Sunday, May 25, 2008

Jamaica Plain Honors Its Heroes



Elm and Gordon sts., 6/2008.



Boston Daily Globe October 13, 1921


Jamaica Plain Pays Honor To Its Heroes

Veterans and Civil Societies Dedicate Four Squares

Broughton, Farnham, O'Gorman and Lieut Carr Eulogized


Jamaica Plain ex-service men, societies and citizens turned out 2000 strong yesterday afternoon for the dedication of four squares, named for four boys from their section, who made the supreme sacrifice in the World War.

The ceremonies were under the auspices of Michael J O'Connell Post, A.L., John W. Murphy Post, V.F.W., Jamaica Plain Council, K. of C. the Boy Scouts, a company of sailors from the U.S.S. Addroscoggin, the Central Club. the Eliot Club, the United Spanish War Veterans and the G.A.R. joined in the procession marching from square to square.

The first to be dedicated was Broughton sq at Gordon and Elm sts, in honor of Corp Harry Broughton of the (?) Field Artillery, son of Dr Harry Broughton. Broughton died in France Oct 8, 1918. At the exercises the Rev Charles H. Williams, pastor of the Central Congregational Church, Rev Dr A.Z. Conrad, pastor of the Park street Church and Maj Frederick Bauer, were the speakers.

The next was J. Harold Farnham sq at Elm and Everett sts, in memory of the young man whose name it bears, who was killed while fighting along with British aerial service in France. Rev John P. Chaffee, Dean Lord of Boston University and Rev Bailey Lipsky of Barre, Vt. delivered addresses.

At the junction of Centre and May and the Parkway, Lieut John Thomas Carr sq was named. Carr served in the United States Navy in the Spanish War and was a lieutenant on the U.S.S. Tampa, when it was torpedoed off the English Coast and he lost his life. Ex-Mayor James M. Curley, Rev Fr McNamara and Rt Rev Mgr Edward J. Moriarty of St Thomas Church made addresses.

At Pond and Prince sts and the Arborway, Matthew Edward O'Gorman sq was dedicated. Wilfred I Kelley DDSK of the Knights of Columbus told of the valor of O'Gorman, who not content with clerical work as chief sea man in the Navy, asked for foreign service and was killed with the bombing(?) squad on the Belgium front, Aug (?) 1918. Mr Curley and Mgr Moriarty also spoke.

Commander J. Edward M(?) of O'Connell Post, A.L. and Commander George Ainsworth of John W. Murphy Post, V.F.W. headed large committees from their organizations in (?) the arrangements.

1 comment:

  1. HI Mark: We are reading with interest your article on WWI Veteran Square Monuments. In our family we have a young lad, Cornelius Mahoney, who died on November 9, 1918 in France while engaged in battle. We just found out that a square was named in his honor as he was from Jamaica Plain. In contacting the historical society and then the Department of Veterans Affairs, they informed me that Cornelius' plaque had been located at the intersection of Center and Day streets -- apparently it had "toppled over" and they believe it has now been placed in the triangle at that intersection. Would you have seen this?? We are planning to make a trip up to Jamaica Plain in the near future in an attempt to locate his plaque. He was killed in action near St. Andre Farm, north of Verdun just two days before the Armistice! Thank you for posting all of the information on these WWI Veterans. You may e-mail me at Bramasole@cox.net. My best regards, Annie and Bill

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