New London School: In Memoriam, March 18, 1937, 3:17 P.M.

by Lori Olson

The date was March 18, 1937. Just minutes before the dismissal bell rang at London School in tiny East Texas boomtown of New London, something shocking a deadly natural gas explosion destroyed the school and brought the oil-rich community to its knees. Nearly 300 students, teachers, and visitors - an entire generation of East Texans - were killed. Those who survived and those who worked tirelessly in the debris to find the dead and injured were forever changed. Because their memories were so painful, the intimate details of the worst disaster in American history were silenced for decades. "New London School in Memoriam" begins before the discovery of oil in Rusk County in 1930, chronicles the growth of the "Richest School in America," then leads the reader through the events of that tragic Thursday. The aftermath is examined through historic documents, archived photos, and firsthand accounts. For the first time since 1937 the tragedy is revisited as a lasting tribute to the remarkable children, men, and women of New London and the East Texas oil fields.

120 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2001

Reviews

[The Book in my Carryon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hehe so this is maybe cheating since I actually wrote this book but, hey! It IS on my bookshelf!

For those of you unfamiliar with the story, New London, Texas was home to what was called the "richest school in America", thanks in large part to the East Texas oil boom. On March 18, 1937, the school exploded and an entire generation of East Texans was killed in the worse school disaster in American history. Although the town was devestated, they buried their dead and went on with life, pushing memories of the disaster so far back that they were nearly forgotten. In 1999, I visited New London and spoke with survivors and family members, combed thru archives and put together the first comprehensive documentary of the disaster ever written. It's an amazing story and writing it was a life-changing experience.

[Donna McIntyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book.

I've lived in East Texas for almost 50 years and heard of this tragedy many times. I didn't really know where New London was exactly, just that it was around East Tx. somewhere. I have now found myself living in tiny New London Texas for the last four years and it's difficult to imagine the horror of that period happening in this sleepy little place. I intend to make my first visit to the museum that I drive past all the time. I feel a need to show my respect to the past. My grandchildren attend school here, although the name has changed to West Rusk ISD, it sits on the same land where so much was lost. This book delivers the story well.

[Julie Hughbanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative with first-person interviews and observations as well as multiple photos. I've read multiple books on the New London School explosion and I found this the most interesting.