And the tank had numerous leaks visible around its sides-leaks that would pool at the base of the tank. USIA could accept the large molasses shipment that came in on December 31st.Įmployees of USIA, however, began reporting that the tank “groaned” ominously and vibrated every time it took on molasses. There were no leaks found, so the tank was declared complete on 29 December-and Jell’s project seemed a success. This saved the cost of purchasing so much municipal water and several weeks of work. With time running out, Jell took a major shortcut: instead of filling up the tank completely with water to leak test it, he would only fill the tank with six inches of water. Jell was desperate to complete construction by the end of the month, but bad weather slowed the project. The enormous tank would be 90 feet in diameter, 50 feet tall, and have a capacity for 2.3 million gallons of storage.Ĭonstruction of the tank began in early December 1915. He then contracted the Hammonds company to design and build the tank. Jell began negotiating for a parcel of land on the waterfront between the inner harbor and a residential neighborhood. USIA needed to accept a shipment of nearly 1 million gallons of molasses on 31 December, and if there were no tank, it would be dumped in the sea as a financial loss. The USIA president told Jell that his standing in the company depended upon his success with this project, which had to be completed by the end of 1915. USIA picked Arthur Jell, the company secretary, to head up the project. Industrial Alcohol (USIA) needed a place to store a vast amount of molasses-the raw material in manufacturing alcohol-in Boston. In 1915, the demand for industrial alcohol was growing fast, with World War I raging in Europe. What had caused such a catastrophic and destructive failure of the molasses tank? Building the Molasses Tank It swept away buildings, vehicles, and people, killing 21 and injuring 150 more. A 15-foot wave of molasses flowed, at 35 miles per hour, into nearby residential neighborhoods and downtown Boston. The jarring sound was followed by a muffled roar, and then 2.3 million gallons were released suddenly from a ruptured tank. Have you ever visited Boston? Some say that, on certain days, they can still smell molasses in the North End.Around 12:30 pm on January 15th, 1919, a noise like machine-gun fire erupted near downtown Boston. Following the event, Massachusetts made it mandatory for construction projects to pass inspections from architects and engineers before moving forward. The Great Molasses Flood also shone light on the issue of insecure construction. 125 lawsuits against the company led to it being ordered to pay for damages and loss of human life. As a result, it was too weak to hold the amount of molasses stored in it. When the company built the tank, they cut corners. Instead, an investigation found fault with the USIA. However, this soon proved to be a baseless theory. They said anarchists must have planted a bomb in or near the tank. Initially, the USIA claimed to be the victim of a crime. What happened? What caused this terrible disaster? And, of course, it left everyone with questions. It also killed many horses who had the misfortune of being in its path. The flood had killed 21 people and wounded 150. When the molasses settled, it coated the streets.
A train barely escaped the wave as it screeched to a halt ahead of the damaged track. It knocked down buildings, picked up human beings, and even destroyed part of an elevated train track. It raced through the streets at 35 miles per hour, taking out everything in its path. What followed was an enormous wave of molasses. The substance was stored in a huge tank that was 50 feet tall and 90 feet across.Īt about 12:30 p.m., the tank burst.
The Purity Distilling Company, part of United States Industrial Alcohol (USIA), had recently received a large shipment of molasses from Puerto Rico. It was just after noon on January 15, 1919. It was an event in which 2.3 million gallons of molasses flooded the streets of the North End of Boston. What was the Great Molasses Flood? Well, it’s just what it sounds like. That year, the city experienced the Great Molasses Flood. Don’t believe us? Just ask anyone who lived in the Boston area in 1919. Others might even wish for a flood of the thick, sugary substance.īe careful what you wish for! A flood of molasses is not as sweet as it sounds. And some kids can’t get enough! Some would ask for a whole vat of molasses. Have you ever tasted molasses? From flavorings to baked goods to candies, molasses has many uses.
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