Cuttone and Co. Inc.

In Mid-19th Century New York, it was common for volunteer fire companies to race one another to the scene of a fire. These companies were often outward signs of the power and prestige of local political ward leaders like Boss Tweed and they competed mightily to garner the gratitude of the rescued populace for the purposes of political gain. There are several recorded instances of companies arriving at fires simultaneously and then engaging in a fistfight over who had the right to hook up their hoses to the water system. While they bickered and fought, some buildings actually burned to the

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In Mid-19th Century New York, it was common for volunteer fire companies to race one another to the scene of a fire. These companies were often outward signs of the power and prestige of local political ward leaders like Boss Tweed and they competed mightily to garner the gratitude of the rescued populace for the purposes of political gain. There are several recorded instances of companies arriving at fires simultaneously and then engaging in a fistfight over who had the right to hook up their hoses to the water system. While they bickered and fought, some buildings actually burned to the

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