The Flour Mill Explosion of 1878 in Minneapolis
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ย. 2024
- Jeff and Sarah and her sister Shannon recently visited the Mill City Museum in Minneapolis and saw the ruins of the Washburn A Mill which were originally destroyed in a sudden explosion on May 2, 1878 and killed 14 workers.
#historyhunters #minneapolis #millcitymuseum
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In June of 1998 I was home visiting my parents in Wichita, Kansas when all of a sudden we heard a loud deafening explosion.
The explosion was so loud that it broke all of the windows out in my parents house, and actually shifted the house on it's foundation.
Later that day, June 8th, 1998 we learned that the then largest grain elevator in the world, the DeBruce Grain elevator had exploded.
The explosion cost millions of dollars in damage to the surrounding community, and there are on-going law suits to this day.
Sadly, seven people were killed, and many more were injured.
My body shook for days afterwards!😮
Happy father's day Jeff! Thank you for the last several series covering the Minneapolis - St. Paul area and it's history. Being a life-long Minnesotan, it's nice to see you're covering some of our cool past!! Thank you!
So glad that you’re enjoying our visits to different places in that area. Thanks for the Father’s Day wishes and if you are a father, I extend the same to you. Thank you so much. Have a blessed day.
Coming from a 27yr worker at General Mills thanks Jeff & Sarah on this😊
The timeless , ageless scion of flour Betty Crocker was a good creation for the flour industry. Thanks a lot for the tour!
It’s just amazing what I can learn on Sunday mornings.
Glad you enjoy it! Thanks, Steve!
When I was in High School in the '90s that whole place was abandoned. We used to hang out on the roof of the building with the water towers. We even spent the night up there a few times. The burned out part was called "the Ruckus". I once climbed the Gold Metal Flour sign and stood in the "O" in Gold. I cringe now every time I drive by that sign, lol.
Also, you can get into the old intakes still today. The entrance is right by the stone Arch bridge. You need a raft and bravery though.
I loved that "Let's get Mikey" commercial when we were kids. We always repeated that line in our family 😂😂😂
Hello Jeff and Sarah, Happy Father's Day,and thanks for sharing your trip to Minneapolis and the history and story of the flour mills. Have a wonderful Sunday.
Thanks for the Life commercial! When I married my husband, my Mom said she’d always wanted her own Mikey and she finally had him. After putting up with my picky eating all my life, she deserved him and was very happy.
Another great video!
That is awesome! Thanks for the funny story!
Thank you Jeff and Sarah. Happy father's day.
Years ago when I lived in the twin cities I drove past the olde mill a few times and decided to stop and walked around the same spot you visited but i never went inside. Lots of history in Minnesota, i would like to visit walnut grove this summer. Thanks for the tour i never took, i learned some things about thee olde mill😊. Happy father's day and take care on your travels🎉🇺🇸.
I live next to Mlps and have been to Saint Anthony Falls many times but never went into the flour mill. I will now though. The freeway bridge next to the falls is the replacement for the one that collapsed. It was the 35 W bridge collapse in the national news. Loved this episode 😊
I used to fish under that bridge.
My father was stationed in. Minneapolis and we lived in White Bear Lake on Centerville road in an old farmhouse. Not far from railroad tracks an North Oaks.
HAPPY FATHERS DAY SIR and all Daddy’s out there. Great episode while I have the “day off” for Daddy’s day. 😂 Much ❤ and respect sir and ma’am.
Thanks Jeff and Sarah for doing your TH-cams in the Minnesota. Living there for so many years I do not remember of going there. Probably cause it was on the other side of the Mississippi from St. Paul. I loved those old Mikey tv commercials. You both went at a good time of the year before the Minnesota mosquitoes arrive.
thanks Jeff and Sarah for another awesome history video. I love Minneapolis.
Our pleasure!
