The statue of
the young boy on “ Pill Hill “ was one of many thousands manufactured during
the 1800’s. They were made of cast iron and were used primarily to tether
horses while their owners took their business elsewhere. The statue depicted a
young African American boy dressed in a jockey uniform whose arm extended with
a ring for a rope to be attached. As the horse gave way to the automobile the
statues where made of concrete and used primarily as lawn ornaments. The ring
often held a lantern.
In Southie
there was a third use. The Mothers there conspired to scare gullible children
into believing that if they misbehaved then God would turn them into stone. I have
to admit as I passed the statue on my way to the Strand Theater it scared the life
out of me. However it didn’t stop me from misbehaving. My mother often chased
me with her thin rolling pin with the threat to beat me to a pulp. Thank goodness
I was fast enough to escape. Although I don’t believe she would have carried
out her threat had she caught me----then again?
1 comment:
Hi "Deputy Dick," I see that you posted last month so you are still around and kicking. I am writing a memoir of growing up in the Old Colony between 1944 -1954 with my five brothers. I would like your permission to include your piece on the Mock Invasion of Carson Beach. The Boston Sunday Globe (October 2, 1949) covers the missing explosives whereas your posting captures the reality on the ground, reliving the actual event.
I love all your other postings, as well.
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