Member-only story
Propane doesn’t smell. It’s odorless in its natural state. But if there is a leak, you smell a nasty odor.
Ever wonder why? It wasn’t always that way. What caused the changed?
It would have been fortuitous if this had been done from the start as more and more buildings began to use propane and gas for heating. But no one thought of doing it until they realized they had to.
Lessons learned that save lives later, Blood Lessons, often come at high cost.
The Facts
On March 18, 1937, a gas leak was sparked, causing an explosion that killed approximately 293 students and teachers at the New London School in New London, Texas. It is still the deadliest school disaster in U.S. History.
THE TIMELINE
1930: Oil discovered in Rusk County
1932: New London Schoolhouse built; the first in Texas to have a football stadium with electric lights. The school board overrules the architect’s recommendation for steam heat, instead installing gas heaters.
1937: Early in the year, the school cancels their natural gas contract and instead taps directly into residue lines from oil derricks.
18 March 1937: Gas that had been leaking in the crawl space under the school explodes.
