June 11, 1837

Boston was not always the city I celebrated BunkerHill Day in yesterday. If you were to ask most Americans about Boston, I think one of the most common descriptions would be Irish. This was not always true. Irish immigrants struggled mightly for their part of the American dream. One example of that struggle was the "Broad Street Riot". The riot occurred when an Irish funeral procession would not give way to a engine company returning from a fire.

An 1838 Almanac describes the Yankee point of view. Of course, punishment came down most heavily on the Irish.

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 Might Mighty Bosstones wrote a song about it.

My father once told this to me

Boston's gritty history

Another ruthless battle

in a useless holy war

Handed down discrepancies

and tensions that'll never ease

One early afternoon on Broad street

It blew up down there for sure