[personal profile] mabfan
Today is the 91st anniversary of:

THE GREAT BOSTON MOLASSES FLOOD

"Shortly after noon on January 15, 1919, a fifty-foot-tall steel tank filled with 2.3 million gallons of molasses collapsed on Boston’s waterfront, disgorging its contents in a fifteen-foot-high wave of molasses that traveled at thirty-five miles per hour. When the tide receded, a section of the city’s North End had been transformed into a war zone. The Great Boston Molasses Flood claimed the lives of twenty-one people and scores of animals, injured more than a hundred, and caused widespread destruction."

The above is quoted from author Stephen Puleo, who has published a wonderful book about the flood called "Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919." It tells the story of what happened and also places the event in historical context. For more information on the book, you can visit his website at http://www.stephenpuleo.com.

Date: 2010-01-15 03:09 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] aunt-becca.livejournal.com
such a good book. If I had any forethought, I would have made molasses-themes Shabbat dinner. Next year, I guess.

Date: 2010-01-15 03:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tapuz.livejournal.com
yay! MAB's annual Molasses Flood post!!!

Date: 2010-01-15 05:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sboydtaylor.livejournal.com
I wondered where I'd read about that before... :)

Date: 2010-01-15 05:01 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] madwriter.livejournal.com
This reminds me that I'd never heard of this tragedy until you posted about it once here on LJ. (I think for an earlier anniversary.)

Date: 2010-01-15 07:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] purpleranger.livejournal.com
It's amazing to think that molasses could travel that fast in January. Just out of curiosity, were most of the deaths in the immediate vicinity of the collapsed tank?

Date: 2010-01-17 04:46 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lucretia-borgia.livejournal.com
Dammit! I forgot, would have cooked something appropriate. And invited y'all for real!

However, my subconscious must've known, because when I grocery shopped on Friday I had this unaccountable urge (satisfied, I may note) to purchase hermits. Which of course contain molasses.

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