Jan 14, 2019 molasses changes its viscosity, or its resistance to flowing, with temperature very strongly, sharp told boston. Jan 15, 2019 boston s great molasses flood was one of the citys deadliest and most bizarre disasters. Molasses changes its viscosity, or its resistance to flowing, with temperature very strongly, sharp told boston. Discover great boston molasses flood plaque in boston, massachusetts. The boston molasses flood is worth taking seriously. Stephen puleo is the author of several books including the boston globe bestseller the boston italians and the critically acclaimed bostonarea bestseller dark tide.
An account of the january 1919 molasses tank explosion in boston, massachusetts, seeks to uncover why the tank blew up and who was to blame through primary sources and archival photographs that show the extent of the damage. The spring 2011 one book one community selection is dark tide. On tuesday, the city marks the 100th anniversary of its most peculiar disaster. On january 15 of 1919 it was a particularly sunny day kin boston, along the harbor of boston their was a huge tank filled with 30 tons of molasses also nearby was a neighbor hood and other mini stores and a firehouse. The molasses, owned by the united states industrial alcohol company, was slated to be made into rum, but this particular batch would never make it to the distillery. Molasses flood of 1919 scenes in the molassesflooded streets of boston. Jan 16, 2020 sugarysweet molasses turned deadly on january 15, 1919, when a holding tank burst and sent 2.
I was doing research into what books i wanted to read for my winter 20 disaster read, which i. Solving a mystery behind the deadly tsunami of molasses. It was a sticky, deadly tsunami that flattened an entire boston neighborhood within. The great boston molasses flood of 1919 told boston. The boston molasses disaster chuck lyons published in history today volume 59 issue 1 january 2009 on january 15th, 1919, in what was probably the most bizarre disaster in united states history, a storage tank burst on bostons waterfront releasing two million gallons of molasses in a 15 fthigh, 160 ftwide wave that raced. North end can anyone smell the mollasses boston forum. The great molasses flood tore through the citys north end and deposited so much. The 100th anniversary of the great boston molasses flood is this week. Jan 14, 2019 the aftermath of the great molasses flood, as seen on the front page of the boston globe on jan. In september 20, 1,400 tons of molasses spilled into honolulu harbor. Researchers say they have figured out a piece of the puzzle of why a 2.
Magazine looks at science behind 1919 molasses disaster. Im proud to say that dark tide is still the only adult nonfiction book about the great boston molasses flood. The great boston molasses flood of 1919 by stephen. Jan 16, 2020 when a steel tank full of molasses ruptured in 1919, physics and neglect contributed to make the accident so horrific, leading to 21 deaths.
Jun 05, 2014 the first i heard of the molasses spill was a reference to the insidious goo in a book called travelers tales rumors and legends of the albanysaratoga region which was compiled in part from old newspapers and published by two boys in the early 1980s. I couldnt help but be incredulous about a molasses flood. Nov 26, 2016 researchers say they have figured out a piece of the puzzle of why a 2. It happened on the 15 of january in boston massachusetts. Jan 11, 2019 on january 15, 1919, boston suffered one of historys strangest disasters. When a steel tank full of molasses ruptured in 1919, physics and neglect contributed to make the accident so horrific, leading to 21 deaths. Stephen puleo is the author of several books including the boston globe bestseller the boston italians and the critically acclaimed boston area bestseller dark tide. Molasses can move pretty fast a fact boston residents learned the hard way nearly a century ago in what was one of the strangest disasters in american history. Thousands of fish gasping desperately, then floating lifelessly surfaced in honolulu harbor this week, suffering from oxygen deprivation caused by a massive molasses spill. The great molasses flood, also known as the boston molasses disaster or the great boston. Gallons of molasses that flooded the north end on january 15, 1919. Sep 02, 2003 the boston molasses flood is my favorite quirky historical moment in boston, and this book showed me how much i didnt know about the tragedy. It was a sticky, deadly tsunami that flattened an entire boston neighborhood within seconds. Ok so this book was about the great molasses flood of 1919.
Solving a mystery behind the deadly tsunami of molasses of. The great boston molasses flood of 1919 tells schworm that the tank was a problem from the beginning and was never properly inspected. The great boston molasses flood of 1919 puleo, stephen on. A new 100th anniversary edition of the only adult book on one of the odder disasters in us historyand the greed, disregard for poor. Jan 09, 2019 historian stephen puleo discusses his book dark tide. How the boston molasses disaster ushered in the era of. Reports indicate 21 people died in this spill and 150.
Photo courtesy of dark tide by stephen puleo and the bostonian. On january 15th, 1919, in what was probably the most bizarre disaster in united states history, a storage tank burst on boston s waterfront releasing two million. The resulting deluge, known as the boston molasses disaster, reached some 25 feet high at its peak. The site of one of the strangest disasters in historya wave of deadly molasses traveling at 35 mph. Why the great molasses flood was so deadly history. So no wonder 21 people were killed and over 150 were injured in. The sticky science behind the deadly boston molasses disaster. The molasses tank in the north end of boston, before its explosion in 1919. This course explores the history of boston from the 1600s to the present day. The great boston molasses flood claimed the lives of 21 people and caused.
