Chelsea’s Mayors

1857

Francis B. Fay

1858 – 1860

Hosea Ilsley

1861 – 1863

Frank B. Fay

1864 – 1866

Eustace C. Fitz

1867 – 1868

Rufus S. Frost

1869 – 1870

James B. Forsyth

1871 – 1872

John W. Fletcher

1873 – 1875

Charles H. Ferson

1876

Thomas Green

1877 – 1878

Isaac Stebbins

1879 – 1880

Andrew J. Bacon

1881 – 1882

Samuel P. Tenney

1883 – 1884

Thomas Strahan

1885 – 1886

Eugene F. Endicott

1887 – 1888

George E. Mitchell

1889 – 1890

Arthur B. Champlin

1891

Albert D. Bosson

1892 – 1893

Alfred C. Converse

1894 – 1895

George H. Carter

1896

John C. Loud

1897

Hermon W. Pratt

1898 – 1899

Seth J. Littlefield

1900 – 1901

James Gould

1902 – 1907

Edward E. Willard

1908

John E. Beck

1908 – 1912

Board of Control

1912

James H. Malone

1913 – 1914

Edward E. Willard

1915 – 1916

James H. Malone

1917 – 1918

Edward E. Willard

1919 – 1921

Melvin B. Breath

1922 – 1926

Lawrence F. Quigley

1927

John J. Whalen

1928 – 1929

Lawrence F. Quigley

1930-1931

John J. Whalen

1932-1935

Lawrence F. Quigley

1936-1941

Edward J. Voke

1942-1947

Bernard L. Sullivan

1948-1949

Tom Keating

1950-1951

Joseph A Melley

1952-1955

Andrew P. Quigley

1956-1959

Hugh McLaughlin

1960-1963

Alfred Voke

1964-1969

John J. Slater

1970-1971

Joseph Margolis

1972-1975

Philip J. Spellman

1976-1983

Joel Pressman

1984-1985

James D. Mitchell

1986-1987

Thomas Nolan

1988-1991

John Brennan

September 1991 – Massachusetts Legislature placed Chelsea in
Recievership. End of Mayoral form of government.

FRANCIS B. FAY – First Mayor of Chelsea

Francis B. Fay was born in Southborough, Massachusetts on June 12,
1793. He served as reprensentative in the Legislature from 1830 to
1831. In May 1831 he became agent of the Chelsea Ferry and Land
Company, and moved to Boston. In 1833 he moved to Chelsea, building
the seventh building in Chelsea south of Prattville. He represented
Chelsea in the Legislature from 1834 to 1836 and from 1840 to 1845.

 In 1852 he was elected to Congress to fill the vacancy caused
by the death of Robert Rantoul. He was the first president of the
Chelsea Savings Bank, a director of the North Bank of Boston and
several other banks. In 1857 he was elected the first mayor of
Chelsea. He did much to develop the lower part of the city by forming
theWinnisimmet Land Company in 1833. He died on October 6, 1876.

HOSEA ILSLEY, Chelsea’s second
mayor, was born in Newbury, Massachusetts, 25 February 1799. In 1838
he was elected to the State Legislature of Maine from Portland, where
he was then living. In 1839 he moved to Chelsea and served as town
moderator for several years, and chairman of the selectmen in
1843-47-48. He represented Chelsea in the Legislature in 1842-43-44
and was senator from Suffolk County. He served as Mayor in
1858-59-60. He died October 25, 1887.

FRANK B. FAY

Frank B. Fay, known as the ” War
Mayor,” a son of Francis B. Fay the first mayor, was born in
Southborough 24 January 1821, and moved to Chelsea in 1834. He served
in the Legislature in 1857; was mayor 1861-63, and State Senator in
1867. During the Civil War he spent much time at the front looking
after Chelsea’s soldiers and others. In 1864 the United States
Sanitary Commission established the Auxiliary Relief Corps of which

 he was made chief with power to choose two assistants. During
the last year of the War over one hundred thousand sick and wounded
came under the care of the corps. He served as a delegate to the
Republican Conventions of 1864 and 1868. Union Park was erected as a
result of his efforts. During his life “he opposed capital
punishment and took an active interest in the societies for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Children and for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals, holding office in each for many years.

