Episode 43: The 1911 Heat Wave That Devastated New England

This past week’s extreme heat across New England had many of us reaching for the AC, but it’s nothing compared to the devastating heat wave of 1911. In this episode of Notable New England, we explore one of the region’s deadliest weather disasters: an 11-day stretch of record-breaking temperatures, limited forecasting, and no modern cooling systems. From people sleeping in the Boston Common to train tracks bending in the heat, and even many going insane, the stories are sobering. With over 300 deaths in New England alone and over 2,000 deaths in the Northeast, the Great Heat Wave of 1911 is a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come, and why we shouldn’t take modern comforts for granted. If you’ve ever complained about the heat, this story will give you a whole new perspective. **IF YOU FIND THE TOPICS OF WEATHER DISASTERS AND DEATH TRIGGERING, YOU MAY WANT TO SKIP THIS EPISODE AFTER THE WICKED LITE BITES SEGMENT. LISTENER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.** 📌 Show Notes & Resources: 🔹 Episode Sources, References & Featured Links 🔹 Music licensing & credits 💙 Support Notable New England: Join our Notable New England Patreon community for a dedicated space to connect, explore New England history, hidden gems, and local stories without the distractions of traditional social media! Get early, ad-free episodes and exclusive perks starting at just $2 a month. Your support helps cover production costs and keeps engaging episodes coming! Or, sign up for free and connect with other lovely listeners. 👉 Join here Gift someone a Notable New England Patreon membership by clicking here.  To make a one-time donation to Notable New England, head over to buymeacoffee.com/notablenewengland You'll get an on-air shout out of thanks for your donation.  📢 Follow Notable New England: 🔹 Patreon 🔹 BuyMeaCoffee 🔹 Substack 🔹 Facebook 🔹 Instagram 🔹 Threads 🔹 Bluesky 🔹 YouTube 🔹 Reddit 🎙️ Podcast Website: notablene.podbean.com 📩 Contact: [email protected]