The forgotten tragedy too bizarre for the history books a 30foot wave of molasses killed 21 people and injured 150 others. The great boston molasses flood of 1919 on the centennial of the flood, january 15, at 6 p. In the second half, puleo describes the disaster itself and then turns the book. Jan 12, 2017 boston its been referred to as the great molasses flood, the day a tank filled with more than 2 million gallons of molasses burst, and swept through bostons city streets swallowing. A deadly tsunami of molasses in bostons north end the great molasses flood of 1919 in boston resulted in a lawsuit that used expert witnesses for the first time and was the catalyst for new. A former awardwinning newspaper reporter and contributor to american history magazine, he holds a masters degree in history and teaches at suffolk university.
It swept across commercial street at as much as 35 miles per hour. Molasses doesnt totally harden, but it does congeal, stephen puleo, historian and author of dark tide. On january 15, 1919, in bostons north end, a 50foottall tank holding 2. The tank itself didnt even require a permit to be built. How do you clean up a clean molasses spill answers. The cleanup and tragic aftermath of bostons great molasses. Explore our editors picks for the best kids books of the month. Sugarysweet molasses turned deadly on january 15, 1919, when a holding tank burst and sent 2. Jan 15, 2019 a deadly tsunami of molasses in boston s north end the great molasses flood of 1919 in boston resulted in a lawsuit that used expert witnesses for the first time and was the catalyst for new.
Puleo is a powerful historian, weaving together a wide context of political movements, changing views of big business, and military technologies into a hammock in which to rest this one event of 1919. On january 15, 1919, boston suffered one of historys strangest disasters. Boston cbsap a small plaque at the entrance to the harborwalk now marks the site of bostons most peculiar disaster the great molasses flood. Molasses is an unregulated product, and neither matson nor government officials had a contingency plan to respond to a molasses spill. The great molasses flood of 1919 was bostons strangest.
They pumped millions of gallons into boston harbor, which was stained. Boston its been referred to as the great molasses flood, the day a tank filled with more than 2 million gallons of molasses burst, and swept through bostons city streets swallowing. Boston was part of the triangular trade route, which involved molasses, rum, sugar cane, slaves, and money, as well as ships nedded for all this activity. A new 100th anniversary edition of the only adult book on one of the odder disasters in us. The sticky science behind the deadly boston molasses. The first i heard of the molasses spill was a reference to the insidious goo in a book called travelers tales rumors and legends of the albanysaratoga region which was compiled in part from old newspapers and published by two boys in the early 1980s. This site has the whole story on the molasses flood, it was amazing to read it because i never knew that the molasses traveled 35 mph through the streets of the north end and that the flood was a good 8 to 15 feet tall. Thousands of fish gasping desperately, then floating lifelessly surfaced in honolulu harbor this week, suffering from oxygen. The great boston molasses flood of 1919 by stephen puleo. In 1919, puleo said, a firefighters idea to dilute the boston molasses spill with neighboring seawater helped ease cleanup. Magazine looks at science behind 1919 molasses disaster the. The cross inside the circle in the center of the photograph marks where the storage tank.
Jan, 2019 in 2003 puleo published a book, dark tide. Believe it or not, molasses has been spilled before. The molasses flood of 1919 and other ethical failures in. Historian stephen puleo discusses his book dark tide. The great boston molasses flood of 1919 killed 21 after 2. Shortly after noon on january 15, 1919, a 50foottall steel tank filled with 2. It was caused by a faulty pipe, for which the shipping company matson navigation co. The great boston molasses flood of 1919 on the centennial of the flood, january 15, at 6. What was the great molasses spill in bostons north end. Jan 26, 2006 boston was part of the triangular trade route, which involved molasses, rum, sugar cane, slaves, and money, as well as ships nedded for all this activity. Use salt water, as was used in the boston molasses tragedy of 1919. The boston molasses flood is my favorite quirky historical moment in boston, and this book showed me how much i didnt know about the tragedy.
The rupture of a giant molasses tank in boston just after the first world war caused devastation and led to the longest legal case in the citys history. Allison describes the molasses flood of 1919, which killed 21 people and destroyed part of the north end. The book was interesting enough to be a quick read and. Jan 15, 2015 on january 15, 1919, in bostons north end, a 50foottall tank holding 2.
Molasses bookss instagram profile has 1,074 photos and videos. The great molasses flood, also known as the boston molasses disaster or the great boston molasses flood, and sometimes referred to locally as the boston molassacre, occurred on january 15, 1919, in the north end neighborhood of boston, massachusetts. Jan 14, 2019 news world americas great molasses flood. So no wonder 21 people were killed and over 150 were injured in it, not to mention all the horses and dogs. Boston marks 100th anniversary of great molasses flood. As a young patrolman with the city of boston, i can remember working with other officers that while driving past the location of the molasses spill saying that on a hot summers day you could still smell the molasses rising up in the air. Great boston molasses flood plaque boston, massachusetts.
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