Firefighters and a Funeral Procession: The Boston Riot of 1837

[@BuzzinVideography]

Thank you for being the only person to not politicize history. You're a true gentlemen, and a very well liked man

[@stevenpine1939]

ABSOLUTELY

[@mordeys]

yes this!!!!!

[@drats1279]

Look around you and you will realize everything has been politicized mostly by PC.

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

So true!

[@majorlee76251]

I used to work at 89 broad st. This is Boston's financial district. Had no clue this happened. Another tale of old Boston.

[@scottmaag1]

I can’t thank you enough for this video. I moved to the NYC area in 1989 at the age of 20 from the mid west and I learned a lot about the Irish problems from “off the boat” Irish. Irish Need Not Apply was real. It may be the time for me as an Irish descendant to stop saying my people had problems and think about how many of us all have. How about we take a breath and talk about it. Again, I love you history guy.

[@c.j.rogers2422]

Remember that at that time, the term Irish was synonymous with Catholic. Religious bigotry was at least as prominent in these events as any cultural bias.

[@Neil-Aspinall]

HG you are everything that is great about YT.

[@christopherseivard8925]

Brilliant story. Long ago,I was hired as a production assistant to work for WGBH TV. The day we showed up to cover a bussing protest in South Boston, I was surprised to be handed a helmet& bulletproof vest ( very old, no Kevlar yet) I was informed that any bussing protest could be a riot in a second, and a reporter had been shot before. I went anyway,very afraid, but my college loans were looming….

[@tomthedespoiler]

Listen to "Riot on Broad Street" by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, on the album Pay Attention. A good song on the subject.

[@smgibb]

I hadn't listened to that song in ages. Once I saw this video title I had this nagging feeling that I knew a song about it. Looked it up and once I head the first few notes, it all came flooding back.

[@mzmegazone]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqO2fXxqoKqLgck

[@mohammedcohen]

...thank you...I will my paternal grandfather's folks were from Kerry; my maternal grandmother was from Kinnegad, West meath

[@googiegress]

Could you imagine being Fire Company 14, answering a fire alarm bell, and you round the corner and get attacked by hundreds of randos and discover a war is suddenly happening

[@grapeshot]

Yeah you see a similar scene in the movie Gangs of New York. When the two volunteer fire companies came to a fire at the same time and began to fight over who had the honour of putting out the fire.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

That happened all over the country. Volunteer companies were commonly called "rowdies."

[@orno8906]

… while the building they were going to save burned to the ground…

[@kmlammto]

Actually, many departments had a fighting group and a fire brigade so the fire could be battled while the other companies were kept at bay. This was not for honor but rather to collect pay for saving the building.

[@memathews]

Free market fire fighting...emphasis on "fighting"

[@vbscript2]

​@@memathews That really bears no resemblance whatsoever to a "free market." "Free-for-all fire fighting" would probably be a more apt description. "Free market" would require an actual market with voluntary transactions, not street fighting over who can provide a service by force.

[@georgehartshorn9018]

My great, great grandfather would have lived in Boston at this time. But with a name like George Henry Sage, I’m sure he wasn’t Irish but had immigrated from Scotland. He would make a good subject for one of your videos. He hung out and did business with Andrew Carnegie and family lore has it that he built all the railroad bridges in Costa Rica.

[@kylebarton778]

Another great one History Guy. Thank you.

[@Odin029]

"after the dust and feathers settled"... ok, this should be a good one.

[@sayeager5559]

Hoping for pirates.

[@Dirtzoo]

I think that's a quote from The clash and which song let me see

[@docclabo6350]

Speaking as a born and bred Bostonian with Boston-Irish roots and as a former volunteer firefighter, congrats on another excellent video. BTW, "Quincy" is pronounced "Quinzee" in Massachusetts and "Charlestown" is pronounced as written, not like Charleston.

[@lorenapena5518]

Again, such a great and informative video!

[@2paulcoyle]

Irish is walking down a street. Sees a fight spill out of a bar. Gets close and asks a guy, "Is this a private fight, or can anyone join?"

[@inconnu4961]

LOL Was he drunk or sober at the time? My friend and i are taking bets!

[@davidwhite2011]

I went to a riot and a hockey game broke out.

