March 14, 2024
Introduction: In this article – to help celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this Sunday – Melissa Davenport Berry shares photos and articles about the March 17 parade in Boston, when the city celebrates both St. Patrick’s Day and Evacuation Day. Melissa is a genealogist who has a blog, AnceStory Archives, and a Facebook group, New England Family Genealogy and History.
Here is a look back at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Boston, Massachusetts. Some of the photos come from GenealogyBank’s Historical Newspaper Archives and others from the Boston Public Library Archives and Special Collections.
Boston holds a dual celebration on March 17 every year known as the St. Patrick’s Day/Evacuation Day Parade.
It is an opportunity to pay homage to Saint Patrick, the patron saint or “Apostle of Ireland,” and also to celebrate American liberty – which the Irish played a large hand in. Read more: Boston Tradition: The St. Patrick’s/Evacuation Day Parade.
1901: First Double Header
In 1901 Boston celebrated St. Patrick’s Day along with the 125th anniversary of the evacuation of Boston by the British Army during the Revolutionary War. This was the first dual celebration and has remained a tradition ever since.
This photo shows that 1901 parade as it was ready to move through South Boston, a neighborhood that was not only home to a robust Irish community, but was the site of Dorchester Heights, where the evacuation of British troops from Boston on 17 March 1776 was made possible.
This photo below, from the Boston Herald, features the South Boston Citizens Committee, one of the many organizations who oversaw the celebration activities in 1901. Read more on how Boston prepared at: American-Archives.
1908: Open House – Lasses Entertain Lavishly
In 1908 the Boston Journal featured South Boston women who were keeping “Open House” to observe St. Patrick’s Day and Evacuation Day by entertaining visiting dignitaries and officials, including Maj. Gen. William P. Duvall.
The newspaper published photos of four women keeping open house: (on the left) Miss Bertha Clarke; (on the right, from top to bottom) Mrs. John H. Means; Miss Gertrude Murphy; and Mrs. Daniel V. McIsaac.
1916: A “Battle Royal” between Mayor Curley and Winter Weather – Curley Won!
In 1916 Mayor James Michael Curley, determined to clear the streets for the parade, contracted over 500 men to dispose of the snow.
The snow was successfully removed but Jack Frost blew in some mighty cold air! The Boston Journal reported that, despite that arctic chill, 6,000 men marched in the parade fueled by patriotism and love for all things Irish. More than 100,000 attended the parade: “Biggest Ever Held.”
1930: Snow Not a Problem This Year
1949: Baby, Here I Come!
And I could not resist this babe featured in the Boston Traveler. Seven-month-old Michael Melvin Shotwell sporting his lucky hat!
1952: Southie Jammed for Double Celebration
Southie (South Boston) was crowded with “more than 150,000 admirers” for the celebration in 1952.
This article reports:
Irish eyes smiled brighter today as more than 150,000 admirers of the Old Sod crowded into Southie to pay homage to St. Patrick and celebrate the 176th anniversary of the British evacuation of Boston.
1965: Pre-Parade Dining at Dorgan’s
In 1965 politicians feasted together on traditional Irish corned beef and cabbage at Dorgan’s Restaurant in South Boston before the big parade. Dorgan’s opened their doors in 1936 and is known as the location of the first St. Patrick’s Day breakfast for Boston politicians.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Enjoy celebrating this Sunday – and may the Luck of the Irish be with you!
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Note on the header image: “Happy St. Patrick’s Day.” Illustration credit: https://depositphotos.com/home.html
