I love the quirky items in the “On this Day” feature. On the radio this morning it was noted that today’s the 90th anniversary of the molasses flood that occured in Boston on 15 January 1919. A large tank ruptured, sending out a huge wave of molasses, killing about 20 people. Indeed a horrible way to go.
The Wiki article says:
Boston residents: is it true? Can you really still smell the molasses after ninety years?
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=316023&highlight=boston+molasses
A previous thread on the subject, of which there have been a few.
Man, there’s a Beatles parody bouncing in my head, but it’s just not coming together…
“It was 90 years ago today…”
“Some molasses flooded Boston Bay
Flood’s been going in and out of style
But the smell is gonna last a while…”
I learned about the molasses flood from this thread in September. It immediately became one of my favorite bits of history.
Maybe some hot day this summer, I’ll mosey over there and report back. I imagine you have to be pretty close to the actual site. I’ve been in the North End, even when it’s boiling hot, and never smelled anything.
No one ever expects molasses.
From much loved poster Eve
I still remember reading that thread!
This thread needs to be made a sticky.
I might try that, too. First I’ll have to find out what molasses smells like.
The site of the Brink’s robbery is only a few blocks away. Maybe swing by Piedmont St. (location of the Cocoanut Grove nightclub fire) for a macabre trifecta of Boston history.
The smell’s gone, but you can still taste it if you lick the back alleys.
I’d certainly be interested to hear the outcome. The notion that you can still smell molasses nintey years after the event seems rather unlikely.
I disagree. “Crushed by molasses” is an awesome way to die. Also, band name!
there is a book called “dark tide” about the disaster.
Now if it was sub zero that day how fast would the molasses have flowed?