Inside the Curley house. From the Boston City Archives collection of photos of the house.
James Michael Curley's old place on the Jamaicaway, which has mostly sat unused for decades, will get new life under a plan by the Emerald Necklace Conservancy to re-open it for regular historical and cultural events.
The city Board of Appeal approved the plan - in which the conservancy will use the second and third floor of the 350 Jamaicaway house as office space - on Tuesday.
Richard Dennis, Curley's stepson, who actually lived in the house between 1937 and 1956, couldn't be happier.
At the board hearing, Dennis, who himself chaired the zoning board for some 30 years, recalled looking out his bedroom window at Jamaica Pond - where he and Curley would go out on a rowboat. "I would row for him while he went fishing," he said. "He loved the pond."
An attorney for the conservancy told the board the proposal would involve no changes to the exterior of the landmark and only minimal changes to the interior. The house was built in 1915.
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Comments
The property is worth at
By anon
Thu, 08/31/2017 - 2:45pm
The property is worth at least $3 million. Just sell it. Using half the living area for office space for a conservancy is not an efficient use of public property. It's basically making a $100k / year donation from the taxpayers to the conservancy.
Curley Mansion
By Edward J. Lonergan
Thu, 08/31/2017 - 4:07pm
It is a wonderful tribute to one of the historic giants in Massachusetts history, a gentleman whose legacy lives on in so many vibrant places.
If Dick Dennis, approves, it is, i, worthy of approval!!!
He Was A Crook
By John Costello
Fri, 09/01/2017 - 10:28am
You have to love the Mythology of Curley by the local Irish American community. "Curley had the washerwomen get up off of the floor" "Curley took a government test for a friend" Blah blah blah. He was an embarrassment.
Curley built this mansion on graft of government funds. He made himself rich while passing himself off as "Mayor Of The Poor".
He was an egomaniac and did enough self-serving through his office holding (which included the governorship at one point) that it makes 45 selling his MAGA hats look cute by comparison.
Take the time to read "I Did It Again" by Curley and then read The Rascal King by Jack Beatty. I'm with Beatty on the legacy of JMC to this city. The city's tax base eroded under Curley and the city went into steep decline because of the way the city was run and the expected payouts that went with it.
There reportedly is a picture of Curley out there doing the Mussolini Fascist salute at a feast in the North End. Good times, eh?
The best legacy on Curley was from a few years before he died. He had devolved to being a bag man for the Democratic machine. He gave one local office holder an envelope with $400 in it. The office holder said later he always wondered if Curley nipped $100 from the original $500 or $600 from the original $1,000.
It is about time the City got some of its money back for this waste of funds. Get it back on the tax rolls. He's got two statues, get rid of the mansion.
Thankfully John Hynes and John Collins got this city going again or we would be a salt water St. Louis.
Curley Mansion Reopening
By Charles Belanger
Tue, 05/01/2018 - 2:23pm
South Boston is Still the safest causeway to enjoy in Boston. That has a direct connection to two things. James Michael Curley & Irish Pride
Tax payers are'nt paying for it
By anon
Thu, 08/31/2017 - 5:34pm
The George Robert White Fund pays for it. $3M is pocket change for a city, it's not worth selling it to be condo'd out for a few out of town JP Liberals.
WTF does this even mean?
By Parkwayne
Fri, 09/01/2017 - 10:20am
Who in your worldview would be allowed to purchase a unit in this then if not a JP resident? Someone who can trace their city lineage back to Curley's era or something? If it's going to be used fine, but this city is chock full of historical buildings - we don't have to be held hostage by some nostalgia for a more corrupt era of politics.
Why did it just sit there all this time?
By Gary C
Thu, 08/31/2017 - 4:07pm
It's mildly historical, but c'mon, either put it to good use or sell it and move on. Glad to see that something is going in there, but unless they turn it into Lombardo's on the J-Way, it's not likely to earn it's keep.
Perhaps Because It Was Just Too Hideous?
By Elmer
Thu, 08/31/2017 - 5:33pm
[img]https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/725/21711306114_94d06046eb_m.jpg[/img][img]https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/647/22146319848_efbe4c4de9_m.jpg[/img]
[img]https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/644/22146319408_389c07a0b3_m.jpg[/img][img]https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/682/22146319238_eb7d9c116b_m.jpg[/img]
[sup] ( with too many ugly sinks in awkward places? )[/sup]
A family member had her
By hollydollydoo
Thu, 08/31/2017 - 5:18pm
A family member had her wedding reception there. She worked for the city. It was a great reception - beautiful day in late September (warm, sunny). The Junior League had just used it for their show house, so it was in great shape.
We used pumpkins, tulle and ivy leaves for the centerpieces. It was a lot of fun.
Mas corruption!
By OriginalPatPayaso
Thu, 08/31/2017 - 10:05pm
Private use of public spaces for government employees?
At one point
By cw in boston
Thu, 08/31/2017 - 11:42pm
the Curley House was rented out for events. That ended some years ago. I don't think being a city employee had anything to do with it.
I wonder who has Mass. plate
By Chris77
Fri, 09/01/2017 - 7:32am
I wonder who has Mass. plate #576.
576
By John Costello
Fri, 09/01/2017 - 10:32am
In case people are wondering 5 (James) 7 (Michael) 6 (Curley).
Reportedly Cardinal Cushing also had a special number for his car too. I cannot recall it but it was a code number as well.
#576
By Doug
Fri, 09/01/2017 - 12:59pm
#576 is now assigned as the registration poster for the mayor of Boston.
Incidentally, 5-7-6 represents the number I'd letters in James Michael Curley.
Ray Flynn has the plate
By anon
Mon, 09/04/2017 - 11:39pm
Ray Flynn has the plate
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