February Newsletter

& Calendar of Events

Welcome to Great American Street Organ


February 12th

Wednesday 6:15

North End Library

Parmenter Street


Tony Gangi is an adjunct writing and literature professor in the Boston area and is the author of Carny Sideshows:

Great American Street Organ is dedicated to the preservation of the rich tradition and history of organ grinding through education, performance and restoration where necessary.

Great American Street Organ offers a variety of services, from educational presentations about the history of organ grinders and their instruments (as well as the way in which the instrument became a touchstone for many early twentieth century immigrants) to organ grinding performances and magic shows incorporating the instrument.

 

We are currently in the midst of restoring a piece of Boston history: The Marino Persechini Hurdy Gurdy(See photo above) Please take a moment and discover the history of this unique instrument that was a staple on the streets of Boston from 1900 to 1974

https://www.greatamericanstreetorgan.com/


He will have with him an original Organ grinder Instrument!!

You might get a chance to try it too!



North End School History

Because school vacation week is coming up very soon (February 16-22), we thought we would share with you historical photos of the multiple public and private schools that existed over the past centuries in the North End.


(Photos and descriptions provided by our Historian Director Vito Aluia and edited and arranged by President Tom Damigella.)

Eliot Grammar School

The Eliot -Grammar School first opened in 1713 on North Bennett St. .

At that time it was called the North Writing School.

In 1790, it was combined with the North Latin School and then both schools were named after John Eliot, pastor of the New North Church on Hanover St. (the present day site of St. Stephen.s Church)

The school that you see below was erected on the same site in 1838.


The Eliot school is the oldest contiuously run grammar school in the United States!!!

1838 New Eliot school built on corner of North Bennet Street.

The Eliot School below was expanded again on December 12,1860 at the corner of 27 North Bennet St.and Wiget St. and contained 14 classroom.

 (Photo from city of Boston Archives - Josiah Johnson collection)

                  

1860 3rd Eliot School constructed at 27 North Bennet St and Wiget St.
This building was later demolished in 1930 and the new School was built at 16 Charter Street. (Photo from Bostonian Society)
Eliot School at 27 North Bennett St. 1892 sixth grade class.
 (Augustine Folsom photo.) Note that there are 50 students in this classroom and all boys!!. Good Luck to that Teacher!

Irish immigrant Ascension in Boston-Conflict


Tensions grew between native protestants and immigrant Irish Catholic population of Boston in 1859. Tensions exploded in an incident at Eliot school due to a deliberate effort to instill Protestant values by requiring the reading of the Protestant bible. (see story below)

Fr. Bernadine Wiget came to St. Mary’s Church and became involved with the Irish youth. on March 7,1859, an incident occurred at the Eliot School involving a ten year old Irish student named Thomas Whall.


It was a public school policy for the daily reading of prayers using the Protestant version. On that Friday, teacher Sophia Shepard asked Thomas Whall to recite the Protestant version of the Ten Commandments. He refused. The following Monday he was asked again and again, and he refused. Asst Principal McLaurin Cooke was called into the class, and proceeded to beat Whall into unconsciousness.


Over 100 Irish students were discharged from the school. At this point, Fr. Wiget formed a boys school under the auspices of St. Mary’s Church in Tamany Hall at the corner of Portland St. and Traverse St.. In 1862 it moved to Blackstone St. at the corner of Hanover St. and North Centre St.

(Source: North End A brief History by Alex Goldfeld)

In 1902 on the left is Eliot School on Wiget St. There is no Bath house in the St. Anthony (Polcari) playground. The school was built c1905. The Eliot School moved to Charter St in 1931.


The Ware School was buit in 1852 to the right of the Eliot, separated by Wigit St.. Both schools were demolished and replaced by the Columbus Public School, which later became the catholic Christopher Columbus School.

( This building was converted to condominiums)


Across from the Columbus School was St. Anthony's School before it moved into the former public Paul Revere School. (Photo city of Boston archives)

(Photo below) The 4th new Eliot School opens at 16 Charter Street in 1931
The Eliot School expanded after 2007 and took over the former
North Bennet Industrial School on Salem Street. (See photo below from Eliot School Website)

The Eliot School Today


In 2007, Traci Walker Griffin was appointed Principal of the Eliot School. At that time, the school was being considered for closure by the city. However, Ms. Griffin's innovative ideas changed that plan. With her comprehensive approach of serving children academically, socially, and emotionally, the school was transformed into a K-8 Innovation School.