You guys are so much fun. There are so many places I wanna go and see. Thank you guys for taking me there. ❤
Our pleasure! Thank you for your wonderful comment and complement. We hope that you will be able to visit places that add enjoyment to your life.
Thanks Jeff, Sarah and Shannon for the informative journey through the production of Flour Milling. As one of those people who just wander through life enjoying the modern technology that makes our lives so much easier and not giving it a thought of the people who sacrificed their lives to give us what we have today, I appreciate your efforts. Thanks again!
We really have life good in our country, don’t we? In the old days you had to provide everything through hard work and sheer grit! Hats off to our amazing trailblazers!
@@jbenziggy Yes sir and Happy Father's Day to you!
I spent my ‘20’s living in ‘nordeast’. Al’s breakfast, BJ’s topless, King of Wings, Triangle bar and grill, Stand Up Franks, that’s my old stomping grounds but I never thought the mill was more than an empty ruin. We used to spend our days rock climbing on that old railroad bridge but never knew the history of that place. Eye’s wide shut I guess you’d call it, thanks for making me homesick. 😢
I buffed my alcoholic chops at Dusty's, the Sun Saloon and the 331 Club.
Happy Father's Day, Jeff! I learned a lot this morning. Your production value is getting better and better. Thanks for the hard work! 👍👍
Jeff would you fufill my suggestion by visiting the grave of john philip sousa please and you are the sweetest kindest most special guy on youtube ♥️♥️
Very interesting. I don't know much about Minnesota. Fun to see and learn new things!
Happy Father's Day. Great video. As always professionally researched and presented. Thank you for this video.
My parents lived in St. Paul before I was born and my grandma was from there. She and my grandfather went to ND to grow wheat. They honeymooned under a wagon on the prairie and she sent her family a letter saying, “I can’t believe I let him talk me into this.” They did okay though and eleven kids too. They grew wheat until my youngest uncle died in the 1990s. That’s a lot of flour. Thanks for this look at the old mills!
Well, that is such a cool story. I bet it was really rough living out there on that kind of frontier. Can you imagine how harsh the living conditions would’ve been and how difficult life would’ve been back then? I totally respect farmers because not only do they feed the rest of us, but they put in some very long and hard hours.
Very interesting and informative. Good job
I had a busy Father's Day and just viewed your latest video creation. Wow, who wudda thought that there was so much history in wheat production?! I had no idea! Thanks for the research and old photos to tell the story. See ya next Sunday!
Well done Jeff. You sure do a lot of research. Thanks.
Thanks 👍 I get energized by researching because I get to learn some really cool things that I didn’t know before. Have a great day, my friend.
Happy Father’s Day Jeff! You were just a few hours from us! You are missing the heat and humidity! 😊 I love Sarah’s hair! Love the history on these companies! My hubby works at Proctor and Gamble. Toilet paper, toweling and facial produced here. Thank you both for another great video!
Hi Jeff and Sarah thank you for an another wonderful history lesson. I really enjoyed watching this video and if I am ever in Minnesota I would like to see the flour mill. We enjoyed watching all your videos and is looking forward to seeing the next video love and blessings Larry June and Laurie
Learned a lot today and it was entertaining too. Great to meet Shannon and I want to tell Sarah, I love her hair!
Happy Father's Day!!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the compliment!
Hello Jeff & Sarah, another great history story, teaching us something most probably did not know. We have, or maybe had, Betty Crocker brand in Australia. Thank you for taking us all along and educating, with your weekly installments.
This is the most I've ever learned about milling flour. Thanks for the education.
Our pleasure! It was all new too us, too!
Thanks for the Flour Mill tour in Minneapolis MN. Happy Fathers Day!
Thank you for sharing!
💯👊👏👍
Same to you! Thank you for being so supportive of us and our channel!!!
This is anything but your "run of the mill" video, Jeff. Congrats on another triumph.
This was so very interesting, Jeff and Sarah. I have never been to Minneapolis. great video
Happy Father's Day, Jeff...
