99 years ago today, a large storage tank of molasseses exploded and sent a devastating wave of thick syrup through #Boston’s North End killing 21 people and injuring 120 in what would be known as the #GreatMolassesFlood. My Great-Grandfather was a Cambridge fireman and was called to the scene that day. I tracked this early photo of his company back to a fire station in the Observatory Hill neighborhood in Cambridge. . . When we were kids my Grandfather would tell us tales of the event. Today there are a number of books written about the disaster, and you can find articles on Wikipedia, etc- but when I was a kid I didn’t know if my Grandfather wasn’t just “pulling our legs”. With this tall tale. The story of the sticky wave seemed too fantastic. . . I wish we took time to record his story, or have him write it down. He may have seen the cleanup first hand in the following days. In any case the odd tale was true, and one of the strangest disasters in American history. If you visit the North End, you’ll find a small plaque commemorating the event by the bocce ball courts on Commercial Street. #igersboston #igboston #onthisday #instahistory #historical (at Great Molasses Flood)
