The Tragic Legacy Of 1937's New London School Explosion

October 1, 2023

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Listen along to hear of one of the gravest school tragedies, not just in Texas history, but in American history and the lasting legacy of the New London School Explosion of 1937 that affects you and I to this very day.

Crazy for Texas October 1, 2023
Season1, Episode3- New London School Explosion
References
Bible gateway passage: Isaiah 61 – new international version. Bible Gateway. (n.d.). https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+61&version=NIV
Draper, J. (2017, February 17). Scouts honor. Kilgore News Herald. https://www.kilgorenewsherald.com/news/scouts-honor/article_72f02c27-791c-57a1-8e0a-28e6bcf77d2e.html
Grant, S. (2018, August 7). Lessons from the deadliest school disaster in U.S. history. Time. https://time.com/5359158/new-london-school-explosion/
Hilliard, R. (n.d.). New London Texas School Explosion: Home. New London Texas School Explosion | Home. http://nlsd.net/index2.html
May, I. (2020, June 9). New London School Explosion. Texas State Historical Association. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/new-london-school-explosion
Hilliard, R. (n.d.). New London Texas School Explosion: Home. New London Texas School Explosion | Home. http://nlsd.net/index2.html
Jones, C. (n.d.). Forgotten Stories of the New London School Tragedy. https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1416&context=urc#:~:text=May%20God%20in%20his%20infinite,were%20former%20graduates%20of%20SFA
Lambert, B. (2022, March 10). New London School disaster and Odorization: Blog: MRR. Midland Resource Recovery. https://www.odorizationbymrr.com/new-london-school-disaster-and-natural-gas-odorization/#:~:text=The%20London%20School%2C%20located%20in,art%20shop%20in%20the%20basement.
Marks, M. (2018, March 16). “people didn’t talk about this”: New London, Texas remembers the day a generation died. Texas Standard. https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/people-didnt-talk-about-this-new-london-texas-remembers-the-day-a-generation-died/
Perez, A. (2014, February 10). From the margins of disaster. Latinxs in Kid Lit. https://latinosinkidlit.com/2014/02/10/from-the-margins-of-disaster/
Sereboff, S. (2020, February 27). Remembering New London’s Longest Night 80 years later. County Line Magazine. https://www.countylinemagazine.com/remembering-new-london-s-longest-night-80-years-later/article_f7b4297d-3212-529a-964e-1a99e8b53687.html
Texas. (n.d.). New London, Texas. TexasEscapes.com. http://www.texasescapes.com/EastTexasTowns/New-London-Texas.htm
Vine, K. (2013, January 21). “oh, my god! it’s our children!” Texas Monthly. https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/oh-my-god-its-our-children/
Watlington, K. P. (2014, August). Changing the school year: The Texas experience in moving to a twelve … https://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/bitstream/handle/1969.1/153420/WATLINGTON-DISSERTATION-2014.pdf?sequence=1

Find a grave Memorial: Click here

Places you should visit mentioned in this episode

New London

London Museum, New London, TX… located across the street of the location of the 1937 school explosion

Wheat’s Cafe circa 1930s, now home to the London Museum and Cafe in New London, TX

Family photos of the pioneer families of New London, TX, from the London Museum

Around the town of New London, TX circa 1930s. Photos on display at the London Museum

Picture taken at the New London School Explosion Museum and Cafe.

New London was a farming and agricultural community prior to the oil boom. Photos displayed in the London Museum, New London, TX

The model of the school includes a drawer that pulls out to show the crawl space beneath the campus. On display at the London Museum

The early London School prior to the new, state-of-the-art campus built in 1932 in New London, TX. Photos on display in the London Museum.

Photos of the London school in 1877 New London, TX, prior to the state-of-the-art campus built in 1932. On display at the London Museum

Photos of the New London community in the 1930’s, on display at London Museum

Welcome to New London, Humble Oil! Humble Oil transferred 100 families as they set up their headquarters in New London, TX.

Oilfield photo from London Museum in New London, TX

History of the London School told through photos, New London, TX. On display at the London Museum

Photo on display at London Museum in New London, TX

London Consolidated School District, New London, TX On display at the London Museum

London High School before the explosion of 1937, displayed in the London Museum in New London, TX.

