New London in Rusk County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

New London School Explosion

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, April 23, 2023

1. New London School Explosion Marker

Inscription. On March 18, 1937, a massive explosion destroyed the New London Junior-Senior High School, instantly killing an estimated 296 students and teachers. The subsequent deaths of victims from injuries sustained that day brought the final death count to 311. The explosion was blamed on a natural gas leak beneath the school building. Within weeks of the disaster the Texas Legislature passed a law requiring an odor to be added to natural gas, which previously was odorless and therefore undetectable. This memorial to victims of the explosion was erected in 1939.

Erected 1989 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 11023.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Education. A significant historical date for this entry is March 18, 1937.

Location. 32° 14.348′ N, 94° 56.519′ W. Marker is in New London, Texas, in Rusk County. It is at the intersection of Main Street and Park Street, on the left when traveling south on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10705 S Main Street, New London TX 75682, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Piney Woods.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: London Baptist Church (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church

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(approx. 3.6 miles away); Pleasant Hill Cemetery (approx. 3.7 miles away); Captain Robert W. Smith (approx. 3.7 miles away); The Joiner No. 3 Daisy Bradford (approx. 4.3 miles away); The First Well in the East Texas Oil Field (approx. 4.4 miles away); Commemorating The Daisy Bradford #3 (approx. 5.1 miles away); Gaston Public School Complex (approx. 5.2 miles away).

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, April 23, 2023

2. New London School Explosion Marker

New London School Explosion Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, April 23, 2023

3. New London School Explosion Memorial

Credits. This page was last revised on December 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 26, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,005 times since then and 132 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 26, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.