New London, Texas will commemorate the 87th anniversary of the tragic explosion that claimed the lives of 311 individuals at the New London School in Rusk County. The incident, which occurred on March 18, 1937, was caused by a natural gas leak beneath the school that was ignited by a spark in the mechanic shop, resulting in the immediate death of an estimated 296 people, with the death toll rising due to injuries sustained.
Following the devastating event, the Texas legislature swiftly passed a law mandating the addition of a manmade odor to natural gas, a safety measure that may have prevented such a tragedy from occurring. Former student Jean Davidson, a graduate from New London in 1959, highlighted the significance of this legislation, reflecting on how its absence prior to the explosion had far-reaching consequences.
In tribute to the lives lost on that fateful day, a commemorative ceremony was held at West Rusk High, where Davidson was joined by numerous classmates to honor the memory of those who perished. Among the attendees was Patsy Dawson, who, at the age of just 13 months, found herself on campus during the explosion, attending a PTA meeting with her mother at the time of the blast.
Dawson shared her harrowing experience of witnessing her eldest sister sustain injuries and her mother’s dedication to preserving the memories of the tragedy through a scrapbook filled with newspaper clippings from that time. Despite the passage of years, the emotional weight of the event remains palpable for Dawson, underscoring the lasting impact of the New London School explosion on survivors and their families.
To pay homage to the victims, taps will be played at the memorial in New London, located at 690 Main Street in Overton, on Monday at 3:17 p.m., the exact time when the gas ignited, forever changing the lives of the community. As the anniversary approaches, the somber occasion serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of honoring the memory of those lost and the lessons learned from this tragic chapter in history.