Faneuil Hall: Headquarters of the State Guards during the Police Strike

Photographs

September, 1919

Boston Public Library

Black and white photograph of a group of State Guards posing for the camera. The photograph features the outside of the upper two levels of Faneuil Hall. There is a line of guards sitting on top of a roof that is coming out of the side of the Hall just over the first floor. Behind this line of men are a few standing, and a few sitting in or leaning out of the second floor windows. There is also a group of guards leaning out of the third floor windows. The men are wearing State Guard uniforms, including khaki shirts, khaki breeches or pants, long socks, shoes, and campaign hats. The nature of the photograph is relatively jovial, some of the men are smiling, one man is lying down on his side in a second story window, another is standing on a window sill and leaning out of the window, and a third has his arm out as if waving to the photographer.

During the riots that erupted while the strike was ongoing, the State Guard took Faneuil Hall as their headquarters.

During the riots that erupted while the strike was ongoing, the State Guard took Faneuil Hall as their headquarters. From here they set out to take back control of the city and restore it to order in place of the police.

The 1919 Boston Police Strike

Demonstration

Words

Photographs