[@cornbreadfedkirkpatrick9647]

Good one :D

[@inconnu4961]

Meh, ya know that doesnt happen very often! Rioters dont like hockey very much!

[@notmyname9625]

@@inconnu4961u clearly dont know hockey culture well then. I remember there being riots at my local highschool rink like every few years. Ppl would throw dead squid’s and fish and stuff on the ice and then all the fans of both teams would break out into an all out brawl. It happened like at least 4 times while growing up. I moved away from that area long ago but im willing to bet rioting fans are still a problem there today. They loved hockey the way ppl in texas love football. Mfers were crazy

[@lizj5740]

Thank you for mentioning the Corn Laws, which I have seen mentioned many times but with no explanation. Now I'll finally go have a look for more info.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

"Corn" meant any important cereal grain, not just corn.

[@lizj5740]

@@TheHistoryGuyChannel Thank you. I gathered that from your discussion, and I'm also familiar with that use of corn from my farming experience.

[@davidcooper701]

Love your videos! Keep 'em coming!

[@Rickertsred]

A drunken brawl at an Irish funeral? I never heard of such a thing.

[@inconnu4961]

LOL

[@frankgulla2335]

As a born and bred Bostonian of Italian-American extract, I remember some of the after effects of this 19th-century surge of the Irish. A great tale well told, sir. Thank you.

[@inconnu4961]

As someone of Scots heritage, I am sorry for my drunken cousins!

[@miketemple7686]

Why do I get the feeling that everything happening today, has already happened before. There’s very little, if anything that is “unprecedented “. Thanks History Guy.

[@googiegress]

It's partly because the events back then affect events now. And partly because people haven't changed, so they'll do the same bigoted selfish violent stuff they always have.

[@miketemple7686]

@@googiegress the story stays the same, but the names of the actors change.

[@22grena]

Irish history is never boring

[@seanshea8596]

"Against the law at the time to sell alcohol on Sunday." Heck as i recall there were STILL some laws against some sales of Sunday alcohol when i lived in Mass in the late 1990's

[@garrisonnichols7372]

I'm from Massachusetts and I've never heard of this. Thanks

[@dirtcop11]

I was expecting you to say, "The riot was so brutal that a hockey game sprang up." The Irish were a marginalized population for some time. It is a history that became important during the Civil War a few decades later.

[@dirus3142]

They were marginalized in a young United States for a time. however English Rule over Ireland is more like passive aggressive, bureaucratic, cultural genocide.

[@craigsullivan80]

“Marginalized populations” continue to feel the brunt of discrimination and violence today.

[@stephen4036]

@@dirus3142 not just ireland, Canada, Jamaica, Indonesia, Australia. Ironically or expected, most of us that built Canada and Australia are Irish immigrants and our countries are being handed over to China and India so england and isreal can make money. England and isreal are the worst rhings to ever happen to humanity. I loathe them... damn the English lol

[@ericveneto1593]

I'm a lifelong resident of Boston's suburbs and I'd NEVER heard this story!

[@theuglyfriend]

I’m from Quincy. I’m learning something new every day.

[@persephonelipuma9691]

thanks for all this boston content! as someone from boston this is great to learn about where i come from

[@clevermcgenericname891]

Fiery but mostly peaceful funeral procession.

[@4dosmohos]

Shots fired 😆

[@cornbreadfedkirkpatrick9647]

Outside a family one

[@Colonel_Overkill]

One standard issue Irish funeral. The thing is, I doubt the star of said funeral would have been dissapointed. Irish are Irish after all.

[@jtgd]

No no, they were just patriots trying to save america

[@clevermcgenericname891]

@@jtgd snarky but mostly agreeable comment

[@gwenp3450]

I had never heard of this before. Well told and extremely interesting. Thank you!

[@laserbeam002]

And yet another fantastic post. Thank you.

[@steveshoemaker6347]

Excellent video and the....Video quality and sound was all so Excellent as well....Thanks very much indeed !

[@stevenpine1939]

ABSOLUTELY........."Scott Fisher 1 day ago Thank you for being the only person to not politicize history. You're a true gentlemen, and a very well liked man"

[@blueisnotgreen7258]

I've never seen it said but I don't think I've ever seen history guy use a single stock photo or stock video clip. It must be so tempting to use them when historical media is so hard to find ..as it is. Hats off!

