VIDEO: In 1937, the community of New London, Texas, experienced a tragedy that grabbed the worldโs attention and sympathy. On March 18th, 1937, at 3:17pm, students and teachers were about to end their school day. Thatโs when a spark from an electric sander ignited a gas leak in the basement of the school, causing much of the school to explode, killing at least 295 people at the school. More died as a result of their injuries in the days and weeks to follow the explosion. Most of those who died were children in the 5th and 6th grade. The accident quickly gained worldwide attention, inspiring legislation to add odor to natural gas, which was previously odorless and colorless. The addition of the manmade odor allows for people to quickly detect gas leaks to prevent accidental explosions similar to New Londonโs school.
