“Best of Charlestown and beyond” is a chance to sample great food and drink, enjoy live entertainment and win prizes, but more importantly, to help those in need.
“It’s a good time to mix and mingle with people you might not have met before and to help out some really good causes,” said Natalie Rizzo, who is chairing the raffle and silent auction for this year’s event.
The fundraiser, sponsored by the Catholic Young Adults of Charlestown, had a modest beginning at St. Mary’s Parish in 2000, attracting 100 guests and raising $7,000 for charity. The last event held in 2006 drew 350 people and raised $20,000. And this year, CYAC hopes to raise the bar yet again, with a goal of drawing 500 guests and raising $50,000 for three charitable organizations.
Like 2006, the event will benefit Harvest on Vine, the food pantry operated St. Mary-St. Catherine of Siena Parish and located on the site of the former St. Catherine of Siena Church; Charlestown MissionSAFE, a non-profit outreach group that targets at-risk youth; and Friends of Boston’s Homeless (Long Island Shelter), a non-profit that works in conjunction with Boston Public Health Commission Homeless Services Bureau to provide housing and other services for the homeless and raise awareness of their plight throughout the city.
“[The event] is a fun way for people to get together eat food, drink wine, win some prizes and to support three really great causes,” Rizzo said.
Besides the numerous local restaurants and businesses that have donated food and drink to the event in past years, Rizzo said guests could look forward to new options, thanks to first-time contributors including Edibles by Evers and the Boston Antheum.
Raffle and silent auction prizes will include salon gift certificates, gym memberships, theatre tickets, museum and zoo passes; an interior design consultation, weekend at a summer house in New Hampshire, a two-hour cruise aboard a 36-foot sloop in Narragansett Bay and assorted gift baskets.
Live entertainment will be provided by Qwill and Jesse Ciarmataro.
Despite the fact that the event could easily grow if it were held outside Charlestown, Rizzo said CYAC is adamant that it continues to take place in the neighborhood.
“We have made a conscious effort to keep it a community event in Charlestown,” she said.
The 8th Annual Best of Charlestown… and Beyond! Takes place at the H.P. Hood Business Park, 500 Rutherford Ave., on Saturday May 3, from 7 to 11 p.m. Tickets are $40 in advance or $50 at the door.. For more information, call 617-242-2196.

CREDIT: D. Harney

CAPTION: Judy Evers, Peter Looney and Mike Hart of Design Communication Ltd. are seen installing the plaque at Hayes Square in honor of Charlestown community activist Mary MacInnis.

At the request of Bunker Hill housing development residents, the city has honored longtime community activist Mary MacInnis with a new plaque in Hayes Square Park at Vine Street and will hold a dedication ceremony in her honor there Saturday afternoon.
Born on May 3 1929, at Boston’s Lying Inn Hospital, MacInnis moved to Charlestown at age 8 and made the neighborhood her home. She married Jack MacInnis in 1951, and together, they had five sons and three daughters, as well as five cherished granddaughters. A lifelong Democrat, MacInnis was an advocate for the poor, the elderly and people with special needs. She helped many Charlestown residents over the years.
The dedication ceremony, sponsored by Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Councilor Sal LaMattina, the Bunker Hill Residents Task Force, the Boston Housing Authority and Charlestown Against Drugs, takes place at Hayes Square Park on Saturday, May 3, at 2:30 p.m. CHAD Chairman Peter Looney; Fr. Daniel J. Mahoney, pastor of St. Francis de Sales Parish; Fr. James Ronan, pastor of St. Mary-St. Catherine of Siena Parish; Councilor LaMattina; Bob Fleming, executive secretary of the city’s Browne Fund; BHA Deputy Administrator Bill McGonagle; Captain Bernie O’Rourke of Boston Police Area A-1; and Mayor Menino are expected to attend.
The event will also include guests of honor Patricia “Tish” MacInnis-Carmona and the MacInnis family, and a performance of Mary MacInnis’ favorite Irish ballad, “Danny Boy,” by the Pipes and Drums of Bunker Hill.
The event committee includes Looney, Kellie Burgess, Judy Evers, Jodi Gironard, Don Haska and Marty O’Brien Sr.