[@vonfragesq7145]

Fire hydrants used to be called "fire plugs" and the term "Plug Uglies" is derived from these competing fire companies. Whichever company put the fire out got paid and when the alarm sounded more than one company might show up. Whoever got there first would guard the fire plug until their company arrived and these guys were called "Plug Uglies". There was usually a fight going on while the building or house burned over the fire plug.

[@kitch42]

Tell us about Henry Clay and election of 1828, please.

[@cliftondean4333]

It is of note that Peter Faneuil, of Faneuil Hall fame, did not pronounce his name as we do today. We seem to be careful, as was The History Guy, to pronounce the name as "fan-you-el." Peter himself spoke it as "fannel."

[@nilo70]

Thank you , History Guy , for another interesting tale !

[@lauramiller8665]

Thank you for feeding my mind with history. I enjoy your stories so much!

[@troynewly]

Thank you. I enjoyed learning something new about my hometown. Wow, this speaks volumes of the Irish struggle at a time when Irish Need Not Apply.

[@chocolatte6157]

I remember when you had a couple thousand subscribers. My how times have changed.

[@matthewpoplawski8740]

AS ALWAYS THE HISTORY GUY, AN EXCELLENT VIDEO!!! Forgot there's a Broad St. in Boston (have a Broad St. here in Charleston, S.C. ) Didn't know, beforehand, about this riot. Sounded like a scene from GANGS OF NEW YORK which was mentioned in the comments. Since I subscribed, I've been made aware of history I didn't know existed. Continue your OUTSTANDING WORK!!!👏👏👏💪💪💪✌✌✌✌

[@MichaelLivingston-me]

Another interesting presentation of history.

[@yoinkhaha]

Great episode. Love Boston history. Too many ads, I'm afraid...

[@deandupont5503]

Am I the only one who views the idea of Catholics and Unitarians working in conjunction hilarious? 😉

[@elcastorgrande]

God must have a sense of humor.

[@deandupont5503]

@@elcastorgrande Of course he does. I mean, look at Australia.... "Hey Darwin! Suck on this!"

[@diarmuidbuckley6638]

I can't think why not? Unitarians and Catholics in Ireland in the 1700s were both not Established churches i.e. the state religion was Anglicanism; similarly the Presbyterians who were prominent in promoting Enlightenment ideas and promoting an Irish Republic fought for in 1798. There is a famous Unitarian Church in Dublin and one founded in 1770s in Cork whose community still exists.

[@elizamccroskey1708]

I grew up as a Unitarian in Atlanta and then moved to Boston for college. I was happy that there seemed to be so many Unitarian churches in Boston. The Boston congregations were far more Christian than the secular humanist congregation I grew up with. I never did find a church in Boston.

[@darrellrotramel3110]

Great history snapshots.

[@kingoliever1]

Just wanted to say great channel your doing.

[@barrydysert2974]

So what you're saying is, we have an enormous riot to thank for the establishment of the judicial system that formed the tableau for William Shatner's greatest role in Boston Legal. 😂 Thank you THG, you always connect more of my dots!:-) 🙏😽🖖

[@johnrust592]

This incident is a good example of the phrase, "The more things change, the more they stay the same."

[@kevinbarry71]

I've always found it interesting that the Irish, coming from a extremely agrarian society, when arriving in the United States essentially said, "screw that". We're living in the city

[@outinthesticks1035]

A lot had only enough money for passage , but not enough to go any farther.

[@c.j.rogers2422]

What other choice did they have? Buy land? With what? Like any immigrant group, they followed their countrymen who went before them.

[@kevinbarry71]

@@c.j.rogers2422 not all immigrant group stayed in the city; lots of them moved out west and became farmers. Personally I think the Irish made a better choice

[@samhianblackmoon]

Everyone of your videos are really good bub

[@Pfsif]

Hence the birth of the Boston Bruins.

[@matt_neo]

Honestly, the most realistic rumor surrounding this

[@rabbi120348]

That's why they're called the "Broad Street Bullies"! Oh wait....

[@FFGANDALF]

You mean all Boston sports teams

[@leemaxwell8228]

The Broad Street Bullies were/are the Philadelphia Flyers NHL franchise.

