On March 17th, 2011, State Reps Collins, Fox and Henriquez sponsored an Evacuation day luncheon at the historic Shirley Eustis House in Roxbury. Evacuation day, which is a legal holiday in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, commemorates the joint military initiatives in Dorchester Heights (Thomas Park, Southie) and Fort Hill (Highland Park, Roxbury) that forced the British out of Boston during the Revolutionary War. Evacuation day is celebrated every year on St Patricks Day, March 17th.
The Shirley Eustis House is a restored Revolutionary War era mansion built in 1747. "Shirley Place" later became the home of William Eustis, an early Massachusetts Governor. The mansion changed hands several times, and in 1911, a group of Bostonians formed the Shirley Eustis House Association. The association bought the house and the surrounding land and began restoration. One hundred years later, in 2011, the mansion is a museum and is available for private event rentals.
Todays event included guided tours of the mansion, a lunch catered by Ideals restaurant and Nos Cafe, and a presentation by the Lexington Minutemen. The Minutemen marched in formation and fired a volley in salute. One member performed a selection on his fife. The musket fire brought a few curious neighbors out of their homes, but the presentation was very good.
Representatives Nick Collins of Fourth Suffolk, Linda Dorcena Forry of Twelfth Suffolk, Gloria Fox of Seventh Suffolk and Carlos Henriquez of Fifth Suffolk were all in attendance. They represent a diversity of neighborhoods in Boston, including Southie, Roxbury, Hyde Park, Dorchester, Mattapan, South End, Brookline etc. The other guests were from all walks of life, as well.This event was a history lesson in how all Bostonian worked to shape the history of Boston and the forming of the United States.
Happy Evacuation Day! Joyous St Patricks Day!
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