EUSTIS C. FITZ

Eustis C. Fitz, Chelsea’s fourth mayor, was born in Haverhill,
Massachusetts on February 5, 1853, and died at his home on
Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, 27 May 1895. His parents moved to
Chelsea in 1841. He served in the common council in 1861-62-63, and
as mayor in 1864-65-66. In the Legislature 1872-73, and in the Senate
1875-76, and on the Governor’s Council in 1881-82.

He was president of the Boston Board of Trade in 1881-82,
president-of the Blackstone National Bank, a director of the New York
and New England Raflroad, and trustee of the Five Cent Savings Bank.
He was a trustee of Brown University, Wellesley College, Newton
Theological Institution, and served other institutions. He was the
first president of the Chelsea Y. M. C. A., and purchased and gave to
the city the George W. Gerrish estate for a public library. At its
dedication, James Russell Lowell was the orator.

RUFUS S. FROST

RUFUS S. FROST, fifth mayor, was born in Marlborough, New Hampshire,
18 July 1826; died in Chicago, Illinois, 6 March 1894. He entered the
wool business in Boston. In 1871-72 he was a member of the State
Senate. In 1873-74 he was a member of Governor Washburn’s Council. In
1874 he was elected to the Forty-fourth United States Congress.
During his administration as mayor, new projects were undertaken, new
organizations formed, new .interests created. The city was piped for
water, Union Park was completed, and a soldiers’ monument built, now
located in Basset Sq. On 29 August 1868, the Chinese Ambassador and
other high dignitaries were guests of the City of Chelsea. Mayor
Frost met the Ambassador at the Chelsea end of the bridge with a
magnificent yellow barouche, and drove him and Mayor Shurtleff of
Boston followed by the rest of the party to the City Hall. Mayor
Frost founded the Chelsea Memorial Hospital.

DR. JAMES B. FORSYTH

DR. JAMES B. FORSYTH, sixth mayor, was
born in Farmington, Maine, 25 October 1809. Graduated from Harvard
Medical School, and in1842 settled in Chelsea. He served in the
common council in 1857-58; in the Board of Aldermen 1860-61; 1863-64.
He was mayor from
1869 to 1870. He was a man of few words. He once said, ” I
cannot talk, though I can pray, but give me something to do and I
will do it.” The Great Peace Jubilee and Music Festival was held
in Boston in June 1869. The Chelsea Choral Society made up a part of
the grand chorus of over ten thousand voices. The building of the
immense coliseum was watched with great interest by the lovers of
music and others in Chelsea. He died 8 March 1872, and is buried at
Woodlawn Cemetary.

CHARLES H. PERSON

CHARLES H. PERSON, eighth mayor, was born
in Francestown, New Hampshire, in 1819; moved to Chelsea in 1843. He
was overseer of the poor; councilman 1860-61 and 1868; city marshal
1869-70; mayor 1873-74-75; representative to the General Court
1879-80. During his administration the city grew in population
(doubled in size over the population of 1868) and taxable property.
He died September 5, 1891.

.JOHN W. FLETCHER,

 JOHN W. FLETCHER, seventh mayor, was
born in Norridgewock, Maine. He served in the Civil War, being
discharged with the rank of Captain. He served as mayor in 1871-72;
his election was the most exciting contest in Chelsea’s history up to
that time.

The defeated candidate was C. M. Whittlesey, who was the choice of
the citizens’ caucus. Mr. Fletcher won by 517 votes. A barouche drawn
by four horses with silver mounted harness was sent to Boston to
bring the mayor elect home. He was escorted through the city by the
Chelsea brass band and a large procession of citizens with great
rejoicings, illuminations, and fireworks. Mr. Whittlesey, feeling
sure of the election, had engaged a banquet hall and provided a
liberal feast for the reception of friends and fellow citizens. With
magnanimous heart he invited Mayor-elect Fletcher and backers to
participate with him, but the invitation never reached him, being
rejected unofficially by one or more subordinates. The outstanding
events of his administration were the appropriation for the high
school $70,000 – and the widening of several of the principal streets.

THOMAS GREEN

ISAAC STEBBINS

THOMAS GREEN,
ninth mayor, born 13 July 1822, in Boston. In 1847, he married Anna
Elizabeth Marden, and had five children. He served two years in the
common council, and was mayor of Chelsea in 1876. He declined
re-election in 1877.

