The worst of the spanish influenza was over, world war i had just ended and babe ruth had helped the red sox win the world series the previous fall. The source of what became known as the great molasses flood was a 50foottall steel holding tank located on commercial street in boston s north end. Discover the story of this strange disaster in the next book in the ne. Of all the disasters that have occurred in the united states, the great molasses flood in boston was one of the most bizarre.
A bubbling flood of molasses that sent a towering wave of goo down the streets of boston in 1919, catching everything from horses to humans in its sticky grasp, killing 21 people, injuring 150. The great boston molasses flood of 1919, stephen puleo s account of the disaster, will be the subject of a monthlong read in an experiment by the boston globe and the boston public. Boston molasses disaster is a bostonbased progressive rock jam band that is stirring the music scene in the northeast with their energetic live shows and dynamic. May 22, 2014 visit atlas obscura for more on the boston molasses disaster. Bostons great molasses flood of 1919 at midday on january 15, 1919, in boston, a deluge of sweet, sticky death poured from a burst storage tank. Kops begins her account with exactly the right description. Forty minutes past noon on 15 january 1919, a giant wave of molasses raced through boston. Molasses in january, original musical about boston. Bostons great molasses flood of 1919 has got to be one of the most bizarre disasters ever, and kopss book makes great use of detailed personal stories to bring the dramatic, traumatic event to life. His mom didnt believe him and sent him off to clean himself up. The boston molasses disaster also known as the great molasses flood occurred on january 15, 1919, in the north end neighborhood of boston, massachusetts.
But, oddly, when stephen puleo speaks about his book on the boston molasses flood, a good teehee is usually the crowd s first response. Does anyone know about the childrens book about the great. The forgotten tragedy too bizarre for the history books a 30foot wave of molasses killed 21 people and injured 150 others. Jul 03, 2012 in our newest installment of real history, we bring you the story of the boston molasses flood. The unseasonably warm temperature 46 degrees was the final stress needed to cause a gigantic, filledto. An excellent work, as of today january 30, 2019 the only complete history book that covers the boston molasses disaster of 1919, i give stephen puleo high marks for writing a compelling historical account of one of the worst tragedies in the history of the city of boston. A large molasses treacle tank burst and a wave of molasses ran through the streets at an estimated 60 kmh, killing twentyone and injuring 150 others. Scientists finally decode the great molasses flood of 1919. The stored molasses was awaiting transfer to a nearby. The wave released during the great molasses flood was said to have been 15 to 40 feet 5 to 12 meters high and some. Nov 26, 2016 researchers say they have figured out a piece of the puzzle of why a 2.
At the same time, beacon sent out copies of the paperback edition of puleos 2003 book about the strangest disaster in american history, dark tide. Young charlie owen muldoon becomes a wideeyed spectator on the january day when a sudden rise in temperature causes a local molasses tan. The sticky science behind the deadly boston molasses disaster. Ella morton is a writer working on the atlas obscura, a book about global wonders, curiosities, and. Finally these concepts are illustrated with a description of the great boston molasses flood of 1919, for which a new possible cause was identified only in. The molasses flood of 1919 and other ethical failures in engineering. I survived the great molasses flood, 1919 by lauren tarshis.
Discover great boston molasses flood plaque in boston, massachusetts. Discover the story of this strange disaster in the next book in the new york times bestselling i survived series. Nov 21, 2016 a bubbling flood of molasses that sent a towering wave of goo down the streets of boston in 1919, catching everything from horses to humans in its sticky grasp, killing 21 people, injuring 150. Sugarysweet molasses turned deadly on january 15, 1919, when a holding tank burst and sent 2. The great molasses flood planet reader, level 3 paperback may 1, 1998 by beth wagner brust author. Oct 11, 2009 okay, when i was younger i read this book about the molasses flood of 1919.
The purity distilling company held a few storage tanks full of molasses, since the sugar is able to ferment over time to produce rum and other alcohols. The site of one of the strangest disasters in historya wave of deadly molasses traveling at 35 mph. Harvard scientists reveal physics behind molasses disaster. Nov 29, 2016 the ruins of tanks containing 2 12 million gallons of molasses lie in a heap after the dramatic collapse that hurled trucks against buildings and crumpled houses in the north end of boston on jan. In 1919 a bizarre catastrophe struck bostons north end.
The disaster took place in boston, massachusettsit took place on january 15, 1919thats exactly 78 years before i was born. Going back to things that are actually confirmed to have happened, one of the most bizarre accidents in history occurred on january 15th, 1919, in the north end of boston, massachusetts. New childrens book releases for fall 2019 scholastic parents. The molasses flood of 1919 killed 21 people in boston.
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. It was an unseasonably warm day, and witnesses in the area recalled hearing shots like gunfire just after noon. Jan 16, 2020 fiery hot molasses floods the streets of boston on january 15, 1919, killing 21 people and injuring scores of others. There is a ducktales episode called raiders of the lost harp no. Nearly a century later, structural flaw in molasses tank. The great boston molasses flood of 1919 20030917 hardcover by stephen puleo sep 17, 2003. See more ideas about boston, boston north end and history.
