Posted on Jun 11, 2018
11th June 1837: Broad Street Riot breaks out in Boston, MA
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The Great Broad Street Riot
Boston was a huge seaport, and eventually a melting pot. Irish immigration began in the late 1700s. Many Irish immigrated to Boston during the Potato Famine that occurred between 1845 and 1852 in Ireland. There was a lot of friction between English and Irish Americans, which smoldered in Boston for more than 100 years. This friction erupted quickly into what was known as the Great Broad Street Riot of 1837. Arguably, this ancient cultural stalemate ended symbolically with John F. Kennedy's victory over incumbent Senator Henry Cabot Lodge Jr., in 1952. The following is quoted from the 1838 Boston Almanac about the event:
On June 11 1837, a Great Riot [occurred] in Broad Street. It commenced between an engine company returning from a fire, and an Irish funeral procession. It has not been satisfactorily ascertained which party were the aggressors. The tumult increased to such a degree, that nearly a thousand persons, at one time, were supposed to be engaged in a brawl, the most desperate that ever occurred in this city.
Several houses were broken into, furniture shattered inside, and cast into the street. Beds were ripped open and their contents given to the winds. Sticks, stones, bricks, and all manner of missiles, were discharged by the combatants at each other, with the utmost ferocity and yet, strange to tell, no one was killed in the affray. The military was called out, and in a strong body marched to the scene of action, and in a short time the rioters were dispensed or captured. Crowds were sent off to the Police Court; and at length, after the proper authorities had sifted the whole affair, it resulted in the sending of John Whaley for four months, and John Welsh and Barney Fanning each two months, at hard labor, in the House of Correction.
On June 15th 1837, seventeen persons, concerned in the Broad Street Riot, [were] ordered to recognize the sum of $300, [and] to appear at the next term of the Municipal Court. One American was held to bail, Mark Adams, a truck man, against whom the witnesses testified they saw him aiding in the sacking of the houses.
On June 18th 1837, the city [was] very quiet since last Monday morning. A military force was stationed at Faneuil Hall today (Sunday), to protect the armories, etc., and to act in case any disturbance should take place. Many Irishmen flock in from Lowell and other places. Their motives unknown. As the engines were returning from a fire in South Boston, some of the companies were assailed by hissing, hooting, etc. Many attempts were made during the day to kick up a row [brawl].
The Baltimore Sun quickly lambasted the enlightened ruling class of Boston for their hypocrisy—professing compassion for immigrants while underlying intolerance and ignorance led to outright civil unrest in this case.
Boston Today is a very diverse and tolerant city, having evolved for many years. The Great Broad Street Riot can still be considered the worst of such conflicts in the city's history.
http://www.celebrateboston.com/strange/broad-street-riot.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broad_Street_Riot
Boston was a huge seaport, and eventually a melting pot. Irish immigration began in the late 1700s. Many Irish immigrated to Boston during the Potato Famine that occurred between 1845 and 1852 in Ireland. There was a lot of friction between English and Irish Americans, which smoldered in Boston for more than 100 years. This friction erupted quickly into what was known as the Great Broad Street Riot of 1837. Arguably, this ancient cultural stalemate ended symbolically with John F. Kennedy's victory over incumbent Senator Henry Cabot Lodge Jr., in 1952. The following is quoted from the 1838 Boston Almanac about the event:
On June 11 1837, a Great Riot [occurred] in Broad Street. It commenced between an engine company returning from a fire, and an Irish funeral procession. It has not been satisfactorily ascertained which party were the aggressors. The tumult increased to such a degree, that nearly a thousand persons, at one time, were supposed to be engaged in a brawl, the most desperate that ever occurred in this city.
Several houses were broken into, furniture shattered inside, and cast into the street. Beds were ripped open and their contents given to the winds. Sticks, stones, bricks, and all manner of missiles, were discharged by the combatants at each other, with the utmost ferocity and yet, strange to tell, no one was killed in the affray. The military was called out, and in a strong body marched to the scene of action, and in a short time the rioters were dispensed or captured. Crowds were sent off to the Police Court; and at length, after the proper authorities had sifted the whole affair, it resulted in the sending of John Whaley for four months, and John Welsh and Barney Fanning each two months, at hard labor, in the House of Correction.
On June 15th 1837, seventeen persons, concerned in the Broad Street Riot, [were] ordered to recognize the sum of $300, [and] to appear at the next term of the Municipal Court. One American was held to bail, Mark Adams, a truck man, against whom the witnesses testified they saw him aiding in the sacking of the houses.
On June 18th 1837, the city [was] very quiet since last Monday morning. A military force was stationed at Faneuil Hall today (Sunday), to protect the armories, etc., and to act in case any disturbance should take place. Many Irishmen flock in from Lowell and other places. Their motives unknown. As the engines were returning from a fire in South Boston, some of the companies were assailed by hissing, hooting, etc. Many attempts were made during the day to kick up a row [brawl].
The Baltimore Sun quickly lambasted the enlightened ruling class of Boston for their hypocrisy—professing compassion for immigrants while underlying intolerance and ignorance led to outright civil unrest in this case.
Boston Today is a very diverse and tolerant city, having evolved for many years. The Great Broad Street Riot can still be considered the worst of such conflicts in the city's history.
http://www.celebrateboston.com/strange/broad-street-riot.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broad_Street_Riot
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Posted >1 y ago
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Good read on our melting pot. Everyone thinks we all just showed up and rainbows and butterflies were the norm. Morning and thanks John.
SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SrA Christopher Wright Sgt Randy Wilber SGT Gregory Lawritson Cpl (Join to see) Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth LTC (Join to see) MSG Frederick Otero SFC Pete Kain SSG David Andrews SCPO Morris Ramsey SPC Margaret Higgins SGT Jim Arnold PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SGT Charles H. Hawes CPL Dave Hoover TSgt Joe C. SPC Jovani Daviu Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price
SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SrA Christopher Wright Sgt Randy Wilber SGT Gregory Lawritson Cpl (Join to see) Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth LTC (Join to see) MSG Frederick Otero SFC Pete Kain SSG David Andrews SCPO Morris Ramsey SPC Margaret Higgins SGT Jim Arnold PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SGT Charles H. Hawes CPL Dave Hoover TSgt Joe C. SPC Jovani Daviu Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price
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There sure was some friction, in the 1800s My Great Grandfather, who was a Scottish Protestant, last name McCarter dropped the R on the last name so it would sound more Irish and read McCarte, Hw also did tell them He wasn't Catholic, if they had known that He never would have been able to get on the Irish controlled Boston Fire Department. When He went on they had horse drawn engines and He spent 46 years on the Boston Fire Department. He was still there when they got the first Fire trucks. My Dad got beat up a few times in Boston as He was a Protestant in Irish Catholic Boston. He did defend Himself but still. My Grandfather put the E back on the McCarter name. In the picture shown below is the Boston Fire Station in the West Roxbury section of the city. My great Grandfather worked in up to 1936. He was on ladder Company 22. That station is still used by the BFD but there are no horses there anymore.
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Jenn Moynihan
SMSgt Lawrence McCarter Have you heard the song “The Orange and the Green” ? Tis my family I’ll tell ya. Lol.
“Oh it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen,
My father he was orange and my mother she was green
Oh my father was an Ulsterman, proud Protestant was he
My mother was a Catholic girl, from County Cork was she
They were married in two churches, lived happily enough
Until the day that I was born and things got rather tough
Oh it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen
My father he was orange and my mother she was green
Baptised by father Reilly, I was rushed away by car
To be made a little orangeman, my father's shining star
I was christened David Anthony, but still in spite of that
To my father I was William while my mother called me Pat
Oh it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen
My father he was orange and my mother she was green
With mother every Sunday to mass I'd proudly stroll
Then after that the orange lads would try to save my soul
For both sides tried to claim me, but I was smart because
I played the flute or played the harp, depending where I was
Oh it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen
My father he was orange and my mother she was green
One day my ma's relations came round to visit me
Just as my father's kinfolk were all sittin' down to tea
We tried to smooth things over, but they all began to fight
And me being strictly neutral, I bashed everyone in sight
Oh it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen
My father he was orange and my mother she was green
Now my parents never could agree about my type of school
My learning was all done at home, that's why I'm such a fool
They both passed on, god rest them, but left me caught between
That awful color problem of the orange and the green
Oh it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen
My father he was orange and my mother she was green”
My mom’s family were farmers in Cork and immigrated during the famine but they went through Canada and then down to farm the Red River Valley in North Dakota.
My dad’s family left much earlier from N. Ireland & Scotland.
Boston can still get a little heated even in this day and age.
“Oh it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen,
My father he was orange and my mother she was green
Oh my father was an Ulsterman, proud Protestant was he
My mother was a Catholic girl, from County Cork was she
They were married in two churches, lived happily enough
Until the day that I was born and things got rather tough
Oh it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen
My father he was orange and my mother she was green
Baptised by father Reilly, I was rushed away by car
To be made a little orangeman, my father's shining star
I was christened David Anthony, but still in spite of that
To my father I was William while my mother called me Pat
Oh it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen
My father he was orange and my mother she was green
With mother every Sunday to mass I'd proudly stroll
Then after that the orange lads would try to save my soul
For both sides tried to claim me, but I was smart because
I played the flute or played the harp, depending where I was
Oh it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen
My father he was orange and my mother she was green
One day my ma's relations came round to visit me
Just as my father's kinfolk were all sittin' down to tea
We tried to smooth things over, but they all began to fight
And me being strictly neutral, I bashed everyone in sight
Oh it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen
My father he was orange and my mother she was green
Now my parents never could agree about my type of school
My learning was all done at home, that's why I'm such a fool
They both passed on, god rest them, but left me caught between
That awful color problem of the orange and the green
Oh it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen
My father he was orange and my mother she was green”
My mom’s family were farmers in Cork and immigrated during the famine but they went through Canada and then down to farm the Red River Valley in North Dakota.
My dad’s family left much earlier from N. Ireland & Scotland.
Boston can still get a little heated even in this day and age.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
A current view of the West Roxbury station of the Boston Fire Department. They are not allowed to change the outside appearance of the building as its a Historic structure. The still have Ladder 22, (My Great Grandfather's unit) but now its a truck and not drawn by horses.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
Jenn Moynihan - My Dad's family was protestant, English-Scottish but Mom's partly Catholic from Her Mom's side from Limric County, Ireland. Her parents, one Protestant the other Catholic last name O'Connell which included Cardinal O'Connell from Boston plus a sea Captain Benjamin O'Connell who as 1st mate was on a ship sunk by a German U boat just prior to WWII and He and other members of the crew were adrift on a lifeboat for 3 days before they were rescued. Even on the Irish factions My great grandmother referred to Herself as lace curtain Irish and the others as shanty Irish. That at least all is buried in the family past and not a current attitude.
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