This book was easy to read and very, very compelling. The story of bostons molasses flood disaster is becoming an. I teach a multiage 4th and 5th grade class in salem, ma. Cars were crushed, horses perished in the sicklysweet tide, and. Dark tide book about the boston molasses flood 2peas. A former awardwinning newspaper reporter and contributor to american history magazine, he holds a masters degree in history and wrote his thesis on italian immigration and the settlement. And 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. Molasses flood of 1919 scenes in the molassesflooded streets of boston. Scientists finally decode the great molasses flood of 1919 nearly 100 years later, scientists have determined what exactly made boston s 1919 molasses flood so. The sticky science behind the deadly boston molasses disaster. The great molasses flood of 1919 sugarysweet molasses turned deadly on january 15, 1919, when a holding tank burst and sent 2.
Molasses flood is recalled in book the boston globe. You might not think that one of the strangest disasters in the history of the u. The great boston molasses flood of 1919, published by beacon press. Ive always been fascinated with the boston molasses flood of 1919. Its a true and tragic story of a two million gallon steel tank f. I was prompted to order the book from amazon and when it arrived i read it almost.
The sticky science behind the deadly boston molasses. The boston molasses flood is worth taking seriously. Thoroughly researched, the volume weaves together the stories of the people and families affected by the disaster, with often heartbreaking glimpses of their fates. Surreal photos from the deadly boston molasses flood of 1919. Until i picked this book up, id never heard of the great boston molasses flood, which is odd, because its one of the most eerie and fascinating disasters to occur in the 20th century. Currently developing the flame in the flood, a wilderness survival game featuring rafting, crafting, hunting, and. 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. The event has entered local folklore, and residents claim that the area still sometimes. The great molasses flood, also known as the boston molasses disaster or the great boston. 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. When you talk about a flood of molasses, it elicits this initial giggle. Onlookers stand near the tank 30 minutes after the explosion. The main story is written for middle graders and follows carmen from when she and her father immigrated to the boston area to the aftermath of the great molasses flood. Learn more about how immigrants came to america in the early 20th century with this great book from the what was.
The molasses burst from a huge tank at the united states industrial alcohol. Detailed maps updated from bostons molasses flood of 1919. Aug 07, 2011 the molasses tank explosion sent steel plates right through the supports of the elevated train on commercial ave. Bostons great molasses flood was one of the citys deadliest and most bizarre disasters. How the great boston molasses flood lives on in pop culture. Bostons great molasses flood killed 21 people 100 years. The cool afternoon was broken by sounds of breaking metallic material. Solving a mystery behind the deadly tsunami of molasses. The chaotic aftermath of the boston molasses disaster. The great boston molasses flood of 1919, gestured toward the spot where a tank in. Why the great molasses flood was so deadly history. My class read the trouble with jeremy chance last year, which is a story about a young new hampshire boy living at the time of the great molasses flood. Before the residents could register what was happening, the 50feet molasses tank ripped open unleashing a wave of molasses which was 25 feet high at its peak. Around noon on january 15, 1919, a group of firefighters was playing car.
A new 100th anniversary edition of the only adult book on one of the odder disasters in us historyand the greed, disregard for poor. Boston marked the 100th anniversary of bostons great molasses flood. My kids really enjoyed the book, and the author, george harrar came to our class to discuss the book and how it developed. The great molasses flood footnote to history on january 15, 1919, a giant molasses tank in bostons north end exploded, resulting in the great molasses flood. Even though it happened over 100 years ago, the great molasses flood made its mark as one of the most bizarre and tragic stories in food history. Author stephen puleo talked about his book, dark tide. Ok so this book was about the great molasses flood of 1919. What happened when a great molasses flood took over in boston. Molasses flood was a fun book and kept me entertained. An incident in oldtime boston jumpstarts this sticky legend. Kops begins her account with exactly the right description. From the innocent lives it took, to an era of corporate greed, to the pre and postwwi america, to the antiimmigrant feeling of the time, mr.
Nov 26, 2016 a dull muffled roar gave but an instants warning before the top of the tank was blown into the air, the new york times wrote in 1919 two million gallons of molasses rushed over the. The great boston molasses flood of 1919 killed 21 after 2. The great boston molasses flood of 1919 thriftbooks. The spring 2011 one book one community selection is dark tide. Seeing the great molasses flood through the eyes of. Tuesday, january 15, 2019 is the 100 th anniversary of bostons great molasses flood. Last year i read this story with a group of year 4 students in an extension reading group. The great boston molasses flood of 1919, journalist stephen puleo details what happened in this first book on the subject.