🏡🙏🏻🎊💛☀️
It was a lot more interesting than I believed it would be! Thanks for the Father’s Day wishes, Rhonda!
Great video!
Love learning the history of places and things .
Beautiful city.. and river ! Thanks for sharing! Great job 😊
Glad you enjoyed it Janis!
Sarah and Jeff i love these type of history you brought us today and thankyou both for sharing it with us
We are very pleased at your response to this video. I really didn’t think it would be as well received as it has been! Flour? Who would have thunk? Lol
@@jbenziggy ha yeah but reminded me of an explosion many years ago from flour dust
The worst flour mill explosion on record occurred in Westwego, Louisiana in 1977, when a buildup of grain dust came in contact with static electricity. The explosion caused 49 silos to catch fire, killing 36 workers, many from being crushed by the collapsing silos.
Very interesting thanks for sharing
Thanks for watching!!!!
Thanks for the history of the flour mill. Always enjoy your videos on the history of all states.
Thanks for another great episode on Sunday! Im enjoying learning about Minnesota. Your research and presentation never disappoints!
Awesome! Thank you, Mary!
Thanks for posting this video of where I live. I walked past the Mill ruins many time before it was made into a museum. Walked across the Stone Arch Bridge many times also. I need to go see the museum in person. Thanks again.
Some have mentioned in the comments about there being carbohydrates in flour which of course means there is a medium for combustion. What I haven't seen is that when wheat is turned to flour it is like dust. Any small particles like that provide a large surface area for combustion.
If you light a cardboard box on fire, the surface area is just the outside of the box. However, each particle of flour dust has its own globular surface area. Combine millions of particles with a flammable substance and you have a recipe for combustion.
Happy Father’s Day! Great video Jeff and Sarah!
Thank you! You too!
It is hard to believe how they used the river to build this industry. Incredible engineering. I need to go to this museum soon.
The school I used to teach at had a partnership with the Historical Society for several years. I remember the 1991 fire being all over our local news.
I was part of an educator workshop for National History Day in 2003 when the Mill City Museum was nearing completion. We got a full tour when everything was still prototypes and being built, including a ride in the Flour Tower, so we got to see the old mill in its more “raw” state. The elevator was just a box with folding chairs when got the preview. A couple of months later, we presented our projects on a preview night right before the museum opened to the public. It was cool seeing everything all finished, including a working test kitchen called the Baking Lab where demonstrations are held. We were pleasantly surprised to see how much they’d improved the Flour Tower too.
Happy Father's Day Jeff!
Didn't realize the flour dust was so explosive either. Learned a couple of other things as well. Hadn't heard of white lung disease before or about the Belgian relief efforts. Another interesting and informative episode.
We love talking about things people don’t know! Appreciate you watching!
Enjoyed again ,Jeff and Sarah ( Good looking hair style, Sarah) HAPPY Father's Day, Jeff
Thanks so much! Happy Father’s Day to you as well, John
Learned allot! Happy Father's Day Jeff!
Loved the video. Well researched. Happy Father's Day to you Jeff! Blessings to you, Sarah and family. 🙋❤️🙂
Thanks so much! We really appreciate the nice sentiment. You have a great day too.
Thank you for showing off Minnesota history again. It fun too see my states history
Our pleasure! It’s a gorgeous state! We love visiting! How do you cope in the winter? High-tail it out of there?
@@jbenziggy you grow to the point where winter doesn’t bother you
Wow how interesting. I hope they keep the memorial because of the rich history to the states. This was a great video! Oh and I must say Sarah's hair is so cute!
That's funny I'm here in Minneapolis today. Drive by it but never knew the history, thanks for sharing Jeff and Sarah safe travels 👍
I'm a couple of episodes behind. The flour mill was pretty interesting. Times gone by. It is sad that things change so much. Thanx guys!
Welcome back! Glad you enjoyed our trip to Mill City!
