Today is the 89th anniversary of what might be the strangest food-related disaster in U.S. history.
It was a mild winter afternoon when the 2.5 million gallon molasses tank at the Purity Distilling Factory burst. A wave of sticky brown molasses rolled down Commercial Street, covering the North End of Boston in a sweet, thick muck.
In the end, 150 people were injured, and 21 people and many horses were killed by the goop. Boston's North End retained the molasses smell for years afterwards.
I should mention that I will spend the day working in an office in South Baltimore, sandwiched between the Domino Sugar factory and a farm of - yes, it's true - giant molasses storage tanks.
Just in case, I usually park uphill from the tanks.
Are you saying you can't outrun molasses in winter? ; )
Actually,though, according to the Straight Dope they calculate it was going 35 mph, which in those days was pretty darn fast!
Dear Mindy: There's a book out on the Boston Molasses Tragedy. There's a book out on it. I myself have made homemade beans twice using the "Betty Crocker" Recipe. But unless, you have a lot of people to serve, you better cut the recipe down to half.
Dear Mindy: There's a book out on the Boston Molasses Tragedy. There's a book out on it. I myself have made homemade beans twice using the "Betty Crocker" Recipe. But unless, you have a lot of people to serve, you better cut the recipe down to half.
that's nuts! wow. thanks for sharing this...