ISAAC STEBBINS,tenth
mayor, born at Stamford, Connecticut, 3 October 1817. Became a
citizen of Chelsea in 1842; served as selectman, representative to
the General Court 1874-75. After extensive travel abroad, he was
elected mayor in 1877, and re-elected in 1878.

  His habits and tastes were quiet and bookish. Chelsea was fast
getting into debt and the dominant thought of the citizens was to
choose an honest, faithful and capable city government. People were
clamoring for many needed improvements but, with the high rate of
taxation, it was impossible to make them. He was elected to handle
the situation as the best and most practical man, irrespective of
party or creed. He died 22 April 1887.

 He founded the Tradesman’s Bank, which became the First
National Bank, and for thirty-eight years was its president. He was
president of the Chelsea Gas Light Company. He built and controlled
the Academy of Music, where many famous old plays were acted. He died
on June 22, 1888. Chelsea lost by death a public spirited citizen,
and an honorable upright man. By his will he left the city $6500 for
a drinking fountain for man and beast to be located in Chelsea Square.

ANDREW J. BACON, eleventh mayor,
born in Watertown, Massachusetts, 8 October 1834; came to Chelsea
when a boy. He served in the Civil War with the Chelsea Company until
promoted to Lieutenant of the 29th unattached company of heavy
artillery for conspicuous bravery, and before the end of the war
became a Captain. He served as an alderman in 1877-78, and as mayor
in 1879-80. Died January, 1916.

SAMUEL P. TENNEY

THOMAS STRAHAN

SAMUEL P. TENNEY, Chelsea’s twelfth mayor,
born in Barre, Massachusetts, December 6, 1838. He was married in
Chelsea on July 26, 1862; served five years as a councilman and four
as alderman, and as mayor in 1881-1882.

THOMAS STRAHAN, thirteenth mayor, was born
in Scotland, 10 May 1847; was married in Chelsea in 1867. He was a
manufacturer of wall paper. After two years in common council was
elected mayor 1883-84.

EUGENE F. ENDICOTT

GEORGE E. MITCHELL

EUGENE F. ENDICOTT, fourteenth mayor, born
October 14, 1848; was the first mayor to be born in Chelsea. He was a
decendant of the earliest Massachusetts settlers, and his ancesters
served in the Revolutionary War. His official life began when he was
chosen to represent

GEORGE E. MITCHELL, fifteenth mayor, born May 8, 1844; served in the
common council 1878-79, and as alderman in 1880-81. Was mayor in 1887-88.
His son, Charles E. Mitchell, was president of the largest bank in
the world, the National City Bank of New York City.

the upper ward in the city council for five consecutive years, the
last three as president. He was elected mayor in 1885 and served two
terms. While he was mayor, improvements were made to the fire
department and the water department.

He served in the army during the Civil War. Was a member of the firm
of Goodall, Mitchell & Dexton, produce dealers. During his
administration electric lights were introduced in the streets of
Chelsea, and the reservoir was built on Powderhorn Hill.

AUTHUR B. CHAMPLIN

AUTHUR B. CHAMPLIN, sixteenth mayor; born in Chelsea, 7 February
1858. He was publisher of the Chelsea Gazette. He began is public
career in 1878 when elected to the common council, in which he served
for seven years, the last two of which he was elected president,
being the youngest man in the history of the city to fill that
office. He was elected to the State Legislature 1887-88. He was mayor
in 1889-90, and State Senator in 1891-92. In a speech before the
Senate he referred to Chelsea as Queen City of the Commonwealth, a
name which clung to it for many years. During his administration the
city gained many important improvements: Electric lights were
introduced, several miles of sewer and water pipe were built, brick
sidewalks were laid, the police and fire departments were
re-organized and the tax rate was lowered.

