The Boston Molasses Disaster

Introduction

Early in 1919, a storage tank filled to the brim with molasses collapsed and flooded Boston's North End with millions of gallons of sweet and gooey liquid. Though not among the world's most fabled disasters, the great Boston Molasses Flood must surely count as one of the most extraordinary events of the twentieth century. Not surprisingly, the unique nature of the event perhaps the only molasses disaster on record has been exploited through the decades in anniversary retellings and in first-hand accounts by eyewitnesses.

This paper provides an analysis of the Boston Molasses Flood. It comprises of an introductory paragraph, discussion and a conclusion.

Discussion

In part, the current version of the disaster story has been shaped by newspaper accounts of the period, which taken are face value seem to offer an accurate description of the event. Yet, an understanding of the historical context and the ethnic makeup of the North End neighborhood yields a nuanced interpretation of the molasses flood that exposes the shortcomings of the press coverage and the biases, fears and preoccupations of the era. Because current retelling s of the molasses flood has been shaped by the media's initial rendering. The contemporary public's perception of the event, their response to it has also been influenced (Mason, 111).

If not for the strange events of January 15, 1919, the day might have been remembered by the residents and workers of Boston's Commercial Street for its unreasonably warm weather. During the early afternoon, scores of people went about their business, enjoying the bright sunshine and 45 degrees temperature. Deliverymen coaxed their horse teams along the cobblestone street while freight handlers from the Bay State Railway Company interrupted their labors to enjoy lunch and a few hands of cards. The shouts and laughter of children carried through the air as some ...