Posted onAuthorMatt ContiComments Off on North End Molasses Flood Anniversary
January 15th is the anniversary of the Great Molasses Flood. Twenty one people were killed and another 150 injured on Commercial Street in Boston’s North End when a tank of molasses ruptured and exploded on January 15, 1919. Click images for slideshow.
The Boston Post front page news coverage (11 dead, 50 hurt) of the Molasses Disaster, January 16, 1919 (Courtesy Boston Public Library)
Twisted elevated structure on Atlantic Avenue damaged in Molasses Disaster – Leslie Jones copyright – Courtesy of Boston Public Library
Wreckage under the elevated where many express trucks parked, Molasses Disaster – Leslie Jones copyright – Courtesy of Boston Public Library
Panorama of the Molasses Disaster site – Globe Newspaper – Courtesy of Boston Public Library
Eleven dead, more than sixty injured, buildings and L tracks wrecked by explosion of big molasses tank [Boston Herald, January 16, 1919] – Courtesy of Boston Public LIbrary
Section of tank after Molasses Disaster explosion. 1:00pm – Leslie Jones copyright – Courtesy of Boston Public Library
Molasses tank explosion injures 50 and kills 11 [Boston Daily Globe, January 16, 1919] Courtesy of Boston Public Library
Tank cut into sections with acetylene torch in search of bodies underneath Molasses Disaster – Leslie Jones copyright – Courtesy of Boston Public Library
Firemen standing in thick molasses after the disaster; Leslie Jones Copyright (1886-1967 photographer) Courtesy of the Boston Public Library
A huge wave of the syrupy brown liquid moved down Commercial Street at a speed of 35 mph over two blocks destroying all in its path. In today’s dollars, the property damage is estimated at over $100 million. Purity Distilling Company built the tank, 50 feet high and 90 feet wide, in the densely populated neighborhood of mostly Italian immigrants at the time.
The disaster brought nationwide attention to the lack of industrial safety standards. Complaints of cracks and leaks in the tank were literally covered with brown paint by the company that initially said anarchists blew up the tank. Later, a lengthy class action lawsuit brought forward damaging evidence resulting in a settlement of $600,000 (~$11 million in today’s dollars). Although Purity used the molasses for industrial alcohol, some hypothesize that the tank was overfilled because of the the prohibition threat for possible use later to distill rum. Neighborhood folklore has it that you can smell the ill-sweet remains in the summer’s hottest weather. (Sources: Wikipedia, Mass Moments, Wired)
Great Molasses Flood – Videos and Media Collection
This is a video featuring the highlights of a 1970’s documentary of the North End produced by Abraham Ravett in 1977 and 1978 with other teenagers for the North End Teen Collaborative. The film starts out with kids playing at the St. Anthony’s Playground adjacent to the Bathhouse (now the Nazzaro Community Center) and Christopher Read More…
FREE for NORTH END RESIDENTS! The Revere House is holding our annual recreations of Paul Revere’s Ride for families next week and we still have lots of spaces open on Wednesday, and Thursday. See times and description below! Midnight Ride Storytelling Program WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 3:00 – 4:30 THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 10:00 – 11:30 Find Read More…
Conversations at the Vilna, Brown Bag LunchWednesday April 13, 2011, 12 PM – 1 PMThe Jewish Catacombs of Rome Join us for a conversation with Jessica Dello Russo on the Jewish Catacombs of Rome. Jessica is a North end resident, graduate of the Vatican’s Institute for Christian Archaeology in Rome and a longtime collaborator Read More…
