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-   -   100th anniversary of the Boston Molasses Flood (https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=534623)

buddyhu 01-14-2019 10:47 AM

100th anniversary of the Boston Molasses Flood
 
When I first read about this, I thought it was some kind of a joke. But as I read that 21 people died and many others injured, I realized that, while a bit bizarre, this was a tragedy.

Read more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Molasses_Flood

Bob Womack 01-14-2019 11:48 AM

I just finished sound design on a feature about this disaster. It is a fascinating little piece of history that includes the rather unpopular fact that Boston was a hub of the "triangle trade," a trade that involved, amongst other things, slaves, mollasses, and rum, all traded in a triangle of ports from Africa to the West Indies to America. By the time of the disaster, the molasses had been used to create armament for WWI.

In this case, the company treasurer was in charge of executing the building of the molasses tank that failed. He had no design or safety experience and show little concern with structural reliability or safety; he only cared about the bottom line. What came of the disaster was the modern system of architects and engineers signing off on and publishing their designs and inspectors checking out those designs and watching construction to ensure public safety. Before that disaster it virtually didn't exist.

Bob

Steve DeRosa 01-14-2019 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buddyhu (Post 5948223)
When I first read about this, I thought it was some kind of a joke. But as I read that 21 people died and many others injured, I realized that, while a bit bizarre, this was a tragedy...

If you're from Massachusetts you've probably heard of these guys (listen to verse 3):


buddyhu 01-14-2019 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Womack (Post 5948281)
I just finished sound design on a feature about this disaster. It is a fascinating little piece of history that includes the rather unpopular fact that Boston was a hub of the "triangle trade," a trade that involved, amongst other things, slaves, mollasses, and rum, all traded in a triangle of ports from Africa to the West Indies to America. By the time of the disaster, the molasses had been used to create armament for WWI.

In this case, the company treasurer was in charge of executing the building of the molasses tank that failed. He had no design or safety experience and show little concern with structural reliability or safety; he only cared about the bottom line. What came of the disaster was the modern system of architects and engineers signing off on and publishing their designs and inspectors checking out those designs and watching construction to ensure public safety. Before that disaster it virtually didn't exist.

Bob

Thanks for the additional details Bob! Always good to have more info about the origin of some of the regulations and bureaucratic procedures that are so familiar in modern life; what are annoyances now were rooted in outrage about gross neglect of safety concerns and public health...

And I guess you are right: most facts about slavery are rather unpopular... Not a facet of our country's history that is so uplifting, or that inspires pride.

buddyhu 01-14-2019 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve DeRosa (Post 5948313)
If you're from Massachusetts you've probably heard of these guys (listen to verse 3):

]

Hadn't heard of these guys. Good stuff!! Thanks for sharing it. :)

Otterhound 01-14-2019 02:39 PM

And then , there is the Great Johnstown flood .
Here in Pa , we are still paying for it . I kid you not unless it was recently removed from the books .

Inyo 01-14-2019 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Womack (Post 5948281)

...the rather unpopular fact that Boston was a hub of the "triangle trade," a trade that involved, amongst other things, slaves, mollasses, and rum, all traded in a triangle of ports from Africa to the West Indies to America...

Quote:

Originally Posted by buddyhu (Post 5948347)

And I guess you are right: most facts about slavery are rather unpopular... Not a facet of our country's history that is so uplifting, or that inspires pride.

Who knew? Blood molasses. Boston Baked Beans should be banned in Boston.

David Eastwood 01-14-2019 07:13 PM

1 Attachment(s)
Quote:

Originally Posted by Otterhound (Post 5948439)
And then , there is the Great Johnstown flood .
Here in Pa , we are still paying for it . I kid you not unless it was recently removed from the books .

And here's a very excellent book on the subject, as are all of David McCullough's works.


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