ALBERT D. BOSSON

ALBERT D. BOSSON, seventeenth mayor, born in Chelsea, November 8,
1853, he is decended from a long line of patriotic New England
ancestry. His four great grandfathers served in the Revolution and
his grandfather, John D. Bosson, was one of the early settlers of
Winnisimmet village took an active part in the War of 1812. At age
fifteen he graduated from Chelsea High School and entered
Philips-Exerter Academy. He was a graduate of Brown University in
1875 and Boston University in 1877. In 1882 he was appointed
associate justice of the Chelsea Court. He was elected the first
democratic mayor in the year 1891. While mayor he advocated and was
instrumental securing the abolishment of grade crossings between
Chelsea and Charlestown. He was the first to advocate the overhead
bridge to Charlestown. He was the first to recommend improvements to
Winnisimmet Square and an advocate of the Metropolitan Park system.
Governor Russell appointed him judge of the Chelsea Court in 1893.

In 1887 he married Alice Campbell the daughter of C. A. Campbell.
They had two children, Campbell Bosson, born November 18,1888 and
Pauline Arland Bosson, born February 24, 1894. Albert Bosson died on
April 6, 1926.

ALFRED C. CONVERSE

ALFRED C. CONVERSE, eighteenth mayor, born in Ringe, New Hampshire,
17 March 1827. His father was a prosperous farmer and was also
connected to the woolen industry. Educated in the public schools and
New Ipswitch Academy, he later taught school in his native town and
later in Townsend and Fitchburg, Massachusetts. In 1850. he moved to
New York and began work as a type founder. He served in the council
in 1877, and in the Board of Aldermen in 1889-90, and as mayor in
1892-93. During his administration important financial measures of
direct value to the city were incorporated. Numerous street
improvements and new sewers were projected and completed. During his
tenure there was a lot of agitation for a revision of the city
charter. The desired changes were supported by Mayor Converse.

GEORGE H. CARTER

GEORGE H. CARTER, nineteenth mayor, was born in Chelsea, May 5, 1859,
at 461 Broadway. He entered the employ of D. & L. Slade Company
at fifteen, and before his death became the head of the firm. He
served two years in each branch of the city government, and became
mayor in 1894 and 95. He advocated annexation to Boston (a greater
Boston) and a new charter the latter became a fact. He vetoed several
matters which were then defeated.

JOHN C. LOUD

JOHN C. LOUD, twentieth mayor, born at Plymouth, Maine, in 1844. When
the Civil War broke out, he enlisted in Company H, 22nd Maine
Volunteers, at eighteen years of age, and served until the end of the
war. He came to Chelsea in 1875 and in 1885 engaged in the bakery
business. He served in the council and then four years as alderman.
In 1891-92 he served in the State Legislature. In 1896 he served as
mayor. During his administration money was appropriated to build the
Highland School and a police signal system was installed. Washington
Avenue was widened from the bridge to Cary Avenue. The B. & M.
railroad was compelled to place signal gongs at Everett Avenue,
Spruce to West Third Street crossings, and he also signed an order to
compel the placing of electric wires underground. On June 1, 1896, he
was forced to transfer his duties to John T. Hadaway, president of
the board of aldermen, on account of ill health, and at the end of
his term declined re-election.

HERMON W. PRATT

HERMON W. PRATT, twenty-first mayor of Chelsea; born 20 July 1845. He
served in the council in 1884-85-86; as alderman 1887-88-95-96, and
was mayor in 1897. Through his efforts Washington Park was secured
for the city, Garfield and Sagamore Avenues were laid out. Washington
Avenue, between Cary Square and the bridge, was widened to permit two
tracks. Winnisimmet Square was beautified. No special loans were made
during his administration. Money was provided for connecting the city
with the metropolitan sewerage system. A contract with the Frost
Hospital was made to the benefit of both. The Prattville School was
built. The annual report was printed before appropriations were made:
$10,000 was appropriated for macadamizing roads, as a start for
better streets. The top of Powderhorn Hill was purchased for a park.
A Bill was presented to the Legislature requiring all wires to be
buried. The Boston & Albany R. R. Company was induced to remove
the freight yard at the Chelsea station and turn it into a park. An
attempt was made to induce the Government to build a drive on the
water front of the Naval Hospital grounds;

the stone wall surrounding it was removed, and an iron fence erected
in its stead. The Carter playground and Highland parks were purchased
and laid out. His vetoes were few, but wise, notably that which
vetoed the granting of oil tanks in Ward 3 and car tracks on Nichols
Street. He declined to run for a second term on account of his
health, but later carried on his work for Chelsea as president of its
Board of Trade. He died on May 2, 1918.

