Know your history: the South End vs the North End
Tomorrow is primary day in the special election for 3rd Suffolk State Representative.
There are four candidates vying for the Democratic position and one candidate on the Republican ballot.
The Democratic candidates come from Beacon Hill, the South End and the North End.
It’s not the first time the South End has faced off against the North End.
Those who know Boston’s history remember the 18th-century Pope Day Riots that were “marked by battles between the North End’s and the South End’s apprentices and artisans.” These were annual anti-Catholic protests that started with the burning of the Pope’s effigy and often ended in violence and bloodshed.
Things have improved considerably in Boston, since then. (To learn more, read Boston Riots: Three Centuries of Social Violence or visit Boston’s Freedom Trail.)
John congratulates all the 3rd Suffolk candidates and thanks them for running to represent the best district in the state. Good luck in the primary!
Please vote on May 19th and remember, the special election is on June 16th.
Tags: 3rd Suffolk, 3rd suffolk state representative, guy fawkes, John Keith, pope day, pope day riots
commonwealth politics | John A Keith | 
May 18, 2009 12:30 pm
I hate to be “That Guy” (you know, the one who nit picks posts that are supposed to be funny?), but back then, the area around South Station was called the South End. What’s today’s South End wasn’t filled in yet.
Oh! Good point. Chinatown and the Leather District are also in the 3rd Suffolk so I can say I want to represent “both” South Ends.
Of course, that area was the edge of Boston at one time, which is why New England Medical is in “South Cove” and why Beach Street is called “Beach” Street.