She quickly found, however, that she liked more about her new somerville neighborhood than the price. My cousin joe was a hit man for the boston mob vice. Joseph joe mac mcdonald 19601997 a soldier, original member of the winter hill gang, world war ii veteran and street fighter, the fbis top ten most wanted fugitive, arrested in 1982 before he could turn himself in, died in 1997 just after being released from prison. Dec 29, 2010 i grew up in somerville, massachusetts. Michael mclean grew up in somerville, massachusetts, and now. He was of scottish and irish descent winter hill gang. Howie winter then assumed control of the winter hill gang. Whether you need help shoveling, or youre a teen looking. Seldom interviewed, he granted permission to the authors of citizen somerville. James joseph buddy mclean january 26, 1930 october 31, 1965 was an irishamerican mobster boss, who was the original boss of the somerville, massachusetts based winter hill gang during the 1960s. Mcdonald was born in 1917 in somerville, massachusetts. In the book black mass by dick lehr and gerard oneill, the authors claimed that. So they went to see the gangsters who controlled somerville, red and bills hometown.
Cops, con men, and joe mccain, the last real detective. The book is about howie winter and the winter hill gang, which ive heard. Erika tarlin moved to winter hill in 1995 in part because her former neighborhood, porter square, had grown too expensive. Mention the winter hill gang and most people immediately think of james whitey bulger. Winter hill, somerville, massachusetts facts for kids. Early life mcdonald was born in 1917 in somerville, massachusetts. A boston herald journalist in the 1970s dubbed them the winter hill mafia, though the group was actually rivals with the famed italianamerica patriarca crime. Boston, charlestown, dorchester, south boston the irish gang war was between the mclaughlin gang of charlestown, led by bernie mclaughlin and the winter hill gang of somerville, led by james buddy mclean. Nov 02, 2010 i truly enjoyed this book, although it probably will appeal mostly to nearby residents, descendants of residents, and boston area crime literature junkies. The winter hill gang was given its name in the 1970s by journalists at the boston herald, although the name was hardly ever openly used as a reference to them while winter hill gang members are alleged to have been involved with most typical organizedcrimerelated activities, they are perhaps most known for fixing horse races in the northeastern united states. Cops, con men, and joe mccain, the last real detective atkinson, jay on. Winter hill is located roughly north of medford street, west of mcgrath highway, and east of magoun square. My life as an enforcer for whitey bulger and the boston.
The winter hill gangs core membership was mainly irishamerican and italianamerican, deriving its name from the winter hill neighborhood of somerville, massachusetts, north of boston. Joseph joe mac mcdonald born 1917 died 1997, was a irishamerican mobster and high ranking member of the winter hill gang. Michael mclean grew up in somerville, massachusetts, and now lives in south boston. Whitey bulger, and hitmen john martorano and stephen the. This could be one of the bloodiest new england gang wars ever with over 60 killed. Peabody author leavitt makes book on mobster mclean. After the irish gang war, the winter hill gang was reputed to be not only the top irish mob syndicate in the. March 11, 2019 prlog mention the winter hill gang and most people immediately think of james whitey bulger. Snow terrace, somerville, massachusetts affiliation.
Back in the day, this quiet massachusetts town was a mafia mecca. A year later, in 1966, the last two associates of the mclaughlin gang, brothers connie and steve hughes, were killed. The winter hill gang is a structured confederation of boston, massachusetts area organized crime figures, predominantly irishamerican. Growing up with the winter hill gang 9780982991503 by martini, bobby. Jan 15, 2018 the winter hill gang takes its name from the winter hill neighborhood of somerville. This could be one of the bloodiest new england gang wars ever with over 60. Buddy mclean, the unofficial irish godfather of the north side of boston, and howard t. The winter hill gang, important to this story as youll later read, was based out of the winter hill area of somerville, one of those typical working class neighborhoods with two and threefamily row houses squeezed between bars and shops. Mclean was well known throughout the greater boston area as an unstoppable street fighter. Best dentists in winter hill, somerville, ma book online. All appointment times are guaranteed by our winter hill, somerville dentists. The densely settled area was packed with lovely compact gardens and neighbors who had been there for years and knew all the stories on every corner.