SETH J. LITTLEFIELD

SETH J. LITTLEFIELD, twenty-second mayor, was born in Waterboro, York
County, Maine, in 1839. He is a son of William Littlefield, who was a
well to do farmer in Waterboro. He spent his early days on the farm
and attended the district school in winter. In 1860 he came to
Wenham, Massachusetts and began working in a large general store. He
later became a travelling salesman for the wholesale boot and shoe
house of Hyde, Hutchinson & Co. and stayed with the firm until
1872. He came to Chelsea in 1865. During his residence in Chelsea he
did much toward improving his personal real eastate as well as
looking after public matters. His residence in Prattville had a grand
view of the city and was surrounded by spacious grounds. He was
elected to the city government in 1889, and served three years in the
council and was alderman in 1893-4-5-6. His election to the office of
mayor in 1898 was by the largest vote ever given a candidate and
showed the confidence in him that the voters and taxpayers of Chelsea
had. He served two terms, 1898 and 1899.

JAMES GOULD

James Gould was the twenty-third mayor of Chelsea. He served as mayor
in 1900 and in 1901.

Further information being researched

EDWARD E. WILLARD

  Edward E. Willard, the twenty-fourth mayor of Chelsea was born
in Lancaster, MA on September 25, 1862. He is a direct descendant of
Major Willard, who was one of the first residents of Charlestown, and
who, later was the founder of Concord, MA. He was educated at
Worcester Academy and Hinman’s Business College. He served four years
on the ward and city committee. He was a member of the common council
in 1890 and in 1892-93-94, a member of the upper branch of city
government. In 1895 he was elected to the house of representatives
serving the 26th district of Suffolk County. He was elected mayor of
Chelsea in 1902 and was re-elected continously until 1907. He was
then elected mayor in 1913 and 1914 and again in 1917 and 1918.

JOHN E. BECK

 John E. Beck was the twenty-fifth mayor of Chelsea. His term as
mayor was terminated early by the appointment of the Board of Control
in June of 1908 to manage the city after the disasterous fire of
April. He lost both his home and his business, The Chelsea Gazette,
in the fire of 1908.

BOARD OF CONTROL DUE TO THE GREAT CHELSEA FIRE
OF 1908

In the days immediately following the great disaster everyone was
busy caring for the homeless and the poor. A generous public poured
$360,000 into Chelsea; but other problems began to arise. Amid the
confusion there developed a widespread feeling that the best
interests of Chelsea demanded some special body of men, with unusual
powers. This demand for a new government was no reflection upon the
Mayor and the Aldermen. It arose from a conviction that a few
well-paid men selected for especial fitness, giving their whole time
and given unusual powers, could better deal with the problems than a
large body of unpaid officials whose time must be divided between
their personal business and that of the city.

 Mass meetings of citizens were held, virtual agreements
were reached, and the Legislature acted and supplanted the Mayor and
Aldermen by a Board of Control, consisting of five men. This Board,
according to the act of its creation, was to be appointed by the
Governor, three men for five years, one for two years, and one for
one year, the latter being subject to the electorate at the end of
their respective terms, and the whole Board passing out of existence
at the end of five years, after serving the fifth year together with
a Mayor and Board of Aldermen elected by the people in the fall of
1911, while in the fall of 1912 the people would vote upon the
question, ” Shall the Chelsea Board of Control be continued?
” If an affirmative vote be recorded, the Governor shall appoint
a Board of Control of three members to serve respectively for one,
two and three years, together with the Mayor and Board of Aldermen,
elected by the people. Under this act. Governor Draper appointed
William B. McClintock, Alton E. Briggs and George H. Dunham of
Chelsea, A. C. Ratshesky of Boston, and Mark Wilmarth of Maiden.

  The Board of Control began its regime 4 June 1908. With its
coming into being the Mayor, Aldermen and School Committee went out
of office. Municipal elections were abolished until 1911. License was
to be settled at State elections. The Commission, appointed a School
Committee of five members. The Commission could appoint or remove all
officials, and fix all duties, powers and salaries. The Commission
could establish parks, squares and streets, or widen or discontinue
streets; could establish building line and regulate height and
character of buildings; could make public improvements and assess
betterments. In 1912 Chelsea was to vote on the question, ”
Shall the Chelsea Board of Control be continued? ” The
Commission was made up of a civil engineer, a banker, a builder, an
educator and a business man all able men. With the exception of Mr.
Ratshesky, who drew no salary, all devoted their entire time to the
interests of Chelsea.