A dull muffled roar gave but an instants warning before the top of the tank was blown into the air, the new york times wrote in 1919 two million gallons of molasses rushed over the. Remembering bostons deadly molasses flood, 100 years. The molasses flood of 1919 killed 21 people in boston. Seeing the great molasses flood through the eyes of children 09. 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. Click download or read online button to get the great molasses flood book now. Of all the disasters that have occurred in the united states, the great molasses flood in boston was one of the most bizarre. Discover great boston molasses flood plaque in boston, massachusetts.
The boston molasses flood 1919 narrative nonfiction. The great molasses flood download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl. An experts 4 takeaways about bostons great molasses flood. The deluge caused extensive damage and killed 21 people. After 100 years, a look back at bostons great molasses. Citizens heard loud bangs described as similar to the firing of a machine gun, which were the sounds of breaking rivets of steel of a molasses tank. But as a massachusetts native, the story has always fascinated me.
In january 1919, a large tank holding molasses exploded in boston. Jan 16, 2020 fiery hot molasses floods the streets of boston on this day in 1919, killing 21 people and injuring scores of others. A former awardwinning newspaper reporter and contributor to american history magazine, he holds a masters degree in history and teaches at suffolk university. The great boston molasses flood of 1919 what surprised you most about the story of the molasses flood. January 15, 1919 a more than sizeable storage tank 25 metres in height was brimming, holding near its full complement of twoandahalf million gallons of molasses. The great boston molasses flood in 1919 book 568189. The great molasses flood of 1919 was bostons strangest disaster one hundred years ago today an enormous steel tank ruptured, sending a torrent of brown syrup on a. Great boston molasses flood plaque boston, massachusetts. Oct 06, 2005 most disasters dont tickle funny bones. The great boston molasses flood in 1919 a wave of molasses traveling at 35mph destroyed an entire neighborhood. The great molasses flood that swallowed boston sticky situation almost exactly 98 years ago, boston was submerged by a deadly molasses flood, which helped to. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want.
A boston distillery chooses the absolute worst person to oversee construction of its giant molasses tank. The 100th anniversary of the great boston molasses flood is this week. Sep 02, 2003 i had heard about the great boston molasses flood, but this book brings to life the story behind it. Boston cbsap a small plaque at the entrance to the harborwalk now marks the site of bostons most peculiar disaster the great molasses flood. The boston molasses disaster also known as the great molasses flood occurred on january 15, 1919, in the north end neighborhood of boston, massachusetts. A look back at bostons great molasses flood of 1919. 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 great boston molasses flood of 1919 puleo, stephen on. I had heard about the great boston molasses flood, but this book brings to life the story behind it. When i began this book, i thought that this was just a fun little bit. Nov 21, 2016 a bubbling flood of molasses that sent a towering wave of goo down the streets of boston in 1919, and now scientists have figured out why it was so deadly. Stephen puleo is author of the boston globe best seller the boston italians and the critically acclaimed dark tide. On a cold winter day in boston, ma, just around lunchtime, a tank of molasses exploded in the citys north end.
Mar 29, 2018 the 1919 molasses flood that devastated boston is the backdrop to a new musical that will premier in an offbroadway theater this spring. Atlantic avenue railway tracks over commercial street twisted by the force of the flood. Jul 03, 2012 in our newest installment of real history, we bring you the story of the boston molasses flood. If you had been told about the flood in the past, how did this account differ from the. Deborah kops 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. North end can anyone smell the mollasses boston forum. Scientists finally decode the great molasses flood of 1919. Read to find out the mystery surrounding this unlikely historical event. What happened when a molasses tank exploded in boston, massachusetts in january 1919. A new 100th anniversary edition of the only adult book. The great boston molasses flood of 1919, at the boston public library in. Shortly after noon, on that day in 1919, a storage tank containing over 2. Interview with stephen puleo, author of the book listed in further reading molasses flood of 1919 scenes in the molasses flooded streets of boston, from the washington times, january 18, 1919.
