Organized By Charlestown Historical Society
75 West School St. ,Charlestown (42.375300, -71.067450)
Car theft has a long history in Charlestown dating back to 1925, when James Sheehan, later nick-named 'Shiner', created a new 'sport' for young men from 9 to 20 yrs of age. They would steal a car in Boston, come over the Charlestown bridge, then down Chelsea St to Bunker Hill St and on to Main St. This "loop" around the 1 square mile of Charlestown was at speeds up to 80 mph and they were chased by the Boston Police. Lifelong resident of Charlestown, Ed Callahan, first heard stories about the loopers from his grandmother and later by an elevator operator in his office building in Boston. Ed will tell the history of the Charlestown Loopers with numerous photographs. While the Charlestown residents cheered the young boys at first, later the crowds turned against the loopers after innocent citizens died. Pearl Harbor was the beginning of the end of the loopers as most young men went off to war. Learn about the 25 year history of the loopers, 16 deaths, and the damage to public utilities, stores, houses, cars, trees, fire hydrants and more. The Charlestown Historical Society presents the Charlestown Loopers on Tuesday May 21, 2013 at the Bunker Hill Knights of Columbus, 545 Medford Street at 7:00 pm