  The first thing the Board did was to float a bond issue of
$1,000,000 – one-half at 4%, and one-half at 3 1/2% – and furthermore
made a premium of $41,831 which was applied to the sinking fund which
at the maturity of the loan will amount to $307,280. With this money
the Board built the Williams and the Shurtleff School groups; took
the land bounded by Broadway and Washington Avenue and built upon it
a replica of Independence Hall for a City Hall; erected new city
stables capable of housing all the various departments, new fire
houses, a new Public Library with money presented by Andrew Carnegie
and put $20,000 worth of books in it; widened and straightened many
streets, and planted hundreds of shade trees. These and many other
things, in addition to carrying on the daily routine of the various
city departments, the Commission did, and did exceedingly well. Then
the people of Chelsea on election day in 1912 voted to abolish the
Commission and return to the old form of government, consisting of a
Mayor, and Board of Aldermen.

James H. Malone

Melvin B. Breath

Mayor in 1912 and from 1915 to 1916

Mayor from 1919 to 1921

John J. Whalen

Lawrence F. Quigley

John J. Whalen was born in 1895 and was a lifelong resident of
Chelsea. He was educated in the Chelsea schools and later graduated
from Franklin Union of Boston and became employed as an electrical
contractor. He then went into business for himself. He was a World
War I veteran, having enlisted in the Navy in 1917. He was promoted
to chief petty officer

Lawrence F. Quigley was born in the Ward 1 section of Chelsea. He was
anewsboy for eight years beginning at age 6. At age 14 he went to
work as a messenger and was later promoted to the office. At age 23
he was elected state representative for two terms. His first try for
mayor in 1920 was unsuccessful. In 1921, at age 28, he ran for mayor
again and defeated Melvin

Mayor in 1927 and from
1930 to 1931

Mayor from 1922-1926, 1928-1929 and
1932-1935

at the time of his discharge. His political career began in 1923 when
he defeated James A. Quigley for the ward 1 seat. He was elected
alderman in 1925 and mayor in 1927 and 1930 – 1931. In 1934 he was
appointed deputy sheriff by sheriff John A. Kellher, retiring in June
of 1965. John Whalen died in June of 1967 after a short illness.

Breath, becoming the youngest mayor in Chelsea’s history. He was
re-elected from 1922 to 1925. In 1926 he was defeated by John J.
Whalen in a hotly contested election. In 1927 Quigley defeated Whalen
in the first of the two year mayoral terms. On December 24-30, 1934,
Mayor Quigley was named commandant of the Soldier’s Home, but was to
finish out his term as mayor.

Edward J. Voke – 1936 – 1941

Edward J. Voke was born in 1889. Raised in Chelsea, he was the son of
Alfred and Julia Voke. He graduated from the Williams School and
summa cum laude from the Chelsea High School in 1906, where he was
the only boy speaker on the platform. He later worked at the post
office during the day and attended Northeastern University at night
where he prepared for a legal career at the university’s law school.
The university honored him as an outstanding alumnus and conferred an
honorary doctor’s of law degree. Voke was elected mayor of Chelsea in
1936 and was re-elected for three consecutive terms. He retired from
office at the end of his third term. After serving as treasurer of
the late Govenor Maurice J. Tobin’s campaign committee he was
nominated in 1946 to the judical post to succeed the late Nelson P.
Brown of Everett as justice of the Superior Court. He was the first
man from Chelsea to be appointed to the Massachusetts Superior Court.

Bernard L. Sullivan

Tom Keating

Joseph A Melley

Mayor from 1942-1947

Mayor from 1948-1949

Mayor from 1950-1951

Bernard L. Sullivan was mayor of Chelsea from 1942 to 1947 serving
three terms as mayor. Born in 1894, He was an electrician by trade.
He was an alderman in the 1930’s and State Senator from 1938 to 1942.
Bernard Sullivan died in February of 1965 at age 71.

