Orient Heights

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Orient Heights is a historic section of East Boston. Reminded of their native terrain, Boston's very first Italian immigrants settled on the hill in the 1860s and '70s. Landmarks include the "Madonna Shrine," the National Shrine and headquarters of the Orionine order, founded by St. Luigi Orione. Less than a mile away, a huge, lighted cross stands dramatically on the hill, one of Boston's most visible and well-known landmarks. Despite the cross's assumed relationship to the aforementioned Shrine, it instead marks the site of the second battle of the Revolutionary War (May 27, 1775). The hill, once called Hog's Island, was later named Breed's Island.^[1] It 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 1940s, Masses at St. Lazarus Church^[2] in Orient Heights were said by Pastor Luigi [Louis] Toma in Latin, Italian, and English.

Numerous famous Italian-Americans have lived in Orient Heights, including hair salon mogul John Dellaria, Boston Red Sox great Tony Conigliaro and classical composer Leonardo Ciampa.

The main thoroughfare through Orient Heights is Bennington Street, and the principal intersection is that of Bennington with Saratoga Street.

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Breed's Island is not to be confused with Breed's Hill, the actual location of the Battle of Bunker Hill which took place two months later.
2. ^ Now named St. Joseph/St. Lazarus, after a merger of parishes.