Photo of the scene of the gas-line explosion at Tremont & Bolyston Sts., Downtown, 3/4/1897.
Diagram shows how the streetcar plunged through an open bridge section, 11/7/1916.
The Molasses Tank Collapse knocked the firehouse of Fireboat Engine 31 off its foundation, 1/15/1919.
Rescuers remove an injured patron of the Pickwick Club Collapse, 7/5/1925.
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Date
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Disaster
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March 4, 1897
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A gas-line explosion at the corner of Tremont and Boylston Streets, Downtown, killed seven persons and injured 60 others. The
leak in a 6-inch gas line located beneath the street and above the Tremont Street Subway tracks. A spark from a trolley car apparently
caused the explosion, occuring at one of the busiest
intersections in Boston and caused thousands of panes of window glass to break in the vicinity. The Boston Fire Department
responded to Box 53 to provide aid.
Set of Photos
Newspaper Story
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November 7, 1916
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An inbound electric street-car on Summer Street crashed through a barricade and plunged through and open draw-bridge into the Fort Point
Channel, killing 52 riders. The Boston Fire Department
responded with land units and the Fireboat Engine 44 from its berth at the Northern Avenue Bridge. Divers from the fireboat attempted to
rescue riders from the submerged street-car, but were largely unsuccessful. Only 7 riders and the motorman and conductor survived.
Newspaper Story
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January 15, 1919
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At approximately 12:40 PM on a cold winter day, a 50-foot high tank containing over 2 millions gallons of molasses, located near
521 Commercial Street, North End, ruptured and collapsed. The resulting flood resulted in twenty deaths and
caused significant destruction to buildings and structures in the area. The elevated subway line above Commercial Street was
destroyed. Several trains on the elevated tracks were able to stop before plunging onto the street below. The firehouse of
Fireboat Engine 31 was knocked off its foundation and the resulting collapse caused the death of one fireman. Workers and
pedestrians in the area were killed immediately and many others were injured.
The Fire Dept. transmitted a 2nd Alarm on Box 1234 (Commercial & Foster Sts.) to send a large contingent
of rescuers to the scene. The thick, sticky molasses made working at the scene very difficult.
The molasses tank was located on the waterfront to aid in transferring the product from ships to railway tank cars. The tank cars
were then moved on surface railroad tracks to East Cambridge. The molasses
was used in the production of both liquor and munitions. With World War I having just concluded and the Eighteenth Amendment
(Prohibition) set to take effect in January, 1920, the owners of the molasses tank were trying to maximize their resources. Thus
the leak-prone tank was filled to near capacity, setting the stage for disaster.
Set of Photos
Newspaper Story
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July 4, 1925
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Just after 3AM, the Pickwick Club, occupying the 2nd floor of the 5-story brick building at 6 Beach Street, Downtown,
the former Hotel Dreyfus, collapsed. It is estimated that 200 persons were dancing in the club at the time of the
collapse. Many persons were trapped in the rubble. The Boston Fire Department responded to Box 1471, which had
been pulled by a Boston Police patrolman. A second alarm was transmitted to bring more firemen to the scene to aid in
rescue and recovery efforts. In the aftermath of the collapse, 43 persons lost their lives, despite the
efforts of the Fire and Police Departments, the Boston Elevated Railway and construction crews
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