Lost Massachusetts

In 1834 Boston's growing Irish Catholic immigrant community met the fiery resistance of a suspicious native Protestant Yankee mob. The Ursuline Convent and School in Charlestown (now Somerville) was burned to the ground following strange rumors of women being held captive and even murdered behind the walls. But Bostons Irish would not be deterred and rose from the ashes in a triumphant symbol that can still be seen today.

"The Ursuline Convent had been a longtime dream of one of the first Catholic priests in Boston. The Rev. John Thayer wanted to help his impoverished parishioners by bringing Ursuline nuns to teach the city's poor Catholic girls. The Ursulines were pioneers in women's education, and their first-rate schools in Europe attracted both Catholics and Protestants." (massmoments.org)

"Many bizarre tales were circulating at the time about sisters who had escaped from the “horrors of the cloister.” Although these accounts were later proven false, they were generally believed by the working classes."(historicipswich.org)

"The rioters shattered the convent's windows, broke down the front door, and burst into the building. They went on a rampage, destroying furniture, musical instruments, books, and religious items, and then set the building on fire."(massmoments.org)

Fire & Roses: The Burning of the Charlestown Convent, 1834 - by Nancy Lusignan Schultz (fireandroses.com)

The Burning of the Charlestown Ursuline Convent and School (charlestownhistoricalsociety.org)

Firemen and Irish Clash in Boston Riot (massmoments.org)

Cathedral of the Holy Cross, THE MOTHER CHURCH OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF BOSTON (holycrossboston.com)

Get at Lost Massachusetts Postcard from a Lost Place

LostMass Podcast Reviews at Apple (podcasts.apple.com)

Photos at: instagram.com/lostmassachusetts

Sound Effects From Zapsplat (zapsplat.com)

Music Courtesy of Free Music Archive (freemusicarchive.org)