The London School prior to the 1937 explosion in New London, TX. On display at the London Museum

Model of the New London High School 1933-1937, New London, TX, prior to the explosion of 1937

Model of the London High School, prior to the explosion in 1937

Model of the New London School, New London, TX found in the London Museum

Model of the London School before the explosion of 1937, on display at the London Museum in New London, TX

London School, New London, TX- Students in shop class

A chemistry laboratory in the state-of-the-art London High School before the explosion of 1837

The Foods Laboratory in London High School before the explosion of 1837. Photo on display at the London Museum

Floor plan for London High School that exploded in 1937. The red is where the gas had pooled beneath the school. On display at the London Museum in New London, TX.

Remnants of the New London School explosion 1937

Arial view of the explosion site of New London, TX. All of the victims and debris were removed within 17 hours of the explosion. Displayed at the London Museum

Ruins of the London School Auditorium after the explosion In New London, TX 1937. On display at the London Museum

Ruins of the London School after the explosion of 1937, in New London, TX. On display at the London Museum

Picture take at the New London School Explosion Museum and Cafe.

Ruins of the London School after the explosion of 1937 in New London, TX. On display at the London Museum

Searching through the rubble to locate victims of the New London explosion in 1937. On display at the London Museum

Rescuing victims of the New London explosion in 1937 in New London, TX. On display at the London Museum

Picture take at the New London School Explosion Museum and Cafe.

Walter Cronkite with the United Press during the New London explosion of 1937. On display at the London Museum in New London, TX.

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt sends her sympathies after the New London School Explosion of 1937. On display at the London Museum in New London, TX.

Condolences sent by telegram from Adolph Hitler for New London explosion of 1937, displayed in the London Museum in New London, TX.

R. G. Hardy sends sympathies after the New London School Explosion of 1937. On display at the London Museum in New London, TX.

London High School plaque, New London, TX. On display at the London Museum.

London Wildcats paraphernalia from the 1930s in New London, TX

Items found and a story of a mom and the two sons she lost. On display at London Museum in New London, TX.

Typing Room in London High School before the explosion of 1837. Photo on display at the London Museum

From the London Museum in the medical unit, New London, TX

1930s wheelchair in the medical display at the London Museum, New London, TX

Medical supplies circa 1930s displayed in the London Museum of New London, TX

With 294 deaths and disfiguring injuries, some victims were misidentified. On display at the London Museum in New London, TX

Victim, John Buzbee’s high chair donated and on display at the London Museum, New London, TX

Photos from London Museum, New London, TX

London High School Football- 1st Friday Night Lights in the area, New London, TX 1937. On display at the London Museum

London High School Football Team of 1933, New London, TX Photo on display at the London Museum

London High School Football Paraphernalia, 1930s New London, TX. On display at the London Museum

London Wildcats football paraphernalia, 1930s New London, TX. On display at the London Museum

London Wildcats Letterman Jacket, New London, TX, displayed in the London Museum

London Wildcats mascot uniform displayed in London Museum in New London, TX

London Wildcats football paraphernalia from New London, TX, on display at the London Museum

London Wildcats items donated and on display at the London Museum in New London, TX

London School Paraphernalia, New London, TX. On display at the London Museum

Replica of teacher’s desk from London High School, on display at the London Museum in New London, TX

This is a replica of a chalkboard and what was written on it from the London School, New London, TX found among the ruins of the wreckage from the explosion. On display at the London Museum

Student desks on display at the London Museum in New London, TX

Items donated and on display at the London Museum in New London, TX

Many victims were identified only by jewelry or clothing. This is a watch belonging to Miss Bunting, a victim in the 1937 New London explosion, that was donated to the London Museum.

Watch belonging to Miss Marjorie Thiebaud, a victim in the 1937 London School explosion in New London, TX 1937. On display at the London Museum

Personal items of victims in the London School Explosion, 1937 New London, TX. Donated and on display at the London Museum

Dress of victim in the New London School Explosion of 1937, in New London, TX. Notice the hole torn in the bottom of the back of her dress. Donated and on display at the London Museum

Clothing of survivor, H. G. White, from the London School Explosion, 1937 New London, TX. It is reported, his mom kept his unwashed clothing through the years. Donated and displayed at the London Museum

United States flag flown over the London High School the day of the explosion of 1937, New London, TX. Notice there are only 46 stars. Donated and on display at the London Museum

