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fandomhigh2013-11-05 06:45 am
1stinkinpercent.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2013-11-05 06:45 am
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History: An Exploration of Overlooked Historical Events ; Tuesday ; Period 3
Today, class was meeting in the Danger Shop. Riley just hoped his bad luck with electronics didn't extend over to this place because he really couldn't afford to pay to fix technology like this.
"Today, we're going to talk about the Boston Molasses Disaster. Sounds funny, doesn't it?" Riley asked, looking around. "You might be surprised once I finish up telling you about it. In 1919, molasses was the primary household sweetener and was also fermented to produce ethyl alcohol which was used in manufacturing. Basically, what happened was that Purity Distilling Company had a 2,300,000 tank full of molasses and one day, the tank burst. The cause was chalked up to shoddy building and changing temperatures. So, that mechanical malfunction sent an eight foot wave of molasses crashing down the street at thirty five miles per hours."
He paused to let people imagine that scene and then held up an image so they could take a look at the aftermath. It seemed to be straight out of a cartoon but the results were really pretty awful. "That much molasses was enough to knock people into buildings, send houses off foundations and push an elevated train off its girders. There were deaths, unfortunately. The harbor was stained brown until summer. It took two weeks to clean the whole thing up and the only good that seemed to come from it was that it led to increased government oversight of businesses and industry. It also led to some of of the very first class action lawsuits in Massachusetts as well."
Finished with the serious parts of the lecture, Riley perked up. "But, let me tell you, Boston recovered well from that and today, we're gonna see one of the better parts of Boston. I don't want to send you out of this class on a sad note and I definitely don't want to bring your days down. Today, you're gonna get to visit Robin's Candy. This place is filled with candy and I'm letting you loose inside of it today. Enjoy Boston and enjoy some candy. "
He started to get the simulation going before he stopped again. "Oh, and one last thing, if anyone knows how individual electronics devices can get fried without any wiring going bad, can you let me know? Happened to me and I've got no clue. It seemed like whatever happened was focused solely on random things of mine. Some got fried, others didn't. Okay, anyway, go get some candy."
With that, he got the simulation going and sent the kids off to get some candy.
"Today, we're going to talk about the Boston Molasses Disaster. Sounds funny, doesn't it?" Riley asked, looking around. "You might be surprised once I finish up telling you about it. In 1919, molasses was the primary household sweetener and was also fermented to produce ethyl alcohol which was used in manufacturing. Basically, what happened was that Purity Distilling Company had a 2,300,000 tank full of molasses and one day, the tank burst. The cause was chalked up to shoddy building and changing temperatures. So, that mechanical malfunction sent an eight foot wave of molasses crashing down the street at thirty five miles per hours."
He paused to let people imagine that scene and then held up an image so they could take a look at the aftermath. It seemed to be straight out of a cartoon but the results were really pretty awful. "That much molasses was enough to knock people into buildings, send houses off foundations and push an elevated train off its girders. There were deaths, unfortunately. The harbor was stained brown until summer. It took two weeks to clean the whole thing up and the only good that seemed to come from it was that it led to increased government oversight of businesses and industry. It also led to some of of the very first class action lawsuits in Massachusetts as well."
Finished with the serious parts of the lecture, Riley perked up. "But, let me tell you, Boston recovered well from that and today, we're gonna see one of the better parts of Boston. I don't want to send you out of this class on a sad note and I definitely don't want to bring your days down. Today, you're gonna get to visit Robin's Candy. This place is filled with candy and I'm letting you loose inside of it today. Enjoy Boston and enjoy some candy. "
He started to get the simulation going before he stopped again. "Oh, and one last thing, if anyone knows how individual electronics devices can get fried without any wiring going bad, can you let me know? Happened to me and I've got no clue. It seemed like whatever happened was focused solely on random things of mine. Some got fried, others didn't. Okay, anyway, go get some candy."
With that, he got the simulation going and sent the kids off to get some candy.
Sign In [H: OHE 11/05]
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Lecture [H: OHE 11/05]
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So. Walking around a candy shop.
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...What?
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