[@rabbi120348]

@@leemaxwell8228 I know. That's what the "Oh, wait..." was all about. LOL

[@wooderdsaunders6801]

Great job well done

[@sidneyw5040]

An interesting video subject: The actual migration of the Irish to America.

[@darraghmckenna9127]

Those pesky Fire fighters are rioting again

[@markymark3075]

Thanks!

[@Kenniii3]

Thank you History Guy!

[@kennyhagan5781]

I've been to Boston once, and the weight of centuries can be felt in some places there.

[@inconnu4961]

Its a modern city as well! Hope you get to visit again!

[@MarshOakDojoTimPruitt]

thank you !!!

[@shawnharrington9548]

This is my morning coffee.

[@dangagne3347]

Have you considered making an episode on the founding and early years of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Scotland Yard, … ?

[@DGHdeeo]

Very interesting, well done.

[@avnrulz8587]

In the 1950s, my mom was not hired as an operator because she had an Irish Brogue.

[@Tallness1000]

I’d love to hear any and everything regarding Native American cultures and events. Love the channel

[@JC-mm8wn]

"The Trail of Tears" would be a good start.

[@MrScobane]

On youtube - Lakota Sioux Massacre of Pawnee Indians - remember this video next time you watch dances with wolves.

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

@@JC-mm8wn why

[@mat3714]

Nicely done

[@schlirf]

Aye that be a real Donnybrook....😁

[@brothertheo2677]

Fascinating as always

[@FatFingers1]

Good stuff

[@briandawkins1770]

good content

[@scottthomas6202]

Well, Sundays are usually kind of slow....

[@dawnreneegmail]

😂

[@johnstevenson9956]

I wonder if this has anything to do with the fact that funeral processions are almost invariably escorted by police.

[@vbscript2]

I don't think so. That has more to do with just helping to control traffic to allow the procession to stay together through intersections and such. It's also not universal. Some cities have stopped police escorts of funeral processions.

[@declanoleary1]

Thank you,

[@f3xpmartian]

I am sadden no one has written of the guest host. Bob Ross, up there on the top shelf. Ready to “wash the brush, and just beat the devil out of it ”......

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

I was so waiting for someone to notice!

[@phillipstoltzfus3014]

Wow crazy stuff!

[@izzywatashi371]

History reminds us that rising above ones manipulated ignorance and arrogance is an unattainable human endeavor.

[@francisgerace883]

From the Boston area, and wasn't aware of this history.

[@sandrablanchette2239]

Congratulations on pronouncing Bangor Maine correctly. Due to the fact I come from there, I noticed that a lot.

[@DivergentMoon]

So now I'm seeing a history of policing that says it was begun to control and recover slaves. I'm confused by that. I'm sure that's partly true, but can't imagine a municipality without police. Now I see there weren't police in Boston until 1838, but it wasn't related to slavery. I'd be interested in a more nuanced history of the establishment of policing in the U.S., which I imagine has several strands, and how they intertwine.

[@NuncNuncNuncNunc]

Should clarify that Corn is not maize but grains, i.e. the stuff bread is made from. Quincy Market was not named Quincy Market at the time. It was and still is Fanueil Hall Market. Quincy Market is recent branding.

[@manicmechanic448]

"Broad street's just not broad enough, and you just don't love God enough. And if that isn't hard enough we've taken to much crap. You poke, provoke, and prod enough somethin's gonna snap." The mighty mighty boss tones. Hand me a brick, a stick, a picket, bottle, ax, or cobble stone.

[@jimmyyu2184]

"... as many as 15,000 people...", Now, that's what I call a Boston (Tea) Party!! 🤦‍♂️🤷‍♂️😂

[@jimgavin1761]

15,000 is just a Southie keg party

[@inconnu4961]

@@jimgavin1761 Yup! Doubt there was any tea there.

[@tomjustis7237]

A little known and relatively insignificant point of history. Many "volunteer" fire departments in larger cities back then DID get paid by the city, but ONLY when they were the FIRST to respond to a fire. (Just a little incentive to encourage the volunteers.) Due to that, there was actually a competition between those 'volunteer' companies as to which company would be considered 'first' on the scene and therefore be the company to get paid. As a result, many 'volunteer' fire companies had several large, brawny and violent men who, at the first alarm, were dispatched to the scene to guard the fire plugs and prevent any other fire company from using them until their own company arrived. That is where the term "plug ugly" originated.

