The Bunker Hill Associates: Politics, Punch Lines and a Parade!

The Bunker Hill Associates have been bringing the people of Charlestown together in support of youth programming and other neighborhood organizations since 1986. But if you ask our Charter Members, this story begins two years earlier, in a kitchen on Trenton Street with a slightly different goal in mind.

Sports. Street Names. Nicknames. Crime. There are just some things Charlestown does better than Southie. And in 1984, James Carroll was determined to add another thing to that list. Pre-Parade Breakfasts!

At the time, a century old tradition, South Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade Breakfast was the only show in town - an old-fashioned political roast, made famous by Master of Ceremonies, Senate President Billy Bulger. If not for a TV contract with NECN, many Charlestown homes would still be willfully ignorant of this tradition.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the tunnel and over a few beers at Old Sully’s (as many great Charlestown stories begin), Jimmy Carroll, Eddie Callahan and Jim Walsh thought, “Screw Southie. We can do it better!” And so they set out to beat Southie at their own game!

Eddie, one of the key Ward Coordinators for Mayor Ray Flynn, grabbed his brother Brian Callahan and other Charlestown political actors Jack Pierce, John Reveliotis, and Tom Cunha for gathering at the Callahan kitchen table, which would later be considered the first meeting of the Bunker Hill Associates, to discuss logistics of a pre-parade breakfast.

With the “When” decided, the “Where” seemed just as obvious! Since 1780, revolutionary war heroes, politicians, patriots and thirsty patrons have convened at the Warren Tavern for refreshments, conversation and celebration. 200 years later, nothing’s changed! It seemed only right for the beloved watering hole to host the inaugural Bunker Hill Day Parade Breakfast.

And with the 1984 Senate election in Massachusetts heating up, the “Why” was quickly established. Charlestown was backing John Kerry, and the Breakfast offered the perfect stage! Townies packed the Tavern on the morning of the parade, to the surprise of a few critics! A sold out Breakfast filled with political satire and speeches. The idea was to send attendees out into the parade laughing and in good spirits, and in that first, proof of concept Bunker Hill Day Breakfast, the boys from Trenton Street nailed it!

2 years and 35 members later, the Bunker HIll Associates and their accompanying charter were officially established, with a mission “to promote both the social interest and welfare of its members and the youth of Charlestown.”

(Representative Richard Voke welcomes the Bunker Hill Associates on Beacon Hill)

By 1986, the Bunker Hill Associates were better funded and well organized. The Tavern just wasn’t a large enough venue for the Breakfast. That year, the Associates and the Knights of Columbus teamed up to host the Breakfast at 75 West School Street, home of Bunker Hill Council KofC No. 62. However, the goal of the Breakfast remained the same - a public celebration of Charlestown and its people, with a side of politics and humor!

The Hall was shaking that Sunday morning of June 15, 1986. The Breakfast was so successful, one of the leading doubters of the Associates, Jim Conway, publisher of the Charlestown Patriot-Bridge, could be heard muttering in astonishment: “They did it; the young guys pulled it off!”

36 years after the signing of the Bunker Hill Associates Charter, few things have changed. We’ve expanded our membership, broadened our events calendar and inspired the creation of new organizations and civic groups in our community. Yet, our traditions and our mission have stayed the course - bringing the people of Charlestown together in support of youth and academic programming, helping our neighbors and fostering civic engagement in order to realize a better tomorrow for Charlestown!

Since inception, the Associates have raised and disbursed over $700,000 by way of grants, scholarships and other funds to the people and organizations of Charlestown. The organization has come a long way from a roundtable pow-wow of political enthusiasts in a kitchen on Trenton Street, and it’s all thanks to their commitment and service to Charlestown…and a slight bitterness towards South Boston.

Over the years, many incredible individuals have served this community as Bunker Hill Associates! In this month’s newsletter, we’d like to not only honor and appreciate some of our founding members who continue to serve today, but also those who have served as members in the past and those members who unfortunately are not here to see what the Bunker Hill Associates have become today, but had a large part in its success.