88th anniversary of New London school explosion offers chance to heal, remember
OVERTON, Texas (KLTV) - In 1937, the community of New London, Texas, experienced a tragedy that grabbed the world’s attention and sympathy.
On March 18th, 1937, at 3:17pm, students and teachers were about to end their school day. That’s 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 London’s school.
However, some of the local residents and survivors of the explosion left town, leaving behind the tragedy that claimed hundreds of lives.
“Some people moved away,” explains Jean Davidson, a longtime volunteer and former coordinator of the New London Texas School Explosion Museum. “It was a transient community, so they just took everything they owned and left, and that was their way of dealing with it.”
It wasn’t until roughly 40 years later that survivors and family involved in the accident held a reunion, and began to cement stories of what happened. Over the years, the museum has been able to collect pictures, newspapers, and objects from the school to help others heal.
“The museum has helped a lot,” says Davidson. “The people come here and I think it really helps with their healing process to see what did happen and to take it all in.”
The ceremony will begin at 2:30 p.m. with a playing of the national anthem and school songs, speakers from churches, and a laying of flowers for each grade lost. At 3:17 p.m., Taps will be played to commemorate those who were lost, symbolizing the time the explosion occurred and took the lives of students and teachers.
“It’s very moving to hear that Taps at 3:17,” says Davidson.
The ceremony will happen at the New London School Monument, in front of both the museum and the new school, which was built in front of the site of the old school.
Copyright 2025 KLTV. All rights reserved.
