PUBLISHED (print)
Boston's
School Boy Cadets
For over 100 years, military
training was a required class for young men in Boston's
public school system, and was celebrated every year with
a grand parade through the Hub. Published by History
Magazine in the November/December 2018 edition.
The trial of William Shakespeare
The true
story about a man who proved in a Chicago court that
Francis Bacon wrote Shakespeare - and it's amazing
connection to Pearl Harbor and the Cold War. Published by History Magazine
in the September/October 2017 edition.
Modern day "Charlie" may return, Boston Herald August 9,
2017
Commuter rail company Keolis' plan to check for
fares at the end of the line harkens back to a
unique Boston saga, as I write here...
City Hall area stuck in old tune, Boston Herald, June 28, 2015
What started as a response
to a Facebook post from a friend
turned into this column, which is posted on line here.
Bravery didn't miss a beat, Boston Herald,
September 19, 2009
I was so pleased that the Boston Herald
published my tribute to my dad and his service to our
country in World War Two. The Herald is not much better
than the Globe about archiving so here is a modified
version for your to read here.
Road
Underfoot at Last, Boston Herald July 18, 2009
To
"celebrate" the 50th anniversary of Boston most reviled
road, the Central Artery.
The
Most Important House in the World, Boston Globe, January
4, 2009
As the
nation prepared to welcome a new resident to 1600
Pennsylvania Avenue, a reflection in the home into which
Barack Obama and his family will live. Read it here
Destroying
a neighborhood to save a city, Boston Globe, May 10,
2008
To
commemorate the 50th anniversary of the destruction of the
West End neighborhood, this column explained the rationale behind the disastrous
urban renewal project, but also explained how it changed
the way we do public works in Boston. The column is
posted on the Boston Globe web site here.
Still
Playing with Fire, Boston Herald, March 8, 2008
When it was
revealed that many clubs and restaurants were not being
held to new, stricter sprinkler laws (put in effect after
the disastrous Station Nightclub
fire that killed 100) I wrote this column to, well,
basically berate the city for ignoring its history.
(This column was originally
written to time with the 65th anniversary of the Cocoanut
Grove fire, but made it into print after the 5th
anniversary of the Station nightclub.). Archived by the
Herald here.
The
Vendome Test, Boston Globe, June 16, 2007
On June 17,
1972, nine Boston firefighters died fighting a fire at
Boston's Hotel Vendome. This piece was part history,
part tribute to the nine who died and the men and women
who continue to fight our fires. Posted on the Globe
website here.
Because
Boston still matters, Boston Herald, December 27, 2006
A history
of Boston's City Hall, which lead to my support of Mayor
Thomas Menino's plan to move City government to the South
Boston waterfront. Archived by the Herald here.
Boston's
Main Street, Boston Globe, September 27, 2006
A response
to the suggestion that a portion of Hanover Street in the
North End be turned into a pedestrian mall. As
someone who loathes the automobile, I was surprised at
which side if the discussion found myself on, but pleased
at the eventual abandonment of the idea. On the Globe
website here.
Little
Mr. Victory, Where are you?, Boston Globe, July 25, 2005
Now the
subject of David's latest book (being co-authored with
Tina Drzal) it tells what was then known about a baby who
was abandoned on the Boston Common in the middle of the VJ
Day celebration in Boston. Read it here
Strutting
and Fretting at the Gaiety, Boston Globe, February 19,
2005
A
comparison of the fates of two beloved theaters, the Old
Howard and the Gaiety.
Why we
should embrace a Boston City Museum, Boston Business
Journal, August 13, 2004
A piece
written after Moshe Safdie's plan for a city museum over
the depressed Central Artery was presented to the
public. A version of this column appeared in the
BBJ.
Lesson
in foresight from the "big dig" of 1800s, Boston Globe,
June 30, 2003
David's
second look back at the Back Bay project, and the lessons
the Big Dig needs to learn from its success. Archived by
the Globe here.
Why
challenge Bush in 2004? Look at history, Boston
Globe, August 24, 2002
A look
backwards - and forward - at presidential elections
throughout American history, and the long odds of beating
and incumbent. Archived by the Globe here.
Allowing
casino gambling in state is losing proposition, Boston
Herald, April 21, 2002
An opinion
piece on why casino gambling should not be allowed in
Massachusetts.Archived by the Herald here.
Little
known history behind Old Howard, Boston Globe, February
2, 2002
I titled it
Boston's Rosa Parks, and it is the story of
abolitionist Sarah Remond and the Old Howard. Archived on
the Globe website here.
Boston's
favorite sports, Boston Globe, January 7, 2002
An all-too-familiar story of politics,
revenge, and the Boston Red Sox.
