What was the Molasses Flood or Explosion?
On January 15, 1919, two million gallons of molasses burst out of a tank owned by Purity Distilling Company and flooded the streets of Boston. Twenty-one people died and over 50 were injured. Cleanup took weeks to complete. Purity Distilling Company and its parent company eventually paid over $1,000,000.00 to settle the 125 lawsuits filed against the company as a result of the flood.
