HISTORY This Week The Great Boston Molasses Flood
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Jan 12, 2026 Stephen Puleo, an accomplished author and historian, dives into the intriguing tale of the Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919. He vividly describes the catastrophic moment when a massive molasses tank burst, unleashing a wave that devastated Boston's North End. Puleo highlights the community's prior warnings that went unheeded and the subsequent legal battles that transformed construction regulations. The discussion reveals how this bizarre disaster reshaped safety standards, demonstrating the far-reaching impact of one tragic event.
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Why So Much Molasses Was Stored
- The 50-foot tank held molasses intended to be distilled into industrial alcohol during World War I and later into rum.
- Shifting wartime production and looming Prohibition explain why USIA stored massive molasses volumes in the North End.
The Terrifying Molasses Wave
- A tank holding 2.3 million gallons of molasses ruptured and sent a wave down Commercial Street at about 35 mph.
- The molasses wave knocked buildings off foundations and trapped people and horses, killing 21 and injuring about 150.
Massive, Sticky Cleanup Effort
- Rescue crews and neighbors worked waist-deep in molasses to pull survivors and search for the missing.
- Cleanup required pumping millions of gallons of seawater and six months of work before the neighborhood returned to normal.
