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In this section there are unedited excerpts from
the guest book as well as from email that's been
received. Please remember these are unedited and
posted as received. |
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I am Ilan Goddard. My grandfather was Sam
Bunting. He lost his sister Noama Bunting in the
explosion. I am trying to find information on
one of the doctors who helped save my
grandfather's life.
In a chance meeting, actually met the doctor who
remembered saving my grandfather. I was a waiter
at the retirement party for the doctor but I do
not remember his name. It was probably 15 years
ago in Tyler at a restaurant called "Tracey's"
which, at the time, was Tyler's only 4 star
restaurant. He was a doctor at Mother Francis
Hospital which is where my grandfather was
treated. I would be extremely grateful if you
could help me in my research. Any forwarding or
posting of this letter to any person or site
would be appreciated.
My email address is
ilan@kera.org
Thanks again for all your work and assistance.
August 5, 2007 |
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I attended New London School kindergarten thru
4th grade - 1937 to 1942. My name was Betty
Major & we lived on the Hale oil lease between
New London and Henderson. At the time of the
explosion I was not quite 5 & did not start
kindergarten until the fall of 1937. I remember
my mother hearing the explosion and being
concerned. My dad helped with the rescue efforts
all night that first night, but never talked
much about it. My elementary school years were
filled with much talk of the explosion.
3rd Grade - 1940-1941
Betty Keyes
Garland, Texas
June 2007 |
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Dear Mr. Grigg,
Thank you for your efforts in recording and
sharing the story of the New London School
explosion. I grew up in Rosebud, Texas. My
mother, who was in grade school in 1937, shared
her recollections of news reports of the
disaster on several occasions. In my early
career, I visited a college friend who lived in
New London and recall it being a somewhat
typical small Texas town. Unfortunately, I did
not have time to explore.
I am presently a Senior Compliance Officer with
the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health
Division. I often interact with utility
companies and we have had many presentations and
discussions about the odorants used in natural
gas. I seemed to recall this practice was
started as a result of the New London explosion.
A Google search led me your site where this was
confirmed.
Last week, a utility company laying fiber optic
cable hit a gas line less than a half mile from
my home. The telltale smell of mercaptan caused
the gas company to evacuate nearby residences.
As firefighters were ventilating a residence, an
explosion occurred destroying a $400,000 home
and damaging the one next door. Windows were
blown out while still in their frames, doors
were blown off the hinges and the garage door
landed across the street. But, no one died.
Evacuated residents were watching from a safe
distance down the block and four firefighters,
who were inside the home at the time, suffered
only minor injuries. They knew what they were
dealing with due to the presence of the odorant
(and their gas monitors) and wore maximum
protective gear.
The New London School Explosion was a terrible
tragedy but its legacy of reforms and safeguards
has helped to save countless lives over the past
seven decades. Now included among those are
several of my friends and neighbors.
Best Regards,
Owen R. Smith
Canby, Oregon
April 24, 2007 |
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I was in 1st grade in Tyler when this happened.
I lost 2 cousins (Lillian & Allene Anderson) and
can remember my folks sitting by the radio all
night listening to reports from New London. I
can recall that the sirens never stopped.
Benny Kirkendoll
benkirk@austin.rr.com
March 20th 2007 |
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I was in 1st grade in Tyler when this happened.
I lost 2 cousins (Lillian & Allene Anderson) and
can remember my folks sitting by the radio all
night listening to reports from New London. I
can recall that the sirens never stopped.
Benny Kirkendoll
benkirk@austin.rr.com
March 20th 2007 |
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In 1999, I had the privilege of writing the
first historical documentary on the New London
School explosion, New London School: In
Memoriam, March 18, 1937, 3:17 P.M. I spent
several weeks there in New London and the
surrounding areas getting to know the people and
listening to their stories - an experience that
truly changed my life. Each March 18, I set
aside time to think about the folks there and
honor the memories. The genuine compassion,
heroism, courage and strength was - and remains
- inspirational. God Bless the people of New
London, Texas, and as always, thank you again
for allowing me to tell your stories.
Lori Olson White
hometown_writer@yahoo.com
March 19th 2007 |
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My aunt, Lucille Damuth Laughlin lost her sister
Jane in the explosion. My father B.B.Watson was
one of the young men who volunteered in the
aftermath. He never spoke of it but years later
my aunt Janell Silvey told me about his
participation.
Tom Watson
thosab66@yahoo.com
March 19th 2007 |
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Like many others, I too have heard the story of
the New London School Explosion. My Father Adus
F. Dorsey, my uncle Loy E. Dorsey Jr. and my
aunt Joyce Busby were students at the school
when the accident took place, all survived.
While growing up I spent every summer in East
Texas, and as sure as summer would come around
every year I could count on hearing the story
about the New London School from my grand mother
Nona M. Dorsey.
Surely it had to have been an antagonizing
moment for my Grand Mother when the news arrived
that the school had exploded, especially hearing
about it before knowing if her only two children
had survived, or not. What I remember most about
my Grand Mother telling and re-telling the New
London story was the intensity that she always
had in her voice. I understand now, that it was
her ability to be able to talk about it that
helped heal some of the pain I know she must
have felt that frightful day March 18th 1937.
As far as my dad Adus F. Dorsey, I do not ever
remember him talking much about it, but I know
it must have affected him deeply.