London High School trophy from the wreckage of the explosion 1937, New London, TX. Donated and on display at the London Museum

Circa 1930s switchboard at the London Museum, New London, TX

London High School Band paraphernalia, New London, TX Donated and on display at the London Museum

London Wildcats Pride, London High School, New London, TX. Donated and on display at the London Museum

Victim, Glendell Sutherlin’s personal belongings, died in the New London School explosion. Donated and on display at the London Museum

Portable Embalming Table used in the aftermath of the New London School Explosion in 1937, New London, TX. Donated and on display at the London Museum

Natural Gas Line from the New London School explosion, 1937, New London, TX. On display at the London Museum

Piece of the wreckage from the London School Explosion, 1937, New London, TX. On display at the London Museum

Telephone in the oilfield, likely used to announce the New London School explosion of 1937 In New London, TX. On display at the London Museum

New articles about the Easter Memorial Service for the victims of the London School Explosion, March 28, 1937 held on the site of the disaster. On display at the London Museum

The new school that was built in place of the London School that was destroyed in the 1937 explosion in New London, TX.

New London School Explosion History Marker

New London School Explosion Memorial Cenotaph, New London, TX

New London School Explosion Memorial, New London, TX. Since the victims were buried in different places, a cenotaph was erected 1939 right across the street from the site of London High School. “Cenotaph” is Greek for “empty tomb.”

New London School Explosion Memorial Cenotaph, New London, TX. The carving are of a teacher on either side with students coming towards them to turn in assignments.

New London School Explosion Memorial Cenotaph, New London, TX. carving

New London School Explosion Memorial Cenotaph, New London, TX. The carving are of a teacher on either side with students coming towards them to turn in assignments.

New London Memorial, School explosion of 1937

Scribed at the base of cenotaph for the New London School explosion in 1937

London High School Memorial, New London, TX, 5th graders

Names of the 5th grade students that died in the London School explosion of 1937 are inscribed on the base of the Memorial located in New London, TX.

Base of the Memorial for the New London explosion of 1937, names of victims

Names some of the 5th and 6th graders that died in the London School explosion of 1937 are inscribed on the base of the Memorial located in New London, TX.

Names of the 7th graders that died in the London School explosion of 1937 are inscribed on the base of the Memorial located in New London, TX.

Names of some of the 7th and 8th graders that died in the London School explosion of 1937 are inscribed on the base of the Memorial located in New London, TX.

Some of 8th, 9th, and 10th graders that died in the London School explosion of 1937, At the base of the New London School Explosion Memorial

Names some of 8th, 9th, and 10th graders that died in the London School explosion of 1937 are inscribed on the base of the Memorial located in New London, TX.

London High School Memorial, New London, TX

Names of some of the students that died in the London School explosion of 1937 are inscribed on the base of the Memorial located in New London, TX.

Names of some that died in the London School explosion of 1937, At the base of the New London School Explosion Memorial

Names of some that died in the London School explosion of 1937 are inscribed on the base of the Memorial located in New London, TX.

50 year anniversary, Memorial for the London School Explosion of 1937, New London, TX

Boy Scouts lost in the New London School Explosion of 1937 in New London, TX. 600 Boy Scouts came to aid in the rescue efforts of the explosion.

Victim of the 1937 New London School Explosion, Pleasant Hill Cemetery

13 year-old victim of the 1937 New London School Explosion buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery

Pleasant Hill Cemetery history marker

Victim of the New London School explosion, Charles E. Has rook, Jr., buried Pleasant Hill Cemetery, near New London, TX

Wanda Louise Emberling, victim of the New London School explosion of 1937, Pleasant Hill Cemetery

Mr. And Mrs. Emberling lost two children in the 1937 explosion- Wanda and George Emberling, buried beside one another in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

Victim of the New London School explosion, H. D. Gunn, buried Pleasant Hill Cemetery, near New London, TX

Pleasant Hill Cemetery, near New London, TX

Pleasant Hill Cemetery near New London, TX

Pleasant Hill Cemetery, near New London, TX

Citizen of the Republic of Texas, buried Pleasant Hill Cemetery, near New London, TX

Pleasant Hill Cemetery, near New London, TX

West Rusk High School in New London, Texas. Formally London High School.

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