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The Great Molasses Flood: Boston, 1919 (2012)

by Deborah Kops(Favorite Author)

3.75 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

1580893481 (ISBN13: 9781580893480)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Charlesbridge

review 1: Who knew? In 1919, while supposedly being blown up by anarchists but later generally determined to be a build up of gases in the tank itself, a large tank of molasses "exploded" sending the thick stuff all over the North End, killing, maiming, and destroying property along the way. The presentation is wonderful and the photographs make it all the more amazing. The personal stories of those affected make it understandable and more tragic than the straight reporting of facts. It unfolds easily enough and to imagine something like this happening is both odd and sad because of the aftermath (sending houses floating down the street, men into the water, having to clean it up).
review 2: 1919 Boston Babe Ruth had just helped the Red Six on the world series. World W... morear I had ended the previous November with the signing of the Armistice. The battle against the Spanish Influenza that had taken thousands of lives had just ended. The schools had reopened. Soda fountains had reopened and it seemed as though life might just be returning to normal.In the North End in between the elevated railroad tracks and the Paving Yard stood in huge steel tank. It dominated the skyline. In mid-January it had received another shipment and was now full. It held 2,319,525 gallons of molasses. That weighed as much as 13,000 Ford cars - a sizable weight. During the war the molasses had been made into alcohol that was used for making ammunition, much needed in the war. Now it was being distilled into rum bythe company that owned the tank, the U.S. Industrial Alcohol Company (USIA).January 1919 was a time of change. The troops would be coming home and efforts were being made to make that as soon as possible. Only one more state was needed to ratify a constitution amendment for Prohibition to begin. Business was was bustling in and out of the North End. Passengers made there way between North and South Station. Commercial Street was a busy place. Firemen worked in the firehouse. The fireboat was there. It was laundry day, and being surprisingly warm on the 15th many lines were full. The North End Park was nearby. People were out. Children snuck in and around the tracks collecting what wood they could find to use at home to keep warm and to cook. When they passed by the tank they'd scrape off some of the sticky goo that oozed from between the seams. It wasn't like candy, but it was sweet enough.It seemed the start of a good day until around noon. Folks heard a devastating roaring blast. The tank split open and a wave of thick brown glue swept through the North End sweeping up and wiping out everything in its path. The force of the molasses swept buildings off their foundations, slammed people against trestles and curbs or trapped them for long hours under debris and sludge. No everyone was so lucky. They did not escape the tide as it chased them down. The whole area was awash with the sticky, brown goo - the devastation great.How had it happened? Was it a bomb? Had Anarchists, unhappy with the outcome of the war, planned this attack? Boston had been bombed a couple years before. Was it an accident? Who would pay for the clean-up? How could the loss of businesses,livelihoods, homes and lives be repaid?From this time of devastation and disaster nearly 100 years ago there are many lessons to be learning and many parallels to be drawn to similar happenings today. I knew nothing of the molasses flood until a read of this book. Once I knew I began noticing references to it in books and other stories of the time. You'll be interested to read of the people affected by this blast - their lives were never the same and were never better. It's an interesting point in history - a pivotal moment. How can we use this information to ensure the same does not happen to people caught in disasters in the present. I don't think we have yet. Read The Great Molasses Flood and see what you think. UCLA basketball coach, John Wooden, is credited with a quote: "If you don't have the time to do it right the first time, when are you going to have the time to do it right again?" I know I can't stop a deluge of molasses, but thoughtfulness always matters, big or small. less

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