After only now reading through some of the
history of the New London School explosion, I
think I have found a clue to part of my past
that I have always wondered about. Reading that
the Scottish Rite Hospital played a role in
caring for the victims in 1937 could be the very
reason my father was so active in the Masons,
and always made a huge effort to provide
assistance and service in the Scottish Rite
ranks.
I have much to be grateful for being a son of a
survivor of the New London School Explosion. My
heart and my continued thoughts go out to all
that were involved. Have a wonderful time at
your reunion.
Adus F. Dorsey II
Torrey, Utah
March 14th 2007 |
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My cousin, Margaret Belue (Now Wilborn) was one
of the survivors of the disaster, and my aunt,
Ethel Belue, was one of the parents at the PTA
Meeting. I had heard stories about this all of
my life from my late aunt, and wanted to see the
site and get more information.
Sam Lynch
slynch1033@yahoo.com
March 16th 2007 |
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My grandfather (Bill Thompson) was in the fifth
grade at New London and survived the explosion.
He switched seats with a girl (Ethel Dorsey) so
that he could sit by a girl that he liked. That
day, that little girl took the place of my
grandfather dying and is one of the reasons I am
here today. My Grandfather's name is Billy Gene
Thompson and I am so very grateful he survived
that terrible disaster and is still with me
today!
Melissa Thompson Musselwhite
melissamusselwhite@yahoo.com
March 17th 2007 |
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My grandmother, Doris Mize (Shoemate), is
attending the reunion this weekend. She was just
spared by this tragedy, walking out of the
school as it exploded. She was thrown several
feet from the school and injured but survived.
Her sister, Sammie Lee Shoemate, was not as
lucky. According to the stories from Memaw
(Doris Mize/Shoemate) and Papaw (Doris and
Sammie's Father)...it took 7 days to find and
identify Sammie's body. Many tragic stories from
this explosion. Doris was interviewed about this
tragic day...you can read her story in Texas
Monthly Magazine March 2007 addition.
Our Angel Sammie Lee-
There's nothing I can say,
except a loving prayer
That God will bless you dearest one,
and keep you safe in his care.
And in my solemn sorrow,
there is nothing I can do,
except to live a better life.
In memory of you
Daddy
This handwritten poem was found amongst Papaw's
(Doris and Sammie's Father) keepsakes.
Brandye Mize
texas_chicky@yahoo.com
March 17th 2007 |
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I'm 81 years old and remember the day - I was
playing baseball at Rocky Mount School (3 miles
from N.L. School) in center field and the ground
shook then came the sound - everyone on the
field froze in place then continued the baseball
game - when school was out and at home found out
thru the radio of what happened. My dad, mom,
sister, brother, & I drove to Overton as many
injured were taken there - every one got out of
the car except me to walk to hospital - to this
day I don't know why I stayed in the car - my
brother & sister were younger than I. A girl at
Rocky Mount had a brother at New London & and he
came out of the with two girls under his arms
(one alive & one wasn't). Things we remember!
Wilmer Black
Wilmer25@aol.com
March 18th 2007 |
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I was in the second grade at Pine Tree Elem.
School (now I think in Longview), TX. My father
and his friends were "roughnecks" for the then
Magnolia (Mobile) Oil Co. who went to dig through
the the school rubish. Late that nigh they
returned to our house and as a child I listened
to their story. What has stayed with me these
seventy years is that night these men who lived
up to their names, "Roughnecks," CRYING, to the
man. THANKS FOR THE THIS SITE IN MEMORY of those
who lost their lives!
Jimmy Moffett
JMofet@aol.com
March 18th 2007 |
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My great aunt, Mary Priscilla Carney, was a
seventh grader at the New London School in 1937.
She was down in the basement getting her sweater
when the explosion occurred. There was
absolutely nothing left of her. My great
grandmother (Priscilla's mother, Effie Maude
Carney-Blackwell) who lived until I was 17,
never recovered from the loss, or from her guilt
at having made Priscilla go to school that day
when Priscilla complained of headache and nausea
(no doubt due to spending time in a building
that was slowly filling with natural gas).
My grandmother, Katherine Carney, was in the
third grade at New London School that year. Her
class performed for the PTA meeting that
afternoon, and those performers were allowed to
leave school early with their parents. Katherine
was about a block away from the school with her
mother when it exploded.
I was raised on the story of how narrowly we all
missed the possibility of never existing.
Although young Katherine later died in the polio
epidemic in the early fifties, she lived long
enough to do one important thing...give birth to
my mother (Rebecca Ann Solomon). My mother is
now 56 years old, and she has had four children,
myself being the oldest. Two of her children
(myself and my immediate younger brother) now
have children of our own, ranging from age 2 to
age 12. Earlier this year, I gave birth to twins
as a surrogate mother, and although those
children do not share my DNA, they most
certainly share this part of American history.
I have learned to impress upon my children that
all of the things they accomplish in life are
possible because Katherine Carney--a woman who
died so young even her only child has no memory
of her--performed for the PTA that day in March
of 1937.
Tomorrow, the family of my surrogate twins are
coming down from Virginia for a visit, and we
plan to take them out to visit the monument in
New London.
Minette Satterwhite Trent
Jacksonville, TX |
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