Anarchy in the North End!

From the December 7, 1916, Boston Post. Notice what crime the last man was charged with.

One of the least known aspects of North End history (and one of my favorites to share) is that of Italian anarchists living there in the early 20th century. While not a majority or even a sizeable minority, these individuals still made their presence felt. They rejected capitalism, believing that it exploited the working class. Why were so few people getting rich, they asked, while so many (especially immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe) were poor? These anarchists believed that society should organize on a voluntary, cooperative basis. They held their beliefs with such passion that in some cases they utilized violence to make their point.
 
On December 6, 1916, members of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) union (some of whom were anarchists) got together for a rally in North Square. This square is where Paul Revere's house is in the North End. An officer told a young attendee, Alfonso Faggoti, that he was blocking the sidewalk and needed to move. Faggoti's response was to pull a knife and stab the officer in the hand. And then all hell broke loose. A riot followed and police and members of the IWW received injuries, with four individuals arrested.
 
Less than two weeks later, on December 17, anarchists set off a bomb at a North End police station. The bomb wasn't set correctly, though, and didn’t injure anyone. But, it blew a hole in the side of the station and shattered windows for blocks around. The bombers were never apprehended although anarchists were prime suspects.
 
There are still other connections to anarchists in the North End. The murder trial and execution of Italian anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti made worldwide news in the 1920s. Their defense committee headquarters were on Hanover Street in the heart of the neighborhood.

​On January 15, 1919, a huge explosion shook the North End. A tank filled with over two million gallons of molasses obliterated everything in its path, killing 21 and injuring 150. The ultimate explanation was the shoddy construction by the owners of the tank, the U.S. Industrial Alcohol Company (USIAC). But at a class action trial, the USIAC placed the blame for the explosion on—you guessed it--anarchists. The jury sided with the plaintiffs, and the USIAC paid $628,000 for their negligence.

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I’ve always found the history of radical groups to be fascinating. It’s intriguing to think about what attracts people to come to use violence to express their interests. How does such violence shape a country, city, or neighborhood? The anarchist movement didn’t end up overthrowing the government. But the federal government took notice and feared anarchists, communists, and their comrades. This led to the first Red Scare of 1919-20. For some individuals, it was an integral part of their community and how they made connections in their new country, the United States.

If nothing else, when I talk to guests about these events on the tour of the North End, I point out how much the neighborhood has changed. Think about it: nowadays most people come to visit and see Old North Church or Paul Revere's House and get a nice Italian dinner. Perhaps they grab cannoli and head to a local park. But one hundred years ago the North End was home to riots, bombings, and people who wanted to overthrow the government! I prefer the way things are today, but to see how rich the history of the North End is makes me appreciate the neighborhood even more.

​Want to learn more about the crime history of Boston? Take our virtual or walking crime tour!
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