PHOTO 1 CAPTION: James Rivers Adams.

PHOTO 2 CAPTION: The Warren Tavern is seen with 119 Main St. to the left. The steel support for the old el tracks that was removed in 1975.

When Jim Adams came to Charlestown in 1969, the neighborhood was a different place to live.
For example an elevated highway, a noisy, dirty elevator train (the el), parking lots and traffic dominated City Square. The el ran down Main Street from Sullivan Square to Boston. Under the elevated train tracks there were no trees and few streetlights, and, in fact, the sun rarely hit the ground. The sidewalks and streets were in such poor condition that it was difficult to tell where the sidewalk ended and streets began. The Charlestown Navy Yard was still an active navy yard.
On a Main Street that was mostly boarded up buildings, Adams was able to spot a half-dozen buildings that dated from 1780 to 1810. He was told that he was crazy to consider restoring buildings that were located next to el and slated to be demolished.
Adams saw a different view of this group of buildings. He restored a tavern in the 1780 building on the corner of Main and Pleasant streets that would be called the “Warren Tavern,” just like it was in its early years. In 1972, his dream became a reality when he opened and operated the tavern.
Next to the Warren Tavern on Main Street was a boarded up one-story store attached to a three-story house, with its first floor also used as a store. What did he see and do with that site? He saw a three-story wood clapboard Federal period 1785 Benjamin Thompson House, with a restored side entrance to the home that would have a large beautiful city garden to walk through as you came and left the home.
That same restoration story continued with another 1805 side entrance Federal home with an attached low building located on the corner of Warren and Pleasant streets. That building was a back to back three story federal building. The building that faced Pleasant Street was torn down, but a new building was built to resemble what had been on that site. It too now has a large lovely fenced-in yard with garden. Attached to this building is an early Federal 1780 building that he restored that unfortunately is in need of some TLC.
Back on to Main Street, next to the Benjamin Thompson House, he tastefully restored the exterior of two handsome early brick buildings into offices and apartments. Going the other way to 55 Main St., Adams restored the exterior of a wood square Federal building, called the Deacon Larkin House, and made it into spacious apartments.
Adams also built two large condominium complexes in this same area. One project was the Thompson Green condominiums on the corner of Main and Devens streets. The other was the Tontine Crescent Condominiums down near City Square.
Adams grew up in Pelham, N.Y., and later Concord, Mass. After graduating high school, he attended the first class of the Air Force Academy and graduated from Lafayette College. After graduation he volunteered for the paratroops and served as an officer with the First Airborne Battle Group, 504th Infantry in Germany.
In 1986, Adams and his wife moved to Cotuit, Mass. Adams’ memoirs, detailing the many stories of his times in Charlestown, have been recently published in a book entitled “The Immortal Tavern”.
Adams did the town and the state a great service with the post-revolutionary buildings he saved. His love on restoring old buildings was probably the reason many other old buildings were saved in the decades that followed. Many people have moved to Charlestown over the years because of the restoration that Adams did on many wonderful old buildings.

Citing poor neighborhood response and a lack of funding, the Bunker Hill Derby Association announced the cancellation of its 2008 season last week.
“Due to economics and local participation, we decided it was not beneficial to the community or the Derby Association to run the race this year,” said the organization’s president, Justin Bell. “The response was so minimal that the race has been postponed until 2009.”
In 2005, Bell and the organization’s vice president, George Morton, launched the soapbox derby program in an effort to help curb youth violence and substance abuse in the neighborhood. The fledgling organization gained 501(c)(3) tax-exemption status under the sponsorship of Charlestown Against Drugs, and the inaugural derby took place at Sheep Fold Park in Stoneham on June 4, 2006. During its first year, the program served approximately 70 kids and included 30 adult volunteers.
“It was very exciting,” Bell said. “Everything came together, and it worked.”
The Derby Association grew the following year, serving nearly 90 kids and again drawing 30 adult volunteers. “In the first two years, we helped more than 150 kids achieve teamwork, leadership and sportsmanship,” Bell said.
The program did not meet with the same enthusiasm this year, however.
Despite promoting the program via flyers throughout the neighborhood and in event listings in the Patriot-Bridge, Bell said three registration meetings held in March only managed to attract two interested kids and five adult volunteers in sharp contrast to the approximately 60 kids and 15 adult volunteers who had signed on by the same time last year.
Bell also said the fundraising effort came up short this year as well due in part to the fact both he and Morton had work obligations.
“I tried. I gave it every attempt, but it’s still disappointing,” Bell said.
CHAD Chairman Peter Looney is also discouraged that the season is cancelled but looks forward to seeing the program return next year.
“I hope they get it up and running,” Looney said. “The boys and girls who were involved [with the program] really loved it.”
Meanwhile, Bell said the Derby Association plans to apply 501(c)(3) tax exemption on its own in anticipation of the program’s return next year.
“I look forward to the success that 2009 will bring,” Bell said.

