Orient Heights
Encyclopedia
Orient Heights is an historic section of East Boston. The neighborhood sits on a hill named "Orient Heights;" the hill measures 152 feet in elevation at its highest point. Reminded of their native terrain, Boston
's very first Italian immigrants settled on the hill in the 1860s and '70s.
Landmarks of Orient Heights include the "Madonna Shrine:" it is the headquarters and National Shrine of the Orionine order, founded by St. Luigi Orione. A third of a mile away towards the west, a huge, lighted cross stands dramatically on Orient Heights. It is one of Boston's most visible and well-known landmarks. The steel cross on the site today replaced a wooden cross erected by The Madonna Shrine. It also marks the site of the second battle of the Revolutionary War, the Battle of Chelsea Creek
(May 27, 1775).
The hill of Orient Heights was once called Hog's Island; then it was later renamed Breed's Island. The hill is one of the five islands that comprised old East Boston.
Well into the 20th century, Italian and English were still spoken in roughly equal amounts in Orient Heights. It is documented that, as recently as the 1950s, Masses at St. Lazarus Church in Orient Heights were delivered by Pastor Luigi (Louis) Toma in Latin, Italian, and English.
. The Madonna Shrine, at the top of Orient Heights overlooking the airport and Downtown areas, is the national headquarters for the Don Orione order. Constructed in 1954, the statue is a full-size replica of one at the Don Orione Center in the Montemario district of Rome
, Italy
. It was constructed in 1954 by Jewish-Italian sculptor Arrigo Minerbi
, who wanted to show his gratitude to the Catholic Church for having shielded him and his family from the Nazis during World War II
. Across the street from the Shrine is the Don Orione Home, a nursing home which, like the Shrine, was founded by the Don Orione priests. The Shrine and Home were founded in 1951 by the Don Orione priests, led by Fr. Rocco Crescenzi (January 6, 1916 - April 3, 2011) , who was sent from Italy for this purpose. Crescenzi had been an errand boy for St. Orione himself.The nonagenarian Crescenzi was still active at the Home and Shrine.
.
The main thoroughfare through Orient Heights is Bennington Street, and the principal intersection ("Orient Heights Square") is that of Bennington with Saratoga Street.
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
's very first Italian immigrants settled on the hill in the 1860s and '70s.
Landmarks of Orient Heights include the "Madonna Shrine:" it is the headquarters and National Shrine of the Orionine order, founded by St. Luigi Orione. A third of a mile away towards the west, a huge, lighted cross stands dramatically on Orient Heights. It is one of Boston's most visible and well-known landmarks. The steel cross on the site today replaced a wooden cross erected by The Madonna Shrine. It also marks the site of the second battle of the Revolutionary War, the Battle of Chelsea Creek
Battle of Chelsea Creek
The Battle of Chelsea Creek was the second military engagement of the Boston campaign of the American Revolutionary War. It is also known as the Battle of Noddle's Island, Battle of Hog Island and the Battle of the Chelsea Estuary...
(May 27, 1775).
The hill of Orient Heights was once called Hog's Island; then it was later renamed Breed's Island. The hill is one of the five islands that comprised old East Boston.
Well into the 20th century, Italian and English were still spoken in roughly equal amounts in Orient Heights. It is documented that, as recently as the 1950s, Masses at St. Lazarus Church in Orient Heights were delivered by Pastor Luigi (Louis) Toma in Latin, Italian, and English.
Madonna Shrine & Don Orione Home
One of the most recognizable icons of East Boston is the 35 feet (10.7 m)-high statue of the MadonnaMadonna (art)
Images of the Madonna and the Madonna and Child or Virgin and Child are pictorial or sculptured representations of Mary, Mother of Jesus, either alone, or more frequently, with the infant Jesus. These images are central icons of Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox Christianity where Mary remains...
. The Madonna Shrine, at the top of Orient Heights overlooking the airport and Downtown areas, is the national headquarters for the Don Orione order. Constructed in 1954, the statue is a full-size replica of one at the Don Orione Center in the Montemario district of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It was constructed in 1954 by Jewish-Italian sculptor Arrigo Minerbi
Arrigo Minerbi
Arrigo Minerbi was an Italian sculptor.-Life:Born to a Jewish family in Ferrara in 1881, he took a course in arts and crafts before working as a ceramicist, designer, teacher and stucco-artist in Florence, Ferrara and Genoa .Aged 35 he...
, who wanted to show his gratitude to the Catholic Church for having shielded him and his family from the Nazis during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Across the street from the Shrine is the Don Orione Home, a nursing home which, like the Shrine, was founded by the Don Orione priests. The Shrine and Home were founded in 1951 by the Don Orione priests, led by Fr. Rocco Crescenzi (January 6, 1916 - April 3, 2011) , who was sent from Italy for this purpose. Crescenzi had been an errand boy for St. Orione himself.The nonagenarian Crescenzi was still active at the Home and Shrine.
Personalities
Numerous famous Italian-Americans have lived in Orient Heights, including hair salon mogul John Dellaria and Boston Red Sox great Tony ConigliaroTony Conigliaro
Anthony Richard Conigliaro , nicknamed "Tony C" and "Conig", was a Major League Baseball outfielder and right-handed batter who played for the Boston Red Sox and California Angels . He was born in Revere, Massachusetts, and was a 1962 graduate of St. Mary's High School...
.
The main thoroughfare through Orient Heights is Bennington Street, and the principal intersection ("Orient Heights Square") is that of Bennington with Saratoga Street.