It derives its name from the winter hill neighborhood of somerville, massachusetts north of boston. Giggling dispatcher no laughing matter for kin of od. The winter hill gang is one of the most infamous crime organizations that hailed from massachusetts. I truly enjoyed this book, although it probably will appeal mostly to nearby residents, descendants of residents, and boston area crime literature junkies.
Mar 24, 2019 peabody the winter hill gang on somerville is perhaps best known for being the crime organization that spawned the late whitey bulger. The guide unravels the complicated hits of the winter hill gang and the irish mob wars of the 1960s and 1970s. Gang file captioned matter has been utilized as a repository for intelligence information concerning the winter hill gang based in south boston, ma. This book maps the bloody history that helped him become king of boston crime. Winter hill gang mcdonald was one of the originators of. He accumulated injuries including several scars on his neck and face as well as a damaged left eye. Spring hill is the name of a ridge in the central part of the city of somerville, massachusetts, and the residential neighborhood that sits atop it. The winter hill gang s core membership was mainly irishamerican and italianamerican, deriving its name from the winter hill neighborhood of somerville, massachusetts, north of boston. Howie winter, 83, and exhead of winter hill gang, arrested.
Original boss of the winter hill gang he looks like a choir boy but fights like the devil. Winter was born in boston, massachusetts on march 17, 1929. Michael mclean official author website king of winter hill. Keratsis, elayne and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books. There was no more respected figure in the boston underworld than mclean, the originator of the winter hill gang. Somerville, massachusetts, hells kitchen, manhattan, charlestown, boston, south boston, westies, winter hill gang, ke by hephaestus books author aug202011 paperback.
There have been many books about the mob, but every now and then, a true story appears and becomes a hit. Kevin weeks born march 21, 1956 is a former irish american mobster and a longtime friend and confidant to james j. The book outlines the rise of buddy mclean from his humble beginnings as a hardworking truck driver, to leading the now infamous winter hill gang, to his murder in 1965. Founded by marinos fathers friend buddy mclean, the winter hill gang derived its name from winter hill in the boston suburb of somerville, which marinos father grew up in. Buddy mclean, boss of the notorious winter hill mob during bostons irish gang war leavitt, larry on. Howie winter, now retired, was the reputed head of bostons winter hill gang.
Jun 07, 2012 howie winter, the 83yearold former powerful head of the winter hill gang and the predecessor of gangster james whitey bulger, was arrested thursday evening on charges of trying to. All appointment times are guaranteed by our winter hill, somerville doctors. Apr 17, 2016 joey y was not a titan of the boston underworld, as you can discern from his lowly position at the absolute bottom of the feds organizational chart for the winter hill gang. Elayne keratsis in the early 1960s a bloody civil war broke out between the two powerful irish mob families in the somerville massachusetts neighborhood known as winter hill. Our shops were located a halfmile apart along the broadway section of somerville, more specifically winter hill, where the james whitey bulger mob roamed. An auto body shop on marshall street served as the headquarters for the winter hill gang a loosely organized group of criminals that became the top nonmafia gang in new england under the leadership of buddy mclean, howard t.
My life as an enforcer for whitey bulger and the boston irish. Sep 10, 2015 he was also an fbi informant for 30 years. The name dates back to the early 1600s, and early maps of the area show winter hill fort as a major military installation. Buddy mclean, boss of the notorious winter hill mob during bostons irish gang war. Thewinter hill gang took its name from the winter hill neighborhood of somerville, massachusetts north of boston. Its members have included notorious boston gangsters howie winter howie, james mclean buddy, james j. A somerville reading list somerville public library. Larry leavitt holds his new book on the winter hill mob in somerville. Com in the early 1960s a bloody civil war broke out between the two powerful. Final chapter in winter hill gang history boston herald.
The group was founded by james buddy mclean in 1950, but was most powerful between 1965 and 1979. This is how buddy mclean was described by many friends and foes. After buddy mclean, leader of the somerville gang, fell victim to the charlestown contingent led by. The two massachusetts natives met while working in florida, and after telling her his stories, she suggested he write them down.
It runs northwest to southeast, roughly bounded by highland avenue, somerville avenue, elm street, and willow avenue. At the top of the hill is the winter hill bakery, a famous landmark in the area. Buddy mclean boss of the notorious winter hill gang during bostons irish gang war. The winter hill gang is a structured confederation of boston, massachusettsarea organized crime figures, who are predominantly of irish and italian descent. Browse photos, see new properties, get open house info, and research neighborhoods on trulia. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Were kicking our list off with a few books that provide some general history.