On Thursday, April 24, Green Street-based veterans club Memorial Hall rededicated Abraham Lincoln Post II. The Abraham Lincoln Post II GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) was organized at Mechanics Hall in Charlestown on April 24, 1867, and moved to the current site of Memorial Hall 21 years later.
The rededication ceremony drew more than 100 people, including elected officials Sen. Anthony Galluccio, City Councilor Sal LaMattina and State Rep. Eugene O’Flaherty. O’Flaherty and Galluccio presented Memorial Hall with a Massachusetts Legislature citation congratulating the club on the milestone achievement. Others in attendance included members of the Charlestown Militia Co. and the Department of Massachusetts Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, as well as Abraham Lincoln himself.

PHOTO 1 CAPTION: State Rep. Eugene O’Flaherty, Memorial Hall Vice President Stan Leonard, Sen. Anthony Galluccio and Abraham Lincoln. Leonard holds the Massachusetts Legislature citation that O’Flaherty and Galluccio presented to Memorial Hall.

PHOTO 2 CAPTION: City Councilor Sal LaMattina and Memorial Hall Vice President Sal LaMattina.

PHOTO 3 CAPTION: James Greatorex and Mike Leonard, who are both members of Memorial Hall and the Bunker Hill Pipe Band K of C #62.

PHOTO 4 CAPTION: Florence Johnson, Memorial Hall veteran board member and past president of Gold Star Mothers of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and Abraham Lincoln.

