Eddie's District
‘Make it in Massachusetts’ thumbs up pin
Box 154, Object 9, Edward P. Boland congressional papers, CA1998-003
Boland as Marshal of the Springfield St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Box 133, Folder 33, Edward P. Boland congressional papers, CA1998-003
Boland was a beloved figure throughout the 2nd District of Massachusetts, especially in the city of Springfield. Boland excelled at connecting with his constituents, and he received vast amounts of mail from them covering issues such as taxes, social security, terrorism, pollution and the environment, protection of wild horses and burros, and Vietnam. These letters were an important glimpse of what mattered to the people, so Eddie listened and responded.
Constituent letter to Boland about ending the Vietnam War, 1969.
Box 73, Folder 7, Edward P. Boland congressional papers, CA1998-003
Boland form letter responding to proposed ending of Vietnam War, circa 1969.
Box 73, Folder 7, Edward P. Boland congressional papers, CA1998-003
Boland with Mayor John D. O’Connor, Congressman Silvio Conte, Governor John A. Volpe, Brigadier General Seymour A. Potter, Leonard J. Collamore at Littleville Dam groundbreaking, August 10, 1962.
Box 133, Folder 17, Edward P. Boland congressional papers, CA1998-003
Boland and Silvio Conte with dynamite detonator for Littleville Dam groundbreaking, August 19, 1962.
Box 133, Folder 17, Edward P. Boland congressional papers, CA1998-003
One of Boland’s biggest fights and ultimate disappointments was the closure of the Springfield Armory. Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the Armory began producing military firearms in 1777 and continued manufacturing firearms until its eventual closure in 1968.
Boland at an Armory Watershops lease signing ceremony, November 9, 1966.
Box 133, Folder 20, Edward P. Boland congressional papers, CA1998-003
The Gun Report (May 1964) with article on the Springfield Armory.
Box 86, Folder 9, Edward P. Boland congressional papers, CA1998-003
The Springfield Armory employed many in Western Massachusetts and supported other industries, so, when U.S. Secretary of State Robert McNamara announced its closure as a cost cutting measure at the height of the Vietnam war, Boland fought hard to prevent it. In 1965, the entire Massachusetts Congressional Delegation met with McNamara in Washington to try to change his mind.
Transcript of Massachusetts Congressional Delegation meeting with Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, 1965.
Box 87, Folder 1, Edward P. Boland congressional papers, CA1998-003
Boland’s testimony at Massachusetts Congressional Delegation meeting with Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, 1965.
Box 87, Folder 1, Edward P. Boland congressional papers, CA1998-003
The fight to prevent the Armory’s closure continued for several years and by 1966 Boland challenged the closure in a Senate hearing, citing economic, policy, and legal issues.
Preparedness Investigative Subcommittee of the Committee of Armed Services report on the Closure of Springfield Armory, March 22, 1966.
Box 88, Folder 3, Edward P. Boland congressional papers, CA1998-003
Boland’s testimony for Preparedness Investigative Subcommittee of the Committee of Armed Services report on the Closure of Springfield Armory, March 22, 1966.
Box 88, Folder 3, Edward P. Boland congressional papers, CA1998-003
Even an independent consultant report stated that the Armory closure would have an adverse impact on the economy, but McNamara was not swayed by any of the arguments. After a long fight, Boland was forced to concede that the Armory would close in 1968.
Springfield Daily News clipping of Boland announcing the Springfield Armory closure with Mayor Charles V. Ryan, November 16, 1965.
Box 90, Folder 5, Edward P. Boland congressional papers, CA1998-003