The disaster occurred at the purity distilling company facility in the north end neighborhood of boston. Jan 16, 2020 sugarysweet molasses turned deadly on january 15, 1919, when a holding tank burst and sent 2. When you talk about a flood of molasses, it elicits this initial giggle. Great boston molasses flood plaque boston, massachusetts. It happened on the 15 of january in boston massachusetts. Ella morton is a writer working on the atlas obscura, a book about global wonders, curiosities, and esoterica adapted from atlas. The great boston molasses flood of 1919, journalist stephen puleo details what happened in this first book on the subject. Ok so this book was about the great molasses flood of 1919. I cant remember it all but the protagonist was a boy who loved molasses a lot and then i believe his mother sent him off to get some and when he went he saw the molasses coming towards him and ran but he still got it all over him or something like that. During this time, molasses was the standard sweetener in the country. Solving a mystery behind the deadly tsunami of molasses.
A giant storage tank failed, releasing 2 million gallons of molasses into a crowded business district at the height of a january workday. Thoroughly researched, the volume weaves together the stories of the people and families affected by the disaster, with often heartbreaking glimpses of their fates. The great boston molasses flood of 1919, stephen puleos account of the disaster, will be the subject of a monthlong read in an experiment by the boston globe and the boston public. An incident in oldtime boston jumpstarts this sticky legend. The great boston molasses flood of 1919 tells schworm that the tank was a problem. Its been four years since carmen and papa moved from italy to boston. Almost a century ago, a giant tank in bostons north end ruptured, releasing a massive wave of molasses that killed 21 people, crushed buildings, and tore a firehouse from its foundation. The boston molasses disaster the worlds strangest events. Located in the middle of a residential block, this used bookshop opened last summ. It was also fermented to produce rum and ethanol, the active ingredient in other alcoholic beverages and a key component in the manufacturing of munitions. A fivestory high metal tank burst, spilling molasses into the streetsthe tank was 50 ft tall, and 90 ft in diameterit weighed about 26 million lbswherewhen did it happen. Nov 28, 2016 the sticky science behind the deadly boston molasses disaster.
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. The great molasses flood and 6 other strange disasters. Oct 06, 2005 most disasters dont tickle funny bones. Molasses flood is recalled in book the boston globe. The great boston molasses flood of 1919 by stephen puleo. Stephen puleo is the author of several books including the boston globe bestseller the boston italians and the critically acclaimed bostonarea bestseller dark tide. The boston molassacre when we think of potential disasters in the northeast during the winter months, we think of snowrelated problems, but on january 15, 1919, the force that bostonians had to reckon with was fiery hot molasses. Boston molasses disaster is a boston based progressive rock jam band that is stirring the music scene in the northeast with their energetic live shows and dynamic. Finally these concepts are illustrated with a description of the great boston molasses flood of 1919, for which a new possible cause was identified only in 2014.
Sep 23, 2005 there was a book published which describes these events in detail its called dark tide. The ruins of tanks containing 2 12 million gallons of molasses lie in a heap after the dramatic collapse that hurled trucks against buildings and crumpled houses in the north end of. But, oddly, when stephen puleo speaks about his book on the boston molasses flood, a good teehee is usually the crowds first response. The great molasses flood planet reader, level 3 beth wagner brust, john lund on. The event has entered local folklore, and residents claim that the area still sometimes. Then all of a sudden a large tank of molasses exploded, sending. Solving a mystery behind the deadly tsunami of molasses of. Visit atlas obscura for more on the boston molasses disaster. A former awardwinning newspaper reporter and contributor to american history magazine, he holds a masters degree in history. Okay, when i was younger i read this book about the molasses flood of 1919. The molasses flood of 1919 and other ethical failures in.
Workers took a break for lunch, children played in the park, trains made trips between north and south stations. The 4piece displays powerful songwriting, catchy melodies and superb musicianship while pushing their musical boundaries. Molasses wins boston summer book vote off the shelf. There was a book published which describes these events in detail its called dark tide.
Researchers say they have figured out a piece of the puzzle of why a 2. On january 15, 1919, a huge storage tank of molasses exploded without warning, and caused a wave of molasses and debris to travel down commercial street at 35 miles per hour. One hundred years ago, a killer wave of molasses struck a crowded boston neighborhood. But on january 15, 1919, in boston s north end, on a sunny, warm day, the molasses tank in the neighborhood blew.
A large storage tank burst, filled with 2,300,000 us gal 8,700 m 3. On january 15, 1919, in bostons north end, a 50foottall tank holding 2. Our book of the day by deborah kops, the great molasses flood, takes a look at one of my favorite disasters, which took place in boston in 1919. The monumental molasses morass of 1919 damn interesting. Boston molasses disaster is a bostonbased progressive rock jam band that is stirring the music scene in the northeast with their energetic live shows and dynamic sound. Explore the storied relationship between booze and books at this bushwick gem. Molasses in january, an original new musical about a struggling family of italian immigrants who are literally swept up in the boston molasses disaster of 1919, will make its offbroadway premiere. In this weeks episode of the futility closet podcast well tell the story of the boston molasses disaster, which claimed 21 lives and inscribed a sticky page into the citys history books. The great boston molasses flood of 1919 20030917 hardcover by stephen puleo sep 17, 2003 5.