One of the worst disasters in texas history occurred on april 16, 1947, when the ship ss grandcamp exploded at 9. Dedicated to the people of texas city and their heroic firemen whose tragic disaster, we pray, will be a lesson to those who say it cant happen. Annual 1947 disaster reunion photo set for april local texas city explosion 1947 uvadisasters wiki fandom 1947 texas city disaster rppc photo postcard searching for remembering the 1947 texas city explosion 30 images of the destruction from texas city disaster. People stand on the sidewalk across the street from the lucus cafe, a liquor store and a dime store. The texas city refinery explosion occurred on march 23, 2005, when a hydrocarbon vapor cloud was ignited and violently exploded at the isom isomerization process unit at bps texas city refinery in texas city, texas, killing 15 workers, injuring 180 others and severely damaging the refinery. Rarely seen movie of texas city, texas explosion april 16, 1947. Oct 08, 2018 the statement noted that the plant will produce liquid ammonia, not the more controversial ammonium nitrate, the chemical that caused the 1947 explosion in texas city. The huge cloud of smoke created by the 1947 explosion of the french ship grandcamp caused many to fear that. Houston native jay thames making a movie about 1947 texas.
On april 16, 1947, a small fire broke out among bags o. A wounded survivor of the 1947 texas city disaster the. Rarely seen movie of texas city, texas explosion april. Reflecting on the 1947 texas city disaster by dan good. Jun 17, 2010 that accident was caused by a fire on a ship, not by monsanto. Apr 22, 20 bill minutaglio, author of city on fire, discusses the 1947 explosion in texas city of a ship full of ammonium nitrate that killed hundreds and left thousands wounded. Between 400 and 600 people were killed, with as many as 4,000 injured. Apr 18, 20 four steelworkers, their rescue efforts halted by darkness, leave the dock area at texas city on april 19, 1947. The huge cloud of smoke created by the 1947 explosion of the. This morning it was to be loaded with the remainder of its ammonium. It took a week to put out fires and a month to recover all the bodies. What texas city might tell us about west, texas texas. Some 2,300 tons were already onboard, 880 of which were in the lower part of hold 4. See the wikipedia article on the texas city disaster and the series of photos at the portal to texas history.
A wounded survivor of the 1947 texas city disaster description. Texas city, which is still in preproduction, tells the true story of jesses immediate response to the explosion. Texas city disaster 1947 images all disaster msimages. Apr 09, 2020 texas city explosion of 1947, industrial disaster sparked by the fire and explosion of the ss grandcamp on april 1617, 1947, in texas city, texas. Stephens draws on official reports, newspaper and magazine articles, personal letters, and interviews with several dozen survivors to. Houston native jay thames making a movie about 1947 texas city explosion. The ships cargo of 2300 tons of ammoniumnitrate fertilizer ignited, causing. There are details regarding the embalming and the funerals held for the victims of the disaster. The historic 1947 texas city disaster by 77 films youtube. An example of this type of incident occurred in texas city, texas, across the bay from galveston, on april 16, 1947.
Rescue worker are busy because of a series of blasts that swept the city of 15,000. The explosion that devastated a texas town and ignited a historic legal battle by bill minutaglio first published in 2003, city on fire is a gripping, intimate account of the explosions of two ships loaded with ammonium nitrate fertilizer that demolished texas city, texas, in april 1947, in one of most catastrophic disasters in american history. The hatch covers were removed from hold 4 of the french ship grandcamp. Texas city was a seaport and included a large industrial complex of warehouses. Texas city, texas history, disasters, photos, related stories. Bill minutaglio, author of city on fire, discusses the 1947 explosion in texas city of a ship full of ammonium nitrate that killed hundreds and left thousands wounded. The frenchowned vessel, carrying explosive ammonium nitrate produced during wartime for explosives and later recycled as fertilizer, caught fire early in the morning, and while attempts were being made to extinguish the fire.
Texas are reminiscent of the texas city disaster an april 16, 1947 explosion that killed more than 500 people. On april 16, 1947, americas worst harbor explosion occurred in texas city, tex. Nearly 600 people died when a freighter docked at texas city exploded on april 16, 1947. Information for this description was drawn from the handbook of texas online and the book the texas city disaster, 1947 by hugh stephens, published by the university of texas press.
