Fire at Cruger's Wharf

On August 3, 1778, a fire ravaged two blocks in lower Manhattan, destroying numerous shops and houses, including most structures on Cruger’s Wharf and half of the adjacent block north of Water Street. While not as catastrophic as the 1776 inferno during George Washington’s retreat, it still caused significant damage to around 60 buildings. In the aftermath, the Superintendent-General’s Office mandated the removal of salvaged wooden materials outside the city limits due to fire hazards. Notices in the Royal Gazette sought to recover lost or stolen items, warning of theft consequences. One affected area later became the site of the 7 Hanover Square archaeological project in the early 1980s.