New London, Texas

Posted on: May 2, 2013        In: Gatherings        With: No comments

While planning our journey through East Texas, friend BB mentioned she would like to visit New London, Texas, the site of the worst school disaster in American history.

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Robert Hilliard was a video photographer for a documentary about the New London School Disaster Explosion.  These vintage photographs are from his website.  Above is a picture of the school before the explosion.  Click HERE to read his interesting article – The Day the Clock Stood Still.

It was on March 18, 1937 shortly after 3:00 p.m. – just 10 minutes before classes were to be dismissed – when a massive natural gas explosion occurred at the New London Junior Senior High School killing over 300 children, teachers, and visitors.nlse_nightscene

A photograph showing the New London School after the explosion.  Unbelievable.  Beyond terrible.

It was determined that a gas leak in the basement of the school was ignited by  a spark (perhaps from an electric sander).

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In 1939, this pink granite cenotaph (empty tomb) was erected as a memorial to the victims of the explosion.

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The cenotaph was designed by architect Donald S. Nelson, and Herring Coe was the sculptor.

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Etched in stones facing the cenotaph are the names of the victims.   They are listed by grades.  As we read these names, we noticed the names of children apparently from the same family.  It was sad. This explosion destroyed an entire generation.  I can not imagine the sense of loss for these families and the entire community.

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New London School Explosion

On March 18, 1937, a massive explosion destroyed the New London Junior Senior High School.  Instantly killing an estimated 296 students and teachers.  The subsequent deaths of victims from injuries sustained that day brought the final; death count to 311.  The explosion was blamed on a natural gas leak beneath the school building.  Within weeks of the disaster the Texas legislature passed a law requiring an odor to be added to natural gas, which previously was odorless and therefore undetectable.  This memorial to the victims of the explosions was erected in 1939.

(State Historical Marker located at the base of the cenotaph )

It is interesting that it took the Texas Legislature only a few weeks to pass the law requiring an odor to be added to natural gas.
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A “new” ( It is hard for me to call a school built in 1939 new.) school was built in front of the site of the school explosion.  From what I read, the “new” school was built with great care and craftsmanship.  I think someone referred to it as “the safest school in America”. They wanted the “new” school to be safe, so a disaster such as this would never again happen in New London.
Blessings to you and yours,
Hug your children.
There is a museum located across the street from the school, but let it be known.  The museum is closed on Mondays.
New London, Texas is located on State Highway 42 twelve miles south of Kilgore.
Thank you BB.  I can’t say I “enjoyed” ( Too sad.) New London, but I am so glad we stopped there.  I would love to visit the museum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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