Trying to find ways to use my Black treacle, I ran across the most amazing fun history fact ever. The Great Molasses Flood. That's right in Boston 1919 a storage container of molasses burst and the "slow as molasses" mass picked up speed - cresting at 35mph and forming a 30ft tidal wave. 21 people died. It sounds like those trapped found themselves in a sweet smelling tar-pit.
If history books would insert facts like this every couple of pages - children would find more reasons to pay attention. What kid wouldn't want to imagine a huge tidal wave of molasses sweeping over a city? It's way better than a comic book. it's actually true.
In college, we read the Great Cat Massacre as part of History Methods. The point of the class - or maybe the reason why we read the book - was to show that history can be drawn from any event (original sources though if you please!)- it isn't dry facts. Its life - a big sticky tidal wave about to grab you and sweep you away.
I think that is the reason why historical novels and memoirs are so popular nowadays - the authors reinvigorate the event with all of the laughter, awe, drama, or frustration that originally filled the conversations of people during that day.
(ps - I ended up making gingersnaps - but the treacle is a bit more potent than "regular" molasses)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
-
After several more hours of fruitless searching I've concluded that there are no pictures to be had on the internet of Ukrainian Home Ca... -
A few weeks ago, Alister filled in for the Teen Youth group and put me in charge of games. Growing up - I never actually got to go to Youth ... -
When I was little, I was a salesman. It started when my sister, 5 years older than me, took me around the neighborhood to help her sell her...
No comments:
Post a Comment