For those of you who may not know what Dorchester Day is let me fill you in...
The 1st Sunday in June, every year without fail, there is a parade down Dorchester Avenue. This celebration is to bring the community together and to celebrate cultural diversity. Then theres always a stop at the local watering hole and then Doyles cookout. Dot Day = An all day drinking event!!
Eight years ago, as a goof, my friends and I started an early morning bowling tournament , kind of a way to shake off the hangover from the night before. This has now evolved into the Dot Day Bowl Off - with 15-20 of us competing for trophies and prizes. And as we get older people are starting to bring their children.
Last year's, and 3 time Dot Day Bowl Off Champ, Billy Flaherty will not be competing this year so the title will be passed. Will it be Mike(2 time winner)? Or Chrissy(also 2 time winner)? Or maybe a new comer to the festivities? GET READY TO RAISE THE TROPHY!!!
1. We bowl and after we crown a winner in the Bowl OFF
2. We will go to the bar to watch the parade, get drunk, play Keno and listen to the bands(oh yeah the bar has bands set up for the day)
3. We go to Doyles - more drinking and maybe some food
4. Go home and pass out
Hope everyone can make it!!
Origins of Dorchester Day
The Dorchester Historical Society inaugurated Dorchester Day in the year 1904 to observe the 274th anniversary of the settlement of Dorchester. Over 200 citizens of Dorchester gathered in a tent on Savin Hill to celebrate the occasion with a band concert and addresses on the crest of Savin Hill on June 25, 1904. The Society named the celebration "Dorchester Day." Reverend Peter Ronan urged the duty of cooperating with the Dorchester Historical Society to make Dorchester Day an institution to be celebrated every year. "Among the visitors to hill on that occasion was the Hon. John F. Fitzgerald and his family, who had recently removed to Dorchester. This was his first visit to Savin Hill, and he was so struck with the beautiful surroundings and magnificent view from the hill that he then declared that, if he was ever elected Mayor of Boston, he would favor the securing of the hill for a park, and in the fall, when he became a candidate for the mayoralty, he made similar promises, which he made good on July 26, 1907, when he signed the bill which made a park of Savin Hill ..."
In the second year, 1905, the occasion was celebrated with parades, orations, a sailing regatta and athletic games.
Over time Dorchester Day has become an occasion of home-coming for those originally from Dorchester (OFD), of the revival of old memories and of a great parade following the length of Dorchester Avenue from Lower Mills to Columbia Road. The activities associated with Dorchester Day have multiplied with a separate celebration of Landing Day and with another occasion for the choice of Little Miss Dorchester. The parade, which now has its own organizing committee unaffiliated with the Dorchester Historical Society, occurs on the first Sunday in June.
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