Car theft has a long history in Charlestown dating back to 1925, when James Sheehan, later nick-named Shiner created a new sport for young men from 9 to 20 year old. They would steal a nice car in Boston, come over the bridge, then race down Chelsea St to Bunker Hill Street to Main Street. This “loop” around the 1 square mile of Charlestown was at speeds up to 80 miles per hour and they were chased by the Boston Police. Lifelong resident of Charlestown, Ed Callahan, first heard stories about the loopers from his grandmother and later by an elevator operator in his office building in Boston. Ed will tell the history of the Charlestown Loopers. While the Charlestown residents cheered the young boys at first, later the crowds turned against the Loopers after innocent citizens died. Pearl Harbor was the beginning of the end of the loopers as most young men went off to war. Learn about the 25 year history of the loopers, 16 deaths, and the damage to public utilities, stores, houses, cars, trees, fire hydrants and more. The Charlestown Historical Society presents the Charlestown Loopers on Tuesday May 21, 2013 at Bunker Hill Knights of Columbus, 545 Medford Street at 7:00PM.

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