Boston's
original Big Dig, Boston Globe, August 12, 2001
How the
Back Bay was filled in, and what today's Central Artery
could learn from that massive construction job. Archived
by the Globe here.
The
cruelest month indeed, Boston Globe, April 1, 2001
The litany
of the horrible and strange events events in April,
through history. See the archived post here.
A
'hack' who grew into office, Boston Globe, October 2,
2000
My favorite
President is the obscure Chester A. Arthur, a man I don't
believe has gotten the credit he deserves. I tried
to make amends with this piece. Posted here
by the Globe.
King of
Cons, Boston Magazine, August, 2000
Boston’s
infamous swindler, who made millions in 1920 running a
glorified pyramid scheme, fooling everyone, until an
enterprising reporter asked a single, devastating
question.
The end
of the world as we know it..., Boston Globe, December
13, 1999
With
survivalists digging bunkers in preparation for the
Y2K-inspired collapse of the world, this column described
a survivalist who made his name in Boston, and the
burlesque theater that resulted. Archived by the Globe here.
Reviving
a touch of Scollay Square, October 11, 1999
An opinion
piece on what should be done with Boston's City Hall
plaza, which the Globe has archived here.
Happy
birthday Charlie, we're all still rootin' for ya, Boston
Herald, August 15, 1999
The one
thing everyone seems to know about Boston is Charlie on
the MTA. This is the story of the hit song. Archived
by the Herald here.
A very
old story about ballplayers in pursuit of money, Boston
Globe, November 28, 1998
When Mo
Vaughn left Boston for more money in Anaheim the fans were
outraged. But in 1918 they actually struck before a
World Series game over money.
The day
Boston turned into one huge block party, Boston Globe,
August 14, 1995
It was
research on this column (about VJ Day in Boston) which led
me to the story of Little Mister Victory. Archived by the
Globe here.
The
unassuming Coolidge, Boston Globe, July 13, 1993
For the
70th anniversary of Coolidge's swearing in as President,
by his father. Archived by the Globe here.
A hot
dog with 'one all around' at Joe and Nemo's, Boston
Globe, March 26, 1992
Written to
celebrate the anniversary of the closing of the store's
Scollay Square location. Archived here.
Those
colorful town seals are genuine Yankee relics, Reading
Chronicle, August 13, 1991
Rum ships,
tunnels and waterwheels - what towns in Massachusetts
consider worthy of commemorating.
The
temple of Burlesque, Boston Globe, June 17, 1991
My first
published work for which I was paid.
Reading
marks its 346th birthday, Reading Chronicle, May 23,
1990
My first
published work. Evah.
POSTED (On Line)
Is
the World's Fair Dead? (July 2019)
It was 1900 when Henry Adams, historian and scion of a
family which produced two American presidents, walked the
Gallery of Machines at Paris' Great Exposition and stopped to
brood before a working exhibit of a dynamo....
The
Road to Nowhere (June 2019)
Every workday over 250,000 vehicles jam Route 128 here in
Eastern Massachusetts. That is way beyond its designed
capacity, with the resulting traffic jams raising the tempers
of commuters along with the temperatures of their engines. How
did we end up with this road we love to hate?
The
Speed of Communication (April 2019)
Five billion people sent almost 10 trillion texts last year.
Even more remarkable is most of those texts got to their
intended recipient within seconds. It is hard to explain to
people born after Bill Clinton was President how it wasn’t
always this easy...
The
World's First Disc Jockey? (February 2019)
His name was Reginald Aubrey Fessenden, and some say that what
he did in December 1906 led to Wolfman Jack, Martin Block,
Murray the K and anyone else (including yours truly) who made
a living playing records on the radio...
On
the
Mend
The Big Dig
heals a fifty year-old wound in the North End, but did
anybody notice?
Law
and
Order and the Boston Police Strike
As Boston
was dealing with its police union in 2004, this was a look
back on the 85th anniversary of the Boston Police Strike
of 1919.
Mr.
Menino,
tear down this hall!
A
suggestion by two city councilors that City Hall be razed
led to this 2004 column.
Cutting
the
ribbon, closing the loop
When the
new, underground central artery opens in 2003, there is
only one choice to cut the ribbon.
To
those
who made us who we are - and can be
Another
Artery-related column, this one presented my humble idea
for what to do with one of the parcels of land that was to
be created by the Big Dig.
A
last chance to make good with West Enders
Why West
Enders should get first crack at housing being built as
part of the re-development of Boston's Saltonstall
building.
In
the
public interest
An opinion
piece on the problems of multiple ownership in
radio. I signed the piece with a pseudonym that will
amuse radio-philes.