The Great Molasses Flood

Boston, Massachusetts

January 15, 1919

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On January 15, 1919, the Purity Distilling Co's Commercial Street storage tank of molasses, made of steel plates and used for the production of rum, was ripped apart. Survivors of the fatal accident described how, “shortly after noon, a rumbling was heard coming from the tank. Suddenly, rivets shot like bullets out of the steel plates. The top burst into the air, propelled by a hot geyser of molasses, and the two great sections of the exploding tank flew in opposite directions.” The hot molasses flooded into Boston Harbor, destroying homes and killing many inhabitants. It coated streets and houses and quickly stiffened, trapping animals and people.

The cause of the accident can be attributed to the fast approaching ratification of Prohibition. Distillers rushed to make as much rum as possible, using the molasses, before the Prohibition reached their industry. Temperatures that day were also unseasonably warm, causing the molasses to gradually expand. Furthermore, after an investigation, the tank was confirmed to be an insufficient vessel as there were a small number of rivets in its steel plates, which were also found to be too thin for the amount of molasses the tank had contained. Because of the pressures exerted by the molasses from within, coupled with the high temperatures, the tank broke and gave way to the large supply of dense syrup. In total, 21 people were killed and 150 more were injured.(1)

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The Reaction

Immediately following the flood, many civilians and civil servants went to work, helping clear the molasses, find survivors, and rebuild the city. Firefighters sprayed water into the streets to facilitate in the slow draining of molasses into the harbor. The work was particularly difficult as molasses continued to ooze throughout the city, coating the streets up to several inches, and if someone stood still for too long the molasses would harden and they would be firmly stuck in place. Despite the hard labor and toil, many civilians felt moved to join the effort. An especially high number of "red cross workers, women and girls braved the tangled, sticky mass to bring relief to the men."(2) Only a day after the unfortunate accident, an investigation was launched to determine the possible causes of the molasses tank explosion. As outlined by the Grand Forks Herald Newspaper on January 16th, "members of the fire and police departments resumed their search for possible missing victims among the ruins. Cellars along Commercial street where the greatest effect of the explosion was felt, were pumped out in the belief that pedestrians might have been swept in by the flood of molasses." Because the clean up effort was so tedious, Bostonians were eager to file lawsuits and fight for legislature.(3) In total, there were 125 lawsuits following the disaster.(4) The lawsuits uncovered that Hammond Iron Works had lied in the files it sent to the Boston Building Department. The walls of the tank were, in reality, up to ten percent thinner than discussed in the plans. The trial lasted almost 3 years, and ultimately U.S. Industrial Alcohol was found responsible for the accident and were required to pay over $600,000 in damages, equivalent to $60 million today. The Boston Building Department also established certain requirements for ensuring another accident of the same nature doesn't occur. From that point on, engineers and architects had to file their calculations with the plans and have their drawings signed. Engineering Certification Laws were established in all states. Additionally, a professional engineer had to inspect plans before they were sent to the city or state council for approval of a building permit.(5) 

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Sources: 

(1) Dana Bisbee, "80 years ago, a fatal explosion drowned the North End in

    molasses," Boston Herald, 13 Jan. 1999, p. 056. U.S. History in Context.

    http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A57117671/

    UHIC?u=va_p_collegiate&xid=869049af. Accessed 15 Feb. 2018.

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(2) Albuquerque morning journal (Albuquerque, N.M.), "Sucked Down By Molasses," Jan. 16, 1919, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
     <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84031081/1919-01-16/ed-1/seq-1/>

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(3) Grand Forks herald (Grand Forks, N.D.), "Molasses Tank Explosion Will Be Investigated," Jan. 16, 1919, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
     <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042414/1919-01-16/ed-1/seq-8/>

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(4) Dana Bisbee, "80 years ago, a fatal explosion drowned the North End in

    molasses," Boston Herald, 13 Jan. 1999, p. 056. U.S. History in Context.

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(5) Fred Durso, “The Great Boston Molasses Flood,” National Fire Protection Association, (2011).