F23-087, The Great Boston Molasses Flood

On January 15, 1919 a large tank containing approximately two million gallons of molasses burst and set off a river of molasses that flowed at speeds up to thirty-five miles per hour, inundating a North End Boston neighborhood and eventually killing twenty-one people. The event was largely forgotten until its recent 100th anniversary. This class will explore the history of molasses and the molasses trade and discuss how fault for the disaster was attributed and assessed within the social structure of the times.

Presenter: Dennis Van Derlaske
Dennis Van Derlaske is a member of University of Mary Washington ElderStudy in Fredericksburg. He serves on its curriculum committee and frequently lectures on topics of “vernacular history.” Dennis is a past member of the Prince William County Historical Commission and currently serves on the board of the Prince William County Historical Society.

LLI Coordinator: Mike Ahern