Mission Hill Housing Project

I made this film in 1948 when I was 10 years old. Location is the Mission Hill Housing Project at the corner of Smith and St. Alphonsus streets in Roxbury Mass. Included are the Mr. and Mrs. Hanbury, Robert, Mildred, and Skippy Hanbury, Paul Sacamona, Gregory McCulick, David Elwell, Frances Blomen, Patty Cyr, Bobby Cyr, Nick Keggan, Herbie Nolte, and many others whose names I forget.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• mission
• hill
• housing
• project
• 1948
• roxbury
• mass

[leokarlo]

THIS WAS THE 1940'S. THE BULK OF ROXBURY IN THE '30'S, 40'S AND 50'S WAS ALL JEWISH, ITALIAN AND IRISH. THE 1ST "MIXED" HOUSING PROJECT WAS BUILT IN THE 50'S ON THE OPPOSIT SIDE OF PARKER ST. MATTAPAN, WAS "ALL" JEWISH, DORTCHESTER "IRISH AND POLISH". VERY FEW "BLACKS" LIVED IN ROXBURY, THEY WERE MOSTLY IN THE SOUTH END SECTION BETWEEN MASS AVE AND MISSION/ROXBURY CROSSING. THE CHANGE OCCURED BETWEEN THE 50'S AND 60'S. WHY WERE THERE NO "BLACKS" LIVING IN THE PYMOUTH PLANTATION !!!

[labprpains]

Hi

My family (Sullivan) lived in that Bldg at 56 St Aplphonsus ST on the 1st floor. I was 10 years old when you filmed it. I lived there with my parents and my 3 sisters Arlene Dotty Ann and Babara.

[leokarlo]

Can't remember you even though we lived there the same time. I think you are refering to the building the Hanburys and "one eye" lived in?? Who were some of you neighbors?

[labprpains]

We lived on 1st floor of #56 on your right if you came in from the street. Just opposite Benny Tanners store across the street. Our neighbors changed periodically over time but the Sacramonas, Cyr,Duffys and the O'Conners lived on 2nd floor over us. I believe the Hanburys where really HANABURY. I knew Skippy well I think his real name was Robert. Also knew the Noltes boys Herbie and Harrold they lived in the court on Horidan Way.Also Nasiff boys Eddie and George.

[leokarlo]

I'm Michael Elwell if you remenber. Same building 1st floor at Smith street corner. Brother David saw your message and comments below. AH, BUT BEENY TANNERS, NOW THERE THE LINK. 56 had cyr on left (sullivan, i persume opposit. 2ed floor hannabury on left on right ? . 3er was saccamona on left and nassa on right. (where was ellen McCarthy. she must remember the keggans as the was 2 or three girls besides nick and joey. plus everyone knew the gormans ikie had a ton of sisters.

[specky214]

@labprpains ====What about the Bates', Mannings, O'Keefe's, Wright's?? I have still pictures of the projects. My grandmother tells me those were some of the best times of her life, living there!

[stedavpet]

@zero26tee This was pretty much when mission hill project was first built----mostly Irish---some Italian and Jewish although the larger Jewish population settled in Mattapan-----society changed over the years; and the ethnic and racial mix changed with it

[stedavpet]

@zero26tee This was pretty much when mission hill project was built----mostly Irish---some Italian and Jewish although the larger Jewish population settled in Mattapan-----society changed over the years; and the ethnic and racial mix changed with it

[robertopenno]

My name is Bill Hill. Lived at 601 Parker Street, corner of Ward St. I lived in the projects from 1940 until 1952 when the white flight took place. This was caused by the construction of the "new intergrated" projects across the street. Friens included Mooney Crowley, Tim O'Leary, Butch Sacco, George Mehan. It's great to see this vidio as I just started constructing my family tree.

[zero26tee]

why are all those names really really white? i meen white! benny tanner, oconner, hanbury, skippy, eddie, george? what is this leave it to beaver ive never seen white people there

[dblock91484]

@PawtucketPatriot66 ya man,, back in the day ,, i mean way back in the day ,, it was basically only italian and irish in housing projects

[nauttii]

Joanne.....this video brought back many memories. You've come a long way since these memorable days. Bob

[MFINN23]

@werzoid Yeh that's coming from someone who has never lived in the projects. Kids ride their bikes around here all the time so don't speak about something you know nothing about. Just don't leave your bike unattended and it should be fine.

[ianmv3612]

Wow mission hill is not that bad at all! i have lived here for a while now and have never had a problem. It has a bad stigma but has turned around in the past few years.