The Kitchener Ironworks Explosion

The 1906 explosion that killed over a hundred people, mostly children, during an Easter egg hunt.

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The Easter Tragedy

The Explosion The Egg Hunt The Kitchener Ironworks hosted an Easter egg hunt for the children of Derry. Over five hundred children attended. The factory exploded without warning, killing 102 people, 88 of them children. The Aftermath The cause of the explosion was never determined. The boilers were shut down, but the tragedy was blamed on an accident. It was the worst disaster in Derry's history. The Connection Mike Hanlon's research suggested that the explosion was part of the cycle of violence. It may have been caused by It, either directly or through manipulation. The event marked the end of a cycle.

The Legacy

The Memory of the Dead The Memorial The site of the Ironworks became a field of ruins. Children played there, unaware of the tragedy. Mike Hanlon visited the site as a boy and encountered a giant bird, a manifestation of It. The Research Mike included the explosion in his history of Derry's violence. It was another piece of the puzzle that showed the recurring pattern. The Significance The Ironworks explosion was a reminder of the innocent lives lost to It's hunger. The Losers' victory in 1985 finally avenged those deaths.

Easter Sunday 1906

1906-1985