 

The Eliot school is considered by many as the best public school in the City of Boston today. There are now three buildings housing Eliot Schools.

The original at 16 Charter, The Eliot Upper School at 173 North Bennet St. (old Industrial School which moved to North St.) and the new Eliot K-8 Upper School at 585 Commercial St. (see photo below.) (Source: Eliot School website)

New Eliot K-8 Upper School at 585 Commercial St. (see photo below.)

The British Are Coming! The British are Coming!!

The 250th anniversary (1775) of our Nation's birth is coming to the North End!! Stay tuned for exciting programs from our friends at The Old North Church and Paul Revere House!!!

The North End Historical Society would like to share the following information from our Friends at the Paul Revere House!

February Events at the Paul Revere House

 During February School Vacation Week our activities will explore life in the pre-Revolutionary War North End, from a child’s perspective, as we approach the 250th Anniversary of Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride in April and think deeply about how it would have affected every member of his large family.

\

All February events are included with the price of admission.

In January, February and March the Revere House is open Tuesday - Sunday from 10:00 AM to 4:15 PM. Regular admission is $6.00 for adults, $5.50 for seniors and college students, and $1.00 for children 5-17. Paul Revere Members and North End residents are always admitted free.

 

FEBRUARY SCHOOL VACATION PROGRAMS

Witness to Revolution: Meet Hannah Mather, North Square Neighbor of the Revere Family

Tuesday, February 18 and Thursday, February 20 at 1:00, 1:45, and 2:30

Hannah Mather was 13 years old when she helped her uncle, Lieutenant Governor Thomas Hutchinson, escape from the sacking of his mansion during the Stamp Act riots, and 22 when she smuggled letters to Patriot leaders during the Siege of Boston. Hear from Hannah herself (portrayed by Mehitabel Glenhaber) about her experiences coming of age in North Square in the tumultuous years leading up to the American Revolution.

 Hands-on Tours of the Paul Revere House Wednesday, February 19 at 10:30, 11:30, & 2:30

Designed to bring our oldest historic house to life by offering opportunities to engage with reproduction objects in each room and to consider 17th and 18th century life from a kids-eye-view, the approximately 30-minute tour is aimed at families.

On the Freedom Trail, in Boston’s historic North End, the Revere House was home to patriot and silversmith Paul Revere from 1770 to 1800. Revere left from the house in 1775 to begin the ride that Henry Wadsworth Longfellow immortalized in the poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride.” Built c. 1680, the Revere House is the oldest house in downtown Boston.

These above tours can be booked by going to this website. www.paulreverehouse.org

Flash Back story from yesteryears before the North End was gentrified.

Fruit and Vegetable Stand in 1975: Ralph LaVita works at his father's stand / GBH Archives. 2 minute video

Do You Remember the Blizzard of "78"!!!!!!!!

Salem Street- February 7th 1978

Donate Here

An Invitation to Join NEHS

Single $30/ Family $50

Tax deductible

January and February membership

 renewal reminder!!!!

Visit our NEHS Facebook page for many more

North End historical Photos and postings by

Dr. Jessica Dello Russo!!!

https://m.facebook.com/NorthEndBostonHistory/


YouTube Channel

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@northendboshistoricalsociety


North End Boston Food Tours

Meeting Location:

191 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113

Experience Little Italy of Boston without a passport. North End Boston Tours will guide you through the neighborhood of Boston,

Robert Agrippino Contact us!

tel:+1617-865-0592

special NEHS discount 25%

Go to website to Join today! northendboston.org )

DONATE

Donations are an essential part of keeping the North End story alive::

Your donations support these emails, our digital presence, programs, and volunteers that make everything we do possible.

We are a volunteer Board of Directors: President Tom Damigella

Meet the directors: Dr. Jessica DelloRusso, Vito Aluia, Dr. Tony Cortese, Victor Passacantilli, Michele Topor.Audrey Tortoloni,clerk Rita Damigella

Any questions please submit to this email.

I Want to...

Volunteer

Become a member

Donate

Contact us at:

northendhistoricalsociety@gmail.com

Website: northendboston.org


NEHS

P.O Box 130152

Boston, Ma. 02113

Tel: 857-302-9642