January 15, 1919, in Boston, there was a flood like no other ... it was a a flood of molasses. A huge holding tank (millions of gallons) had collapsed sending out a wave 25 feet high and 160 feet wide, and, at first, moving at 35 miles per hour. Shortly before this, a huge delivery had arrived and the tank was fuller than it had ever been. And, it was filled from the bottom, layering warmer molasses under colder, which caused a reaction that put stress on the rivets. Lives were lost, it would take days to find them all, buildings were destroyed. What happened? USIA (United States Industrial Alcohol) claimed it was the work of anarchists which had been active in the area. Others claimed negligence. The tank had been built in a hurry, people noticed it leaking from the start (management finally had it painted the same color as the molasses), some heard it creaking and groaning. The court case would take years. The Dark Tide: the Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919, by Stephen Puleo, is the history of this odd event, made all the more compelling by the author's use of personal stories of those directly involved. First printed in 2003, I read the 100th anniversary edition.

Washington's History: the People, Land, and Events of the Far Northwest (Revised Edition) by Harry Ritter is a book designed to fit in a backpack, or glove box (are they still called this?). Short, two page entries on the history of the Evergreen State have just enough information about, well, just what the title indicates ... the people, the land and the events. Great for those born here as well as visitors. :-)

Reading Hermit With Dog