Posted in Cleveland
September 23, 2017
A Terrifying Disaster Hit Cleveland In 1944 And No One Saw It Coming
While the City of Cleveland offers much to love, it has not been without its dark days. While we pay homage to our predecessors that built the city, we must, too, acknowledge the tragedies that many of them faced. On one terrible Friday in October of 1944, disaster struck Cleveland at 2:40 p.m., shaking the city and its startled residents. The tragedy changed many lives, and photographers flocked to the scene to immortalize the moment. Today, these powerful images have the capability to take you back to that fateful October day, and you will be humbled to see the terrible disaster that Clevelanders once had to face.
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The East Ohio Gas Company's Cleveland plant was located north of St. Clair Avenue. Witnesses reported a leak streaming out of a natural gas storage tank around 2:30, but within 10 minutes something must have sparked.
The mass quantity of rubble around these twin storage tanks demonstrates the power of the explosion. The tank was capable of holding 90 million cubic feet of the flammable natural gas; needless to say, the damage from the explosion was incredible, and was made even worse by a second, smaller explosion that followed the first.
With World War II raging, some initially assumed that the explosion was German sabotage. Dangerous liquid seeped into Cleveland's sewer system, creating a fireball that spread underground.
Flames could be seen as far as seven miles from the site, and billowing black smoke could be seen from an even greater distance.
More than 10,000 locals were rushed away from their homes in the wake of the disaster as flames rapidly spread across a parched city.
Damages totaled at more than $10 million. The fire destroyed two factories, more than 70 residences, and hundreds of automobiles.
Several blocks were destroyed in the explosion and the following fires, an especially tragic occurrence given the era. Following the Great Depression, many had a mistrust of banks and chose to safekeep their money at their own residences. The flames thus devoured many Clevelanders' life savings. The gas company did, however, help rebuild the neighborhood and paid more than $3 million to neighborhood residents.
The violent catastrophe had resulted in the deaths of 130 locals. Surprisingly, this was fewer than officials' initial estimates.
It took weeks to come up with a final victim count, as the explosion was calculated to be equal to 1/6 of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Many remains were damaged beyond recognition, and a great number of victims were buried in a mass grave.
The community mourned and gathered in large groups at services for the victims. Almost one half of the victims were buried in Highland Park Cemetery.
Those numbers could have been much higher had the explosion occurred slightly later. Had school been out of session, more parents would be finishing their work day and more children would have been within the vicinity of the estimated 25 million horsepower explosion.
More than one square mile of Cleveland's east side was badly damaged, an area that spanned 20 blocks. Refugees camped out at Willson Jr. High School on East 55th.
For years, the anniversary of the event was a time of remembrance and solemn discussions. Fortunately, gas companies began implementing safer storage techniques to prevent future tragedies.
This disaster was one of the worst in Cleveland history, and its sorrowful impact has been immortalized in these images.
For more on Cleveland history, check out these vintage photos.
