Mark Gregory Posted June 11, 2020 Share Posted June 11, 2020 (edited) 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,[1][2] occurred on January 15, 1919, in the North End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. A large storage tank filled with 2.3 million US gal (8,700 m3)[3] weighing approximately 13,000 short tons (12,000 t) of molasses burst, and the resultant wave of molasses rushed through the streets at an estimated 35 mph (56 km/h), killing 21 and injuring 150.[4] The event entered local folklore and residents claimed for decades afterwards that the area still smelled of molasses on hot summer days.[5][4] https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20160817-the-killer-flood-made-of-molasses It even knocked down part of their Elevated Rail Line. Edited June 11, 2020 by Mark Gregory (see edit history) 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted June 11, 2020 Share Posted June 11, 2020 The molasses was used by a distillery to make ethanol for munitions. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
46 woodie Posted June 11, 2020 Share Posted June 11, 2020 A couple of years ago there was an article in Yankee Magazine about the molasses flood. When I first saw the title I though it was a joke and after reading the article was amazed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
58L-Y8 Posted June 11, 2020 Share Posted June 11, 2020 Not to make light of the tragedy, but if some hollered "MOLASSES!!! Run for your life!" What would you do? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted June 11, 2020 Share Posted June 11, 2020 1 minute ago, 58L-Y8 said: Not to make light of the tragedy, but if some hollered "MOLASSES!!! Run for your life!" What would you do? Get out the pancakes! 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carolina Chevrolet Posted June 11, 2020 Share Posted June 11, 2020 That would be a sticky situation to be in. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank DuVal Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 Back in Engineering School, we studied this in Material Science Class. At first it sounds like a joke, then you realize the molasses was moving pretty fast for a winter day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 was wondering what you would use 2.3 million gallons of Molasses for... Thought it was Dick Smothers & chocolate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Studemax Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 Just got my education for the day. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudsy Wudsy Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 (edited) The molasses was distilled into ethanol, which in turn was used in the making of smokeless gun powder for the war in Europe . From the American Physical Society (APS): https://www.aps.org/publications/apsnews/201701/physicshistory.cfm Edited June 12, 2020 by Hudsy Wudsy (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 This reminds me that as a kid, the older guys would tell us to hold our tongue with your fingers and say " molasses on the table" Also when looking at a jar of molasses, they would say, "I wonder what they do with the rest of the mole" 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdc Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 12 hours ago, Frank DuVal said: Back in Engineering School, we studied this in Material Science Class. At first it sounds like a joke, then you realize the molasses was moving pretty fast for a winter day. Makes you wonder if it was heated, cause cold molasses will not flow that fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimKB1MCV Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 My Grandfather (well, step - GF) was present for the Great Molasses Flood of 1919. It was an occasional topic of conversation in the early 1950s. He was a young chauffeur and it was around this time he started driving for the family he stayed with for around thirty five years. The family had PA limos until RR opened the factory in Springfield. They stuck with Rolls till the late thirties, I think 1938. When the Mister went into a nursing home in ~1954 they signed the Rolls over to my Grandfather. I remember the car but not a lot of details about it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesR Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 Thanks for the history. I'd never heard of this. Why on earth build a tank so large? I would've thought the drawbacks would've been obvious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
46 woodie Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 After reading up on it, it sounds like a repeat of the Titanic. From what the article states, there were several things that went wrong. The steel used in the construction of the tank was too thin and the rivets were wrong and spaced too far apart. Also they never bothered to fill the tank with water to test it. Every time they filled it it made noises and actually expanded. It leaked so much that people would fill tin cans with the leaking molasses. One worker reported a crack in the steel and his foreman said "what do you expect me to do" and never reported it to his superiors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted June 13, 2020 Share Posted June 13, 2020 (edited) Surprised Keiser hasn't ID'd all the old cars and trucks yet. Your slowing down John 😉 Great story btw, thanks for sharing it. A real tragedy for those that must have witnessed it or had family members involved. Edited June 13, 2020 by 30DodgePanel (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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