On tuesday, to commemorate the centennial, puleo will discuss his book at 6pm in the boston public library. Bostons great molasses flood boston public library. The great molasses flood occurred on january 25, 1919, at around 12. From the blob to drunk history, echoes of the great boston molasses flood can be heard in pop culture 100 years after the disaster. The great boston molasses flood of 1919 by stephen. 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. Online shopping from a great selection at books store.
After 100 years, a look back at bostons great molasses flood of 1919 a river of hot, sugary molasses flooded part of a boston neighborhood. The disaster lives on in film, books, and drunk history. On january 15, 1919, a huge steel tank filled with more than 2 million. This is a great book to read out loud this book enlightened me to something that i didnt know happened, and didnt know was even possible. 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. May 22, 2014 the torrent of sticky brown goo bore such force, and carried so much debris, that it buckled pillars of boston s elevated railway. The site of one of the strangest disasters in historya wave of deadly molasses traveling at 35 mph. Jun 27, 2011 a flood of molasses, a thick brown sugary flood which devastated a small area of boston, killing several horses, 21 people and at least one cat. 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. A bubbling flood of molasses that sent a towering wave of goo down the streets of boston in 1919, and now scientists have figured out why it was so deadly. The boston molasses flood of 1919 most odd facts of. It happened on the 15 of january in boston massachusetts. The great boston molasses flood of 1919, fourminute audio story at the american storyteller radio journal.
Read this informational text to discover the tragedy involved in the great molasses flood. Sep 16, 2004 stephen puleo is author of the boston globe best seller the boston italians and the critically acclaimed dark tide. 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. Great molasses flood aftermath of the great molasses flood in boston. Even just showing your students the sticky syrup will hammer home the facts of the boston molasses flood. Nicole explains the disaster and the physics that made cold molasses so deadly. Im proud to say that dark tide is still the only adult nonfiction book about the great boston molasses flood. The great molasses flood footnote to history new england. Mar 18, 2016 mix play all mix atlas obscura youtube life after death experience nde with steve gardipee, vietnam war story one of the best ndes duration. He was an engineer, but i havent found any connection yet. But, oddly, when stephen puleo speaks about his book on the boston molasses flood, a good teehee is usually the crowds first response.
Nov 28, 2016 smart news keeping you current the sticky science behind the deadly boston molasses disaster nearly 100 years after the massive molasses tank ruptured, scientists are finally sussing out how this. In january 1919, boston was home to one of the most surreal accidents of all time the great molasses flood. Boston had a molasses flood that year when over 2 million gallons of brown, sticky goo wiped out buildings, killed people and destroyed part of the waterfront. Boston marks 100th anniversary of great molasses flood. The boston molasses flood is worth taking seriously in 1919, a viscous 40foot wave slammed into the citys north end, killing 21 people. Bostons great molasses flood drunk history video clip. Solving a mystery behind the deadly tsunami of molasses of. The forgotten tragedy too bizarre for the history books a 30foot wave of molasses killed 21 people and injured 150 others. Boston molasses flood 100 wonders atlas obscura youtube. The aftermath of the great molasses flood, as seen on the front page of the boston globe on jan. Jan 16, 2020 the great molasses flood of 1919 sugarysweet molasses turned deadly on january 15, 1919, when a holding tank burst and sent 2.
My grandmother always said her grandfather was involved somehow in the great boston molasses flood, but she didnt know how. If you are interested, a great book is dark tide by stephen puleo. I survived the great molasses flood, 1919 by lauren tarshis. Wbz forecasteric fisher has an updated weather forecast. But in the flood, molasseswhich is a nonnewtonian fluid like ketchup or toothpastewould have moved as a gravity current, much like a mudslide, avalanche or lava flow.
Smart news keeping you current the sticky science behind the deadly boston molasses disaster nearly 100 years after the massive molasses tank. On a brisk winter day, stephen puleo, author of dark tide. The great boston molasses flood of 1919 by stephen puleo. Young charlie owen muldoon becomes a wideeyed spectator on the january day when a sudden rise in temperature causes a local molasses tan. The photos may be black and white, but the destruction wrought by bostons great molasses flood in 1919 doesnt appear any less dramatic due to the lack of color. Jul, 2017 the great molasses flood that swallowed boston sticky situation almost exactly 98 years ago, boston was submerged by a deadly molasses flood, which helped to end the citys rum production.
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