Lessons of the 1937 Texas School Explosion

70 ^th year observance of the explosion is March 16-18, 2007 in New London and Longview, Texas. Activities include a memorial service.  

Information: London Students Reunion & Memorial Association Inc.Jean Tyner Davidson, London Museum and Tea Room, (903) 895-4602 or (903) 561-7256; and e-mail jeanda@suddenlink.net.

The London Museum and Tea Room, 10690 Main St., which is Highway 42, New London, Texas. Mission: To tell the story of the London High School explosion, March 18, 1937, in New London.  

MUSEUM HOURS: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Group tours by appointment.
ADMISSION: $3, adults, $1, students; and free, preschool children.
TEA ROOM HOURS: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Fountain open: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
TO LEARN MORE: Go to www.nlse.org, send e-mail to londonmuseum@hotmail.com or call (903) 895-4602.

Odorization: simply a matter of safety.(natural gas)(Brief article). 
         Pipeline & Gas Journal 233.11 (Nov 2006): p50(1). 

It has been almost seventy years since a tragic natural gas explosion occurred at a school building in New London, TX. This event opened the eyes of the community, the emerging natural gas industry, and the entire world.

     Early in 1937, the New London school board, in order to save money, cancelled their natural gas contract. Instead, plumbers installed a tap into a residual gas line associated with oil production. This practice, while not explicitly authorized by local oil companies, was widespread in the area. The natural gas extracted with the oil was seen as a waste product and thus was flared off.

     Natural gas, which is odorless and therefore undetectable to the human nose, had been leaking from the connection to the residual line. The gas had built up inside an enclosed crawlspace that ran the entire length of the school building. Students had been complaining of headaches for some time, but little attention was paid.   For more go to

http://www.oildompublishing.com/PGJ/pgj_archive/Nov06/Ordorization.pdf