The remains of the 63 unidentified victims of the 1947 texas city disaster are buried in this park, which also contains an anchor from the ss grandcamp, one of the three ships that exploded on that terrible day the high flyer and the wilson b keene also exploded. Texas city explosion of 1947, industrial disaster sparked by the fire and explosion of the ss grandcamp on april 1617, 1947, in texas city, texas. May 31, 1978 the explosion recalled the disaster that rocked texas city on april 16, 1947, when two thunderous blasts blew apart the grandcamp, a french vessel anchored at the waterfront. However, the resulting explosion destroyed monsantos plant, along with other facilities at the port and thousands of homes. Despite immediate attempts to extinguish the fire, it rapidly intensified until the grandcamp exploded in a blast that caused massive loss of life and property. Aug 29, 2016 houston native jay thames making a movie about 1947 texas city explosion. There is a memorial for the volunteer firemen who died while trying to bring the. Jan 01, 2010 on april 16, 1947, a small fire broke out among bags of ammonium nitrate fertilizer in the hold of the ship grandcamp as it lay docked at texas city, texas. Jul 25, 2011 texas city recovered from the explosion and in the following decades, continued to be a place of pride for its citizens. Planned anhydrous ammonia unit in texas city draws. This is the best documented look at the texas city disaster ever. Texas city recovered from the explosion and in the following decades, continued to be a place of pride for its citizens.
In april, two oceangoing freighters holding a combined 3,000plus tons of ammonium nitrate exploded. The historic 1947 texas city disaster by 77 films duration. Feb 11, 2017 on 16 april 1947, an arms carrier called the ss grandcamp carrying 2,300 tons of highly volatile ammonium nitrate exploded after a fire on board. The story of the texas city explosions americas worst industrial disaster in terms of casualties has never.
Texas city explosion of 1947 industrial disaster, texas. This books text describing texas city s background and the events of the disaster was used in the book we were there and also in the book a pictorial history. The statement noted that the plant will produce liquid ammonia, not the more controversial ammonium nitrate, the chemical that caused the 1947 explosion in texas city. Sep 21, 20 rarely seen movie of texas city, texas explosion april 16, 1947. Property damage was immense, with over 1,000 residences and buildings throughout texas city damaged or destroyed by the concussion from the explosion. The morning of 16 april 1947 dawned clear and crisp, cooled by a brisk north wind. The national board of fire underwriters 85 john street new york 7, n. Four steelworkers, their rescue efforts halted by darkness, leave the dock area at texas city on april 19, 1947. A giant explosion occurs during the loading of fertilizer onto the freighter grandcamp at a pier in texas city, texas, on april 16, 1947.
The explosion recalled the disaster that rocked texas city on april 16, 1947, when two thunderous blasts blew apart the grandcamp, a french vessel anchored at the waterfront. The second one, high flier, was no less fierce when it blew up sixteen hours later. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The texas city disaster was an industrial accident that occurred april 16, 1947 in the port of texas city, texas, at galveston bay. This books text describing texas citys background and the events of the disaster was used in the book we were there and also in the book a pictorial history. I look forward to reading more books by this author. Theres a world of new ideas in every books newsletter. On 16 april 1947, an arms carrier called the ss grandcamp carrying 2,300 tons of highly volatile ammonium nitrate exploded after a fire on board. Two explosions of ammonium nitrate fertilizer shattered texas city and its surrounding area beginning on the morning of april 16, 1947. Remembering the texas city explosion texas monthly.
The explosion that devastated a texas town and ignited a historic legal battle. April 16, 1947 fire causes huge explosion in texas city. In 1947, texas city was booming, bristling with chemical and oil plants built to fuel europes seemingly endless appetite for raw materials. On april 16, 1947, a small fire broke out among bags of ammonium nitrate fertilizer in the hold of the ship grandcamp as it lay docked at texas city, texas. At 100 years old, texas city is a relatively young city. The explosion at a fertilizer plant in west, texas, on wednesday raises the same questions that followed the 1947 disaster in texas city, the largest industrial accident in american history.
As tragedy engulfed the town, he turned the family home into a makeshift. City on fire the explosion that devastated a texas town and. The pages of this book are filled with images dating from the 1950s and 1960s to bring back the feeling of a bygone era in texas city. In the first explosion the freighter grandcamps explosion was heard 150 miles away. A deadly 1947 explosion in texas city was also caused by. In west explosion, echoes of the 1947 tragedy in texas city.
Texas city, texas history, disasters, photos, related. Texas city disaster the handbook of texas online texas. Aug 04, 2018 annual 1947 disaster reunion photo set for april local texas city explosion 1947 uvadisasters wiki fandom 1947 texas city disaster rppc photo postcard searching. The texas city explosion of 1947 1044 words bartleby. Apr 14, 2020 a giant explosion occurs during the loading of fertilizer onto the freighter grandcamp at a pier in texas city, texas, on april 16, 1947. The texas city disaster was an industrial accident that occurred april 16, 1947, in the port of texas city, texas, at galveston bay. Planned anhydrous ammonia unit in texas city draws attention. Reflecting on the 1947 texas city disaster new york post. Texas city explosion, april 16, 1947 i attended 1st grade in galveston at the rosenberg school on 10th street. The texas city explosion of 1947 on april 16,1947, a day that probably began like many others, in texas city, texas until shortly before 8. Sep 28, 2018 nearly 600 people died when a freighter docked at texas city exploded on april 16, 1947. The blast set off a chain of fires as well as a 15foot 4.
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