Cool video History Hunters!!! Had dinner watching.....Keep them coming!!!!!
Thanks! Will do! I think you’ve said before that you usually watch our videos at dinner time!
This was very interesting, loved the bridge and the river. So much power for the mill in it's day. Nice to meet Sarah's sister too.
Love interactive museums! This is another place I'll add to my list of things to do when visiting in-laws in that area!
It’s pretty cool! You should visit!
Happy Father's day Jeff
Sorry I am late today
That is amazing how they can rebuild the building
It was nice seeing Sarah. She looked nice
You have a great week and be safe
Thanks 👍 Bobby! Hope you had an excellent Father’s Day weekend!
Good video guys .THANK you for this one ... Just got back in town my shoot is over . THANK YOU FRANK FROM MONTANA......
Happy Father's Day Jeff, and thank you for another great History Lesson.
Thank you kindly! Same to you!
Thank you for sharing. Wood Dust is very explosive too.
Happy Father's Day! I really enjoyed this video. Thanks for sharing...
Thanks so much!!!
Hello everyone. I just googled sugar explosion and it is combustable in powder and bilk solid form.There was explosion in Port Wentworth , Georgia in 2008. Thanks so much for the lesson.
Happy Fathers Day Cutie! 😘🍺🌾🍞🥐🥯 And Sarah’s hair looks nice indeed! 👍🏻
Thank you! 🤗
GR8 HH vid as usual Jeff & Sarah! Got my "fix"!!! And yes, flour and grains can be EXPLOSIVE if the right amount of air and dust gather together!!! The midwest had a lot of grain elevator explosions due to just that! It's so weird how science works like that! Same thing happens with hay bales! If the moisture gets too much in the grass you're baling up, you get what is called a "hot bale" and they burst into flames and burn down many barns!
That really is crazy! And to think that cut wet grass can burst into flames too!!!
Great video my Friend. Learned new things today.
Hoping you have a wonderful Father's Day Jeff. Stay Safe and Be Blessed and we look forward to the next History Hunt.....🙏🇺🇸
Thanks, you too! Bless you!
Hello Sarah and Jeff and Happy Father's Day to Jeff interesting video tour and information on the flour Mills I enjoyed it as always thank you for the information and the walkthrough I loved it. Looks like Sarah got her hair cut it looks good and I love the selfie have a great day and thank you. For the wonderful job of the flower history❤❤❤❤❤
Our pleasure! Thank you for the Father’s Day wishes! You are sweet. Thanks for always being faithful to leave us a comment after watching!
My fourth g-grandfather constructed the Pine Creek Grist Mill, nearly two hundred yrs back, located in eastern Iowa near the Mississip', and is today a national historic site.
The Pillsbury family and Marjorie Husted (considered the original "Betty Crocker") are distant cuz'.
That's a really fun museum. I used to work across the street from General Mills HQ, and it felt so odd to get off at the "Betty Crocker Drive" exit lol
Many of the other silo buildings you commented on while on the top floor have been converted into expensive condos.
Interesting!
Love your hair Sarah! 🤩
Thank you!!
This was very, very interesting. No one ever thinks much about flour, we all just take it for granted! Amazing how it is made, and how much is made, the whole process from field to table is hard to comprehend! Thanks for the interesting video Jeff!
Thanks so much! And well said! It’s like chocolate. We just eat it and love it but give no thought as to where it comes from or how it’s made!
Another great video, thanks for posting! What's the name of the music in the beginning?
Another good one, Jeff. I wish hgh school history would have been as educational as your efforts. Thanks..
You and me both! Thanks!!!
I look forward to your videos every week jeff love hearing about the history happy father's day
Same to you! Thanks. Matt!
That was excellent. To me it’s a reminder to me how much of a economic driver the Mississippi River is.
Yes! It’s also been a destructive force at times too!
Another great history lesson!!!! Happy Fathers Day Jeff!!!!
Thanks 👍 I feel the love today!
