1910 Hull Explosion

On a quiet Sunday in May 1910, a massive explosion at a local explosives factory had a tremendous impact on the city of Hull, Quebec. This video uncovers the forgotten history of the General Explosives Company (GEC) and the catastrophic series of detonations that sent boulders weighing up to 100 pounds raining down on nearby neighbourhoods. WARNING: The video contains descriptions of the the fatalities and some viewers may find them disturbing. #OttawaHistory #Gatineau #HullQuebec #OttawaValley #ExploreOttawa #HistoricDisasters #Outaouais #CanadianHistory #QuebecHistory Continue reading on Forgotten Ottawa: https://forgottenottawa.ca/stories/hu... Created and narrated by: Kevin Ballantyne / @kevinballantyne9371 https://www.kballantyne.ca/ Music: Lamentation by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-... Artist: http://incompetech.com/ Sources: 1. The Ottawa Journal, 1905-1915 (specific dates in video) 2. The Ottawa Citizen, 1905-1915 (specific dates in video) 3. Canada. Department of Mines, Mines Branch. Summary Report of the Mines Branch of the Department of Mines for the Calendar Year Ending December 31, 1910. Sessional Paper no. 26a. Ottawa: C. H. Parmelee, 1911. Accessed February 28, 2026. archive.org/details/1911v45i18p26a_0758 4. Library and Archives Canada (LAC), RG 95-1, vol. 2563, “Application for Incorporation under ‘The Companies Act, 1902,’” 1905/06–1924/10. central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redirect?app=fonandcol&id=711586&lang=eng 5. Stock, John T., and Mary Virginia Orna, eds. Electrochemistry, Past and Present. ACS Symposium Series, no. 390. Washington, DC: American Chemical Society, 1989. 6. Villemaire, Luc. “ROCHON, ALFRED.” Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 13. University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003. Accessed February 28, 2026. Photos: BANQ (www.banq.qc.ca): ID 736112 (P154,S1,D2) ID 321274 Magella Bureau Collection, (03Q,P547,S1,SS1,SSS1,D172) ID 331866 (P600, S6, D5, P1280) Centre de l'Outaouais des Archives nationales du Québec (craoutaouais.ca/repertoire/Web/Cousi-Lou.html): CRAO P33,S1,D2,P22 Library & Archives Canada (library-archives.canada.ca): Archival reference number R11325-3, PA-215518 Wikimedia Commons: File:Potassium_chloride.jpg File:Parliament_buildings,_Quebec_LOC_3663140118.jpg File:Compacted_potassium_chloride,_fertilizer_grade.jpg File:Canadian_Pacific_wheat_train_(Howden,_Boys%27_Book_of_Locomotives,_1907).jpg File:Cow_female_black_white.jpg File:Domestic_cat.jpg File:1Dog-rough-collie-portrait.jpg Gatineau Valley Historical Society (www.gvhs.ca/publications/utga-stations.html) Engineering News Vol. 63, No. 25 (archive.org/details/sim_enr_1910-06-23_63_25/page/720/mode/2up) Library of Parliament (lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/People/Profile?personId=16942) WICKEDLOCAL.COM (www.wickedlocal.com/story/journal-news-independent/2020/07/22/mansfield-memories-lowney-field-was-place-for-baseball-in-early-1900s/114690888/) Le Droit (www.ledroit.com/2010/05/07/il-y-a-100-ans-lexplosion-de-la-poudriere-secouait-hull-0a8fa39987cdfacafa20f0f7e5b57380/) 00:00 Intro 00:26 General Explosives Company 02:09 The Explosion 06:58 Inquest & Compensation 08:22 New Plant