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
January 2016 Video: NEWRA President Ford Cavallari talks about the molasses still packed into the MBTA electrical conduits under the streets in Boston’s North End. January 15th is the anniversary of the Great Molasses Flood in Boston’s North End. The United States Industrial Alcohol Company constructed a faulty 50 foot high steel tank in 1918 on Read More…
Featuring the North End / Waterfront and downtown Boston in a pre-American Revolution simulation, a video walkthrough of the upcoming Assassin’s Creed III video game was released at this week’s Comic-Con 2012. Narrated by the game’s creative director, Alex Hutchinson, the preview starts out at the Old North Church and captures many of the colonial Read More…
Bob Jolly, historian and one of stroll leaders (Photo credit: Freedom Trail Foundation)THE FREEDOM TRAIL FOUNDATION OFFERS HISTORIC HOLIDAY STROLL
One of the best times to stroll the Freedom Trail is during the holidays, when the streets are sparkling and the window displays are enticing. Visitors can enjoy this festive atmosphere once again on The Freedom Trail Foundation’s Historic Holiday Stroll. This merry 90-minute tour is offered Thursday through Sunday at 3:30pm beginning November 18 through January 2011.
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