Thank you Jeff for showing the people some of the history in the upper midwest aka my home.
Once again thank you for a great video.
Thanks for watching!
I've been wanting to revisit the Mill City Museum, especially as an adult. Hope to continue to see more great Minnesota history videos. One of my favorite parts of our history is with malls, having both the largest indoor mall (Mall of America) and first indoor mall (Southdale Center) in the country.
Southdale has walls full of cool historical photos of the mall inside in a couple spots. One across from the Cheesecake Factory surrounding the construction on the former P.F. Changs, and also on the lowest level near the Lifetime end of the mall, in a hallway that leads to some restrooms and the mall offices.
Additionally, I recommend hunting for the cool remnants of the old Metropolitan Stadium found around Mall of America's Nickelodeon Universe. Such as a plaque on the floor indicating the home plate location, as well as the home run stadium seat mounted high up on one of the walls.
Grain elevator explosions were a fact of life in the midwest (Omaha) when I was a young adult. I also seem to recall there was a Mr. Wizard or some show like that demonstrating it. Grain dust is highly explosive.
Fascinating, I didn't know about this. Thank you 😊
You really need to visit Sioux Falls, South Dakota!!! Go to Falls Park and visit downtown. They have a historic area where they had milliing and SO MUCH MORE!!! It truly is as amazing as it is beautiful. I live 4 hours away and we visit at least once a year.
Thanks for the video. I live in the Pillsbury mill. It was converted into apartments in 2015.
Oh wow!
Interesting. I didn't know there were so many mills by the river. Thank you.☮️💖🎶
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!
Love your videos, have learn alot more historical events and places then I have ever learn in school.
Glad you like them!
I know it’s the 16th there today but it’s the 17th here, which makes it my husbands 61st birthday 🎂🎉that is why I’m so late.😬 Thank you for the great history lesson.
Betty Crocker cake mix is still popular on our supermarket shelves here. 😁
❤Jodie 🇦🇺
Many people, like myself, have not given much thought to how flour is made or how common household items are produced. I was aware that flour dust can be explosive, but the explosiveness of sugar dust was new information to me.
Lern so much from you thank you Sarah and Jeff
That’s great to hear because you know what? I learn a lot from putting these videos out myself. Lol.
Learn, obviously
Fun and delightfully educational 😊
Awesome! Thanks!!!
Happy father's day! Great vid ! 👍🙏
Thank you! You too!
excellent video and great tour!
Thank you very much!
Thanks!
Great video Jeff 🤗🤗
Thanks 👍
Very interesting video. We never knew how flour was made and used only that it came from wheat. Thank you
We had our wedding photos taken at this place! Such a cool park!
I've sure learned some things today. Flour dust explodes. And flour mills in America have all closed down. I'm wondering where we are getting our flour and if there may be a danger of not having it anymore.
10:37 Niagra Falls is, to my understanding, is moving upriver, as the Niagra River erodes the underlying rock.
IIRC, grain elevators are round/oblong, to help keep the dust from becoming combustible.
As always...
Good stuff...Thanks for sharing!!!!
Thanks for watching!!
Interesting James J Hill built that bridge! Happy Fathers Day! Mikey he likey 😂
Thank you very much. When I was a kid, we used to watch that commercial all the time and we would repeat those lines as well. Have a great day, my friend.
I didn't know that either
Happy father's day Jeff And
Happy Father's Day Jeff
Enjoy your special day!
Dust explosions are actually rapid fires. Grain is not particularly explosive, but when milled into a fine dust you have a flammable material with a lot of surface area relative to its volume. This means it will combust rapidly as all of the fuel is available to the oxygen, and there is no mass to preheat before combustion begins. This happens in a chain reaction, with the combustion creating a sustained pressure wave. These sorts of explosions can happen with other forms of fine dust as well.
Thank you 😊
You’re welcome and thank you so much for watching and leaving us the comment. It really helps.