Today in Labor History June 11, 1837: The Broad Street Riot occurred in Boston, between Irish Americans and Yankee firefighters. As shocking as this might seem to today’s readers, it was relatively common in the mid- to late-1800s. First, fire departments were generally volunteer or private organizations made up of ethnically similar people. Secondly, Nativist and anti-Catholic sentiment was rampant, which led to regular fights between “native” or Protestant fire crews and immigrant Catholic-Irish crews. Such a fight plays prominently in my historical novel, “Anywhere But Schuylkill.” This phenomenon is discussed in Noel Ignatiev’s excellent book, “How the Irish Became White.”

During the Broad Street Riot, roughly 800 people brawled, with 10,000 spectators egging them on. The firefighters vandalized nearby homes and businesses and beat residents (mostly Irish). While injuries were severe and pervasive, nobody died. The mayor had to call in the state militia to put down the riot. In the aftermath, Boston created its first municipal police and fire departments.

#WorkingClass #LaborHistory #BroadStreet #boston #riot #firefighters #racism #militia #vandalism #immigrant #catholic #HistoricalFiction #novel #author #writer #police #AnywhereButSchuylkill @bookstadon

Social media is alight for Philadelphia, with people celebrating the Eagles, Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes Sr. and more - #GoBirds #Philly #BroadStreet #Eagles #KCvPhilly #PatMahomes #JalenHurts #MIAFestival #MadeInAmerica https://www.GPTrending.com/#/?date=2023-02-13&topic=Philly

Broad Street station (closed June 30 1986) in July 1977 #london #broadstreet

On this date in #1835 a destructive fire swept thru lower #Manhattan, torching 13 acres and 17 blocks, east of #BroadStreet between #SouthSt and #wallstreet The economic toll was such that #nyc insurers were forced into #bankruptcy. This led to the ascendency of #Connecticut insurers and #hartford becoming the insurance capital of the US #newyorkcity #history

@redhairedphotographer Awesome photo of American financial history! I should point out that the photo is actually taken on #BroadStreet. #Wallstreet is about one block uptown. The building on the left with the pediment is the #nyse 18 Broad Street. The building in the center background with the columns is #federalhall at the NE corner of Nassau & Wall (Broad becomes Nassau above Wall). #nyc #newyorkcity #manhattan