Dark tide the great boston molasses flood of 1919

An experts 4 takeaways about bostons great molasses flood. Those most affected by the tragedy were ordinary people, stephen puleo wrote in the comprehensive history of the event dark tide. Dark tide the great boston molasses flood of 1919 by stephen puleo 273 page paperback new around noon on january 15, 1919, a group of firefighters was playing cards in boston s north end when they heard a tremendous crash. Deadline on the waterfront a monster in our midst dark tide. The great boston molasses flood of 1919, at the boston public library in copley square. The monumental molasses morass of 1919 damn interesting. 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 of boston s north end. There was some debate about what actually caused the 50 foot tank of over 2 million gallons of molasses to burst on january 15, 1919 creating a tsunami of molasses coursing through the streets.

The great boston molasses flood of 1919 by stephen puleo 3. Remembering bostons deadly molasses flood, 100 years. In the end, 21 people died along with scores of animals causing millions of dollars of property damage. Stephen puleo is author of the critically acclaimed bostonarea bestseller dark tide. Special thanks to our guest, stephen puleo, author of dark tide. A former awardwinning newspaper reporter and contributor to american history magazine, he holds a masters degree in history. The great boston molasses flood of 1919 killed 21 after 2 million gallon tank erupted the great boston molasses flood of 1919 killed 21 after 2 million gallon tank erupted on jan.

When the tide receded, a section of the citys north end had been transformed into a war zone. The cause of this flood was faulty engineering, and a gas bubble formed by the mixing of the cold molasses and warm molasses from a new shipment. Shortly after noon on january 15, 1919, a fiftyfoottall steel tank filled with 2. The great molasses flood of 1919 was bostons strangest. A former awardwinning newspaper reporter and contributor to american more about stephen puleo. The author has written the only known book about this tragedy. These are the 21 victims of the great boston molasses. There were many deaths and loss of homes from the 45 foot tall wave of thick brown molasses and its ensuing flow through homes and streets. On a brisk winter day, stephen puleo, author of dark tide.

The great boston molasses flood of 1919, published by beacon press. Walking around the north end today, stephen puleo, author of dark tide. There was a book published which describes these events in detail its called dark tide. The great boston molasses flood of 1919 this clip, title, and description were not created by cspan. The molasses had been stored in an aboveground tank and the tank collapsed one day, killing several people, permanently disabling others, and causing extensive property damage. The great boston molasses flood of 1919 told recently. The great boston molasses flood of 1919 the end of world war i, the fear of postwar unemployment, the lack of assimilation of many italian immigrants in boston and elsewhere, the bombings and other disruptive acts by anarchists and the resulting fear among the populace, the impending onset of prohibition, and more. The great boston molasses flood of 1919 killed 21 after 2. The great boston molasses flood of 1919, gestured toward the spot where a tank in bostons north end burst, releasing a tsunami of hot. On january 15, 1919, a 90 foot tall tank of molasses, destined for distillation into industrial alcohol for munitions manufacture, flew apart, sending a 25 foot high wave of the dark sticky substance racing through the crowded north end at speeds up to 35 mph. The great boston molasses flood of 1919, points to a plaque where the 50foottall steel tank once stood. Published on may 2, 2011 stephen puleo, author of dark tide, gives a guided tour of one of bostons most infamous disaster sites the great molasses flood of 1919.

The tenyear timeline of the molasses flood story, which began in 1915 when usia built the tank and ended with hugh ogdens decision in 1925, offers more than a dramatic prism through which to view a tumultuous decade in boston and america. Dark tide the great boston molasses flood of 1919 shortly after noon on january 15, 1919, a 50foottall steel tank filled with 2. It had the ability to hold about 26 million gallons of molasses. Puleo could just as easily be writing about current events as about events in.

The great boston molasses flood of 1919 killed 21 after 2 million gallon tank erupted the wave moved at 35 miles per hour and was 25 feet high and 160 feet wide at its outset as it rushed through. Stephen puleo is author of the boston globe best seller the boston italians and the critically acclaimed dark tide. Around noon on january 15th, 1919, a fiftyfoottall tank filled with over 2 million gallons of thick, black molasses collapsed creating a massive tidal wave fifteen feet high, some say that traveled at a speed of over 35 miles per hour and transformed bostons north end into a disaster area. United states industrial alcohol, the longest and most expensive civil suit in massachusetts history lasting three years and a month, presided over by auditor hugh w.

It demolished wooden homes, even the brick fire station. When the tank finally let go, the coast surrounding boston harbor was inundated with molasses. Like a runaway twohorse team smashing through a fence, said another. 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 of bostons north end.

Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers all about dark tide. The great boston molasses flood of 1919 tag 10062005 globe west 1,2,3 94 years ago, january 15, 1919, was a tragic day in the north end. 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. 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. Molasses doesnt totally harden, but it does congeal, stephen puleo, historian and author of dark tide. Around noon on january 15, 1919, a group of firefighters was playing cards in bostons north end when they heard a tremendous crash. The story of the bizarre and deadly deluge has been oft told over the years stephen puleos meticulously researched 2003 book, dark tide. Along with the allure of telling the molasses flood story for the first time came a flutter of uncertainty about my chances of uncovering sufficient documentation to breathe life into a littleknown subjectwith secondary sources scarce, primary source material would be essential to dark tide s foundation with help see the acknowledgments, i struck gold. The great boston molasses flood of 1919 stephen puleo, author. Dark tide is a detailed look back at the time of wwi, what life was like in boston, and the part played by both immigrants and anarchists alike. The great boston molasses flood of 1919 by stephen puleo 3,576 ratings, 3. Its one of historys most unfortunate and stickiest disasters.