between Wood and Smithfield. Warehouse storage remained tight in the city, and Burbridge shared space with "Wm. Wilson Jr., Wholesale Grocer."

"Nearly half a hundred houses are already wholly or partly up -- several hundred are under contract, but as they are mostly large Warehouses and Stores intended to be substantial and well-furnished, they proceed more slowly," according to the May 13 newspaper.

By mid-May the newspaper's concern was that outsiders would believe Pittsburgh worse off than it was, and that perception would hurt business.

"While Madame Rumor, with her busy tongue, was spreading the most dismal reports all over the country -- 'stocks all burnt up;' 'prices 100 per cent higher,' &c, trade quietly accommodated itself to the circumstances; and in a few days moved along as usual," the paper reported.

One more sign that things were getting back to normal: In that same edition, editor White revealed that he would be absent for a few weeks, "in obedience to the claims of humanity, and urgent business. He trusts his readers will grant him this furlough with cheerfulness ... ."