Near the current site of the Bunker Hill Community College, the Massachusetts State Prison once stood.
Opened in 1805 on five acres of land, it housed prisoners from 1805 until 1955, except for six years when it was closed from 1878 to 1884. The Middlesex Canal was right beside the prison so granite and lumber could be shipped from New Hampshire to the prison to be used in the workshops.
Before the 1800s, there were 110 capital crimes in Massachusetts, therefore a limited need for executions. In a study of sentencing in Massachusetts from 1750 to 1796, there were 110 capital crimes, which was 2 percent of all sentences for that period. When the Charlestown Prison opened in 1805, the common punishment for capital crimes was hanging. In April 1898, the governor signed into law that all future executions in Massachusetts would be by electricity to replace hanging.
The law also required all executions be held at the Massachusetts State Prison in Charlestown. General Bridges, the warden, was given instructions from the governor to begin constructing the electric chair. The electric chair required a separate building for the chair, the three cells for condemned prisoners and space for witnesses and the guards, as well as a separate building for the two dynamos that would deliver 2,300 volts of electricity for the condemned man. At the time, it was believed that with 1,900 or more volts death was instant and painless.
General Bridges was given a budget of $17,500 but completed the project for $12,500, or $5,000 under budget. All the work was completed by prisoners, except for the wiring of the dynamo to the control panel and to the chair. The death chamber was 42 feet by 26 feet, with the chair in the middle of the room and the controls in the corner of the room. The chair was made of solid oak, except for the seat which was adjustable to fit the requirements of the occupant just like an adjustable armchair.
The chair was operational by April 1899 but was not used until 1901. Luigi Storti was the first occupant of the chair in December 1901. Initially scheduled to die in April, Storti had consumption and bleeding lungs, therefore the doctors, his priest and the warden all thought he would die of natural causes. Unfortunately, he rallied and was nursed back to health. Storti was found guilty of killing Michele Colucci in November 1899. At his trial, Storti said he killed Colucci in self-defense, but the prosecutor argued that there was bad blood between the two men over a girl they both knew back in Italy.
The electric chair was invented by Frank B. Davis, an electrician from New York, who came to observe the chair in 1909, when three members of a Chinese tong were found guilty of killing four members of a different tong in Chinatown.
Solving the mystery around the apparent suicide of 19-year-old Avis Linnell was a real Sherlock Homes affair. While attending the New England Conservatory of Music, Linnell was found in a bathroom at the Young Women’s Christian Association, where she stayed. With cyanide of potassium found in her stomach the medical examiner was prepared to rule the death a suicide. Of course, this was all many years before CSI, but fortunately, Linnell’s brother-in-law was very suspicious of foul play.
Linnell had been engaged the previous year to marry Clarence Richeson, a Baptist minister who was 17 years her senior. Richeson had persuaded Linnell to return the engagement ring, when she questioned him about an announcement that he was marrying Violet Edmunds, the daughter of Grant Edmonds, a wealthy man from Brookline. Linnell’s brother in law convinced the medical examiner of foul play, as there was no note or a container that could have held the poison.
As Richeson’s sordid background reached the local newspapers, the Boston afternoon paper offered a reward of $1,000 for any evidence of the purchase of a large volume of medical grade cyanide of potassium. A druggist from Newton came forward and admitted he sold the poison to Richardson.
The Boston Police began looking into Richeson’s past and found many entanglements with young women, as well as the fact that he was expelled from William Jewell College for cheating on an exam shortly after he was ordained. Richeson was charged with murder on Oct. 31, 1911. In January 1912, Richeson confessed and was sentenced to death. On May 21, 1912 Richeson took the death walk to the chair dressed in a black cheviot suit, white dress shirt, a turned down collar and a black bow tie with gold studs in his shirtfront.Richeson was clearly one of the best dressed to use the chair in Charlestown.
Three of the most infamous prisoners at the Massachusetts State Prison in Charlestown were Nicola Sacco, Bartolomeo Vanzetti and Celestino Mederios, who were executed on Aug. 23, 1927. Sacco and Vanzetti were two Italian immigrants who were convicted of the robbery and murder of the paymasters for a shoe factory in South Braintree. While Sacco and Vanzetti were friends and were anarchists against World War I, they had 12 witnesses who put them in other locations and 12 witnesses of the robbery who said it was not Sacco or Vanzetti. Judge Webster Thayer proceeded over the trial. He told friends: “Did you see what I did to those anarchistic bastards?” The defense lawyers filed seven motions for a new trial from 1921 until 1927; Judge Thayer turned down every appeal. Mederios confessed to being in the getaway car as a member of the Morelli gang who were responsible for the robbery. Mederios also stated that Sacco and Vanzetti were not involved in the robbery and were not murderers. On the day of the executions, there were riots in Paris, Brussels, Zurich, Rome and Argentina to protest the treatment of Italian immigrants.
In total, 65 men were executed in the Massachusetts State Prison in Charlestown. Most of the executions took place on Tuesdays at midnight or shortly after. The most popular month to die was June, with few executions in November. The last execution was on May 9, 1947. In 1955, the electric chair was moved to the Walpole Prison, along with the prisoners. According to a spokesperson, the chair that was built by prisoners was destroyed by prisoners in 1979 during a riot and was never replaced.
The more senior residents of Charlestown report the dimming of the lights when an electrocution took place. This was true. The dynamos that originally created enough juice for the chair also provided the power for the lights at the prison. One of the reasons that electrocutions took place at midnight is that most of the power is off at this time. Even as the power system in Charlestown was developed, everyone’s lights would dim when 2,300 volts were diverted to the electric chair.
To learn more about the Charlestown Prison, attend a presentation on Thursday, May 8, from 7 to 8 p.m. in the auditorium of the Bunker Hill Monument Museum, 43 Monument Square. The presentation is sponsored by the Charlestown Historical Society at no cost. Refreshments will be served.