The iconic fire alarm box pole on Hanover Street with Italian region signs was down on Friday afternoon. Boston Fire Department responded to the scene. Photo by Chad Jackson. “Neighborhood Photo” is a regular feature on NorthEndWaterfront.com. Send in your photos using our Submit a Post form, via email to info@northendwaterfront.com or tag @northend.waterfront on Instagram. Please Read More…
Read Part I here. When I began college at UMass Boston in 1972, my love of history and human nature made me want to major in Political Science and Psychology as a dual major because of my involvement in North End politics during the late 50’s early 60’s. In those days, Joe Langone and my close Read More…
The first Italians arrived in the North End in the 1860s when the political and economic situation in Italy had become untenable. Their numbers grew here in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Most were unskilled laborers and lacked the ability to speak English. They faced severe discrimination and took what jobs were available with Read More…
Anthony V. Riccio recently presented photographs from his book From Italy to Boston’s North End – The Photographs of Anthony V. Riccio 1972-1982. The book documents the arc of the Italian American immigration experience with images of daily life taken in the rural villages of southern Italy to everyday life in Boston’s North End during the 1970’s Read More…
October is Italian Heritage Month! Many thanks to our friends at the Boston Post-Gazette for sharing their calendar listing, shown below. (Click pages to enlarge.) See our NorthEndWaterfront.com Community Calendar for local events.
Each summer, hundreds of thousands attend our historic North End festivals. I don’t use the term historic lightly, because that’s exactly what they are. They’ve become something bigger than you or me. The traditions demonstrated during these weekend events grow more impressive with each passing generation. The fact they’ve lasted over a century is extraordinary. Read More…
When the Italian navy ship Amerigo Vespucci visited Boston, she was lit up with the colors of the Italian flag at night. Here she is in all her glory docked at the Boston World Trade Center. Only 60 pieces! How to play: Move and drag the pieces around just like a regular jigsaw puzzle. When two pieces are Read More…
The Italian Navy’s Tall Ship Amerigo Vespucci was welcomed back to Boston Harbor this week. In the above video, Captain Angelo Patruno talks about the return of 86 year-old training vessel to Boston as part of its recent worldwide tour. Often referred to as the “most beautiful ship in the world,” the full-rigged, three hundred-thirty foot ship is Read More…
Just as the last sails disappear over the horizon from over fifty Tall Ships leaving Sail Boston’s successful maritime festival last month, Sail Boston, Inc. welcomes the Italian Navy’s Tall Ship Amerigo Vespucci back to Boston Harbor, on Tuesday, July 18, 2017. The beautiful full-rigged, three hundred-thirty foot ship is an official training ship of the Italian Navy. She was Read More…
The 2017 annual procession was held for Madonna delle Grazie on July 9th in Boston’s North End. This year, the St. Joseph’s Society hosted the group at their Hanover Street club before heading out to the neighborhood streets. The society to honor Madonna Delle Grazie of Avellino, Italy was founded in Boston in 1903 from San Sossio Read More…
Here is a picture from my North End postcard collection. It depicts an Italian grocery store or alimentari probably in the early 1960’s. When I was growing up in the North End there were dozens of these stores and every family had its favorite. My grandmother, Colomba, liked Johnny Gaeta’s store on Salem Street near Read More…
The first Sunday of June always brings the first Italian religious procession of the season to Boston’s North End, honoring Santa Maria di Anzano. After a Mass at Sacred Heart Church, the 112 year old society kicked off their procession from North Square. Devotees walked the streets with the North End Marching Band for the entire day through the Read More…