New London, Texas: School Tragedy Remembered

Everyone has heard on the news of all of the terrible school tragedies that have occurred over the last few years, but the tragedy that went on to save the lives of millions, has almost been forgotten, except by the friends, families, and locals of the community.

During the Great Depression, the New London school district became one of the richest school districts in the United States, due to a 1930 oil find. New London's economy had been supported by vegetable and cotton farming until then, but the oilfields came bringing with them a large economic boost. New homes were built, families were brought in, and a new school was built.

During the building of the school, the school board opted for gas heaters instead of a boiler and steam distribution system. In an effort to save money, the school board canceled their natural gas contract in early 1937, and had plumbers install a tap into a residue gas line. The oil companies ignored this widespread practice because the natural gas extracted with the oil was seen as a waste product and had no value.

Life went well for this small East Texas town until the afternoon of March 18, 1937. At 3:05 p.m., as a PTA meeting was going on in the gymnasium, a building approximately 100 feet from the main building, Lemmie R. Butler, the "instructor of manual training" turned on an electric sander in the main building. The switch caused a spark that ignited a mixture of gas and air resulting in an explosion that caused the building to seemingly lift off of the ground. Walls collapsed and the roof caved in burying unsuspecting victims. A two ton slab of concrete was hurled from the building crushing a 1936 Chevrolet that was parked nearby.

The explosion was heard for miles bringing many area residents as well as roughnecks from the oil fields that brought with them cutting torches and the heavy equipment needed for clearing away the concrete and steel. The first responders, the parents from the PTA meeting, started clearing away the rubble, looking for their children, as the others arrived. The rescue and recovery efforts went on for seventeen hours, through a rainy night. Between 500 and 600 children, as well as 40 teachers had been in the building at the time, approximately 300 of those lost their lives that fateful day.

Several reporters came to New London to report on the story. As one of his first news stories for United Press, Walter Cronkite, who went on to cover World War II, the Nuremberg trials, and many other assignments was quoted as saying "I did nothing in my studies, nor in my life, to prepare me for a story of the magnitude of that New London tragedy, nor has any story since that awful day equaled it."

According to the History Channel's Modern Marvel series, Adolf Hitler paid his respects in the form of a telegram, in which, a copy is on display at the London Museum.

At the time of this tragedy, no one knew that there had been an ongoing gas leak, because natural gas is odorless in its natural state. Shortly after-wards, Texas required that thiols be added to natural gas giving it a strong, detectable odor. This practice was later adopted by the rest of the world.

The school was rebuilt in 1939. In 1965, what was once the entire school, became the West Rusk High School and the mascot became the Raiders. A granite cenotaph sits in the median of Texas Highway 42 in front of the high school commemorating the disaster.

West Rusk Alma Mater

May you ever walk on, with spirits unveiled:
When our minds are on you, our hearts with pride are swelled.
Our treasured blue and white will fly up high in the sky:
We will be with you through victories true
for West Rusk High.

May the memory live on, graduate of the class of 1984.