Thomas A. Keating was born in Chelsea on January 17, 1909. He was the
son of Dennis P. and Annie (McCann) Keating. He was educated at St.
Rose parochial school, Chelsea high school and the Chelsea evening
high school. He was engaged in the fuel oil business

in all parts of Chelsea. In his earlier years he was a well known
baseball and basketball player and for many years pitched for the old
Highland S. & A. Club.He was a member of the Chelsea K. of C. and
the Sagamore Club. He ran for alderman in 1935 and in 1937 but was
defeated. In 1939 he he ran again and topped the ticket. He was
elected mayor in 1948. Thomas Keating was married to Margaret M.
(Cronin) and had one daughter. His residence was at 28 Harvard Street
in Chelsea. He had three sisters, Mary and Katherine Keating and Mrs.
Margaret Collari who resided in Everett.

Andrew P. Quigley

Andrew Quigley was born in Chelsea on January 13, 1926. He was the
son of the late Lawrence F. Quigley, who served as mayor of Chelsea
for 11 terms. He attended the old Cranwell Academy in the Berkshire
Hills before graduating from Chelsea High School in 1944. He served
in the Navy in the Pacific during World War 2. After his discharge in
1946, he attended Georgetown University, Harvard University, Boston
University and Dartmouth College. In 1948 at the age of 22, Andrew
Quigley was elected to the House of Representatives. In 1950 he was
elected to the State Senate. He was elected Mayor of Chelsea in 1951
and served as both mayor and senator until 1955, despite criticism
from the city’s alderman. During the late 1950’s he worked with then
U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy in Kennedy’s unsuccessful vice
presidential nomination. From 1956 to 1965 Quigley served as the
director of the Massachusetts Department of Commerce.

Mayor from 1952-1955

In 1949 Mr. Quigley bought the Winthrop Transcript, which he
consolidated with the Winthrop Sun in 1959. In 1976 he took over the
near-extinct Chelsea Record. At the Record he wrote all the
editorials, some news and a weekly column called “Short and
Sweet.” Under his leadership the paper’s circulation increased
from 1900 to almost 5000 in 12 years. In 1983 he bought the Saugus
Advertiser and in 1986 launched the East Boston Sun-Transcript. In
1988 he sold all four of his publications to Journal-Transcript
Publication of Revere. First elected to the School Committee in 1961,
Mr. Quigley approached BU president John Silber in 1986 to run the
city’s ailing school system for the next ten years. From 1973 to 1975
he was coordinator of the project that converted the grounds of the
former Naval Hospital into a residential development of luxury
apartments, townhouses and a marina, now called Admiral’s Hill.
Andrew Quigley died on May 25, 1990 at the New England Deaconess
Hospital from a series of illnesses at age 64.

Hugh McLaughlin

Alfred Voke

John J. Slater

Alfred Voke was born Charlestown in 1919. He attended Chelsea High
School, graduating in 1936 and Lawrence Academy in 1938. He was a
pre-law student at Boston University and attended Suffolk Law School
before enlisting in the U. S. Army during World War 2. He retired
from the Army in 1947 as Captain. He was elected to the state
legislature in 1956, 1958 and 1960. He was elected mayor in 1960,
serving two terms. He was married to Marion E. (Ahearn). He died on
September 14, 1983 at the Veteran’s Adminstration Hospital in West
Roxbury after a long illness at age 64.

Mayor from 1956-1959

Mayor from 1960-1963

Mayor from 1964-1969

Joseph Margolis

Philip J. Spellman

Joel Pressman

Mayor from 1970-1971

Mayor from 1972-1975

Mayor from 1976-1983

James D. Mitchell

Thomas Nolan

Mayor from 1984-1985

Mayor from 1986-1987

John Brennan

John Brennan graduated from Chelsea High School in 1962. He was a
life long resident of Chelsea and its last mayor. In 1983 he was
elected Alderman at-Large where he topped the ticket. He was elected
mayor in 1988.

In September of 1991 the Massachusetts Legislature placed Chelsea in
recievership due to its worsening fiscal crisis. James F. Carlin was
appointed receiver from 1991-1996.

This ended the mayoral form of government that ran Chelsea from 1857
to 1991, a period of 134 years.

Mayor from 1988-1991