[@clintward3532]

Would love to see you do an episode on the 504 Parachute Infantry Regiment, the Devils in baggy pants.

[@chrisdoesnotcare]

When I was having a beer at Boston International waiting for my flight some random dude from Jersey started talking shit about the Bruins at the bar and let’s just say airport security had to pull quite a few people off of this man haha

[@GrumpyMeow-Meow]

As a former Jerseyan, I can say…what an idiot.

[@robertbeirne9813]

Must’ve been when the Devils were good.

[@Michaelbos]

No such place as Boston international.

[@inconnu4961]

@@Michaelbos He was talking about the airport, in case you couldnt understand. Why didnt you just mention the correct name of the air port instead of your silly rebuttal?

[@ericw270]

Andrew jackson was born in my home county! Lancaster, SC

[@mikesamyn7054]

How about the 1967 riots in Detroit. I was there on the eastern side.

[@marklittlehale5756]

Love your video's, but in Boston Quincy is pronounced Quinzy market, zee sound not cee

[@RockinRobbins13]

We are proud Americans, with God-given right, and perhaps obligation, to massacre any language we wish, including our own! God bless America!

[@rabbi120348]

"In fact, there are places where English completely disappears. In America they haven't spoken it for years!" Prof. Henry Higgins

[@RockinRobbins13]

@@rabbi120348 Lololololol! Truer words were never spoken. We have risen above language, above meaning, above grammar, above expression to pure, rampant, mayhem! America the beautiful!

[@googiegress]

Then he should pronounce it Baastin instead of Boston. When we talk about Louisville, we don't say Lewvul. It's "New Orleans" not "Nawlins". I'm not going to tell you your accent is crazy, and you're also welcome to stay in your lane.

[@rabbi120348]

@@RockinRobbins13 Life reduced to a meme.

[@ops1994]

Oh Danny boy.

[@steveb6103]

Why do I keep thinking about Blazing Saddles?

[@cornbreadfedkirkpatrick9647]

Because it fits for some same twisted reason :D

[@62forged]

My great-grandparents came though customs in Boston in the early 1900s.

[@georgenelson8917]

So what?

[@HM2SGT]

And some things never change... When I was attending TEEX (fire school at A&M in College Station Texas) we were briefed and warned early Not to cause trouble, that the locals were long since over admiration for firefighters excusing bad behaviour. 😳🙊🙀

[@raydunakin]

In so many of these historical accounts, it seems like England was almost intent on making as many enemies as possible. It's no wonder the empire crumbled.

[@glorideefaithperez2858]

Sound like any other country you know of?

[@inconnu4961]

@@glorideefaithperez2858 He said it already! England!

[@outinthesticks1035]

Had a great grandfather and great uncle both died " accidentally" , "fell out of the wagon while drunk and hit their head on a rock" . Just another dead Irishman

[@woofwgn]

"🎶 Youah cousin from Baw-stun...🎶" 😄

[@VictorianTimeTraveler]

My dad was a volunteer fireman. It's odd for me to think of them as being undisciplined

[@robertnordtvedt88]

Suggestion History of copyright and patent.

[@mjjuntunen]

I am curious about the deal involving Quincy Adams

[@terenceconnors9627]

Stories like this show why anti-immigrant Irish-Americans have forgotten the sacrifices of their ancestors. They're practically spitting on our ancestors' graves.

[@inconnu4961]

Why? They understand how socially disruptive waves of immigrants can be! Without commonsense, comprehensive immigration control, there will be friction & conflicts.

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

5:40 He looks like GW without that powdered wig !

[@d1agram4]

8:22 sorta like Portland. Or Seattle. Or Chicago. Or Minneapolis

[@franzmalocsay3201]

Future episode! Blue Ridge Tunnel!

[@JackGordone]

The Boston suburb is pronounced "CHARLES - TOWN," not "Charleston" as in the video.

[@heard3879]

And Quincy is pronounced Quin-zee, not Quin-see. I was really shocked to learn this when I moved to Boston from the Midwest a few years ago!

[@johnmonk66]

then they should spell it right

[@2005kmcollins]

Charlestown is not a suburb of Boston, it is formally a part of the City of Boston since 1873.