The Skinny On Boston's North End

Tourists to Boston are never at a loss of things to see if they just follow The Freedom Trail. It is a painted red line that runs the sidewalks of the city to all the important points in history. At the Old North Church, in the North End, the trail heads up Hull Street to the Copp’s Hill Burying Ground. The real attraction is just opposite the graves.

The "Skinny House" measuring only ten feet wide, is said to have been built out of spite to block the view of the neighbors behind it. The British used this same area as a vantage point against Americans during the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Sweet Explosion

The North End is famous for its bounty of Italian food. This is the place where the Prince Spaghetti Sauce commercials were filmed in the 1970s. Yet, amidst the many restaurants and the bakeries with their promise of creamy cannolis, is tragedy.

In 1919 on Commercial Street, 21 people, several horses and a cat drowned in a flood of molasses when a 58-foot vat burst at the seams. As the two million gallons flowed through the streets at 35 mph the victims found themselves, dare I say, in a sticky situation.

Unfortunately, there are no statues to commemorate the event.

Update 10/01
Tom Gerbasi informs me that his daughter jogs in this area and that there is a plaque in memory of the molasses flood. Thanks for the info. How sweet it is!

The Skinny House
44 Hull Street
Boston, MA

Roadside Distractions Guide