Based in the city of somerville just minutes from boston, the winter hill gang ruled the mob world in the state for much of the 60s and 70s until they were taken town by multiple arrests in the 80s. Winter hill is presidential the somerville news blog. Growing up with the winter hill gang, is selfpublished by martini and keratsis. Its members have included notorious boston gangsters howie winter, james buddy mclean, james j. Mcdonald was one of the originators of the irishitalian winter hill gang and was a close friend and mentor to mob bosses buddy mclean and howie winter. Not so fast, says local author bobby martini, author of citizen somerville. You may know them as the gang that couldnt shoot straight, made famous by a jimmy breslin book. The winter hill gang was given its name in the 1970s by journalists at the.
Buddy mclean, from his humble beginnings as a hardworking truck driver in boston, to leading the original and now infamous winter hill gang, to his untimely murder in 1965. The irish king of winter hill and millions of other books are available for. The irish king of winter hill is the story of the rise and fall james j. Growing up with the winter hill gang paints bulger as an. The winter hill gang takes its name from the winter hill neighborhood of somerville. Giggling dispatcher no laughing matter for kin of od victim by brock parker somerville journal thursday, january 26. Growing up with the winter hill gang bobby martini, elayne keratsis on. Full text of winter hill gang see other formats, ft t is requested a control file be opened to control incoming intelligence information pertaining to past and current members of the winter hill gang. Keratsis, elayne and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. At the top of the hill is the winter hill bakery, a. Bulger whitey, and hitman stephen flemmi the rifleman. The 120foot hill that occupies the winter hill neighborhood played a key role in the american revolution but all signs of its significance during that time have vanished. Semiautobiographical, the book depicts what it was like growing up in east somerville among members of the winter hill gang during and after the irish gang wars of the 1960s.
What winter hill thinks of whitey somerville, ma patch. Irish mobmafia crimesomerville massachusettsboston massachusettsmafia gangsterthe riflemanlife of crimeal caponeirish american. An early map of the area dated 1637 from the papers of. We all knew of the winter hill gang but we didnt really know them until this book. Best doctors in winter hill, somerville, ma book online. Over sixty men were murdered, including the leader of the winter hill gang, james buddy mclean. A veteran of world war ii, mcdonald was a skilled contract killer. Winter was the righthand man to the originator of the gang, james buddy. Bulger, the infamous boss of the winter hill gang, a crime family based out of the winter hill neighborhood in somerville, massachusetts.
Back in the day, this quiet massachusetts town was a mafia. Apartments for rent in winter hill, somerville, ma. Howie winter, the 83yearold former powerful head of the winter hill gang and the predecessor of gangster james whitey bulger, was arrested thursday evening on charges of trying to. The irish gang war was between the mclaughlin gang of charlestown, led by bernie mclaughlin and the winter hill gang of somerville, led by james buddy mclean. It gets its name from the 120foot hill that occupies its landscape, the name of which dates back to the 18th century. Winter hill is a neighborhood in somerville, massachusetts. Peabody the winter hill gang on somerville is perhaps best known for being the crime organization that spawned the late whitey bulger. Joey y was not a titan of the boston underworld, as you can discern from his lowly position at the absolute bottom of the feds organizational chart for the winter hill gang. The gang, named after a somerville, massachusetts, neighborhood, came about during the late 1940s when a teenager from somerville. It derives its name from the winter hill neighborhood of somerville, massachusetts, north of boston. Charges outlined against former boss of the winter hill gang. Raw, exposing all, beautifully written in the vernacular it should be written in. By then, if you ask people in somerville, the winter hill gang was no more than a name, but a name that stuck.
In 1963, he escaped from prison while serving a 12 to. Once a week youll receive a brief update on city events, news, services, and opportunities to get involved as well as invitations to community meetings with mayor curtatone and your councilors. Members of the winter hill gang, including the notorious james whitey. The winter hill gang is a structured confederation of boston, massachusetts area organized crime figures, who are predominantly of irish and italian descent. Peabody author leavitt makes book on mobster mclean itemlive. In the early 1960s a bloody civil war broke out between the two powerful irish mob families in the somerville massachusetts neighborhood known as winter hill.
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