tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post2068222279592840434..comments2024-03-29T02:46:11.295-04:00Comments on Hell's Acres: The North End Gang Wars of the Early '80s, Part 1Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-33987194729398158742022-11-22T16:17:50.128-05:002022-11-22T16:17:50.128-05:00I was a Spanish Lord aka gino I was evil stabbed a...I was a Spanish Lord aka gino I was evil stabbed a couple of my rivals, but now I thanks God they didn't die ,It was rough out there back in those daysAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-2714795388128610122021-09-11T01:40:49.195-04:002021-09-11T01:40:49.195-04:00I’m from the north end. Jefferson park (Calhoun pa...I’m from the north end. Jefferson park (Calhoun park) to be exact. I’m 22 yrs old. I’ve live on Calhoun st for 20 yrs now. So I’m barely half the age of all you other folks but I will tell you how things are semi run back when I was growing up. Now that I have read this article about Plainfield and main st I can look back and see how all this “beef” ties together. I believe now on both sides of the river are different sets of bloods. But I do remember Morgan having Latin kings. Whenever I was ballin at jp they would come from Morgan and start unnecessary beef. It was the same with van horn.Carew gang be over there. I also can’t forget Franklin gang because they used to shoot up massasoit all the time. BIoods on Massasoit used to tell me if I ain’t from there don’t go there meanwhile I’m live down the block lol . I don’t think the rivalry has stopped between main st and Plainfield. But from what I’ve read it definitely has slowed down. I also have to remember back in the 80s it’s easier to get away with murder. Although I’m from Calhoun park and at 22 yrs old have seen my fair share of corpses and shoot outs. I haven’t been home in about 2 yrs until yesterday. I drove down Calhoun st to see if the block is hot. I see a couple kids on the corner and they look like me when I was young, angry and ready to bang. The park has been rebuilt about 2 times since I was born. I remember painting over that park because there were blood stains on the court from my holmes getting caught. I wish I could say it changed but I’m just happy I got away. Jp sangrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08605072564768881831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-27668674645804242892020-12-12T01:27:20.514-05:002020-12-12T01:27:20.514-05:00Well we the Demonstrators who were practically all...Well we the Demonstrators who were practically all hick Puerto Ricans didn't like that they came to the neighborhood from New York with an additude of superiority and we weren't going allow anyone to take over our neighborhood. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00250553957070803599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-90909964088230412242020-12-12T01:20:30.548-05:002020-12-12T01:20:30.548-05:00I grew up with the Demon Starters I hung out with ...I grew up with the Demon Starters I hung out with them daily. And as far as I can remember it was a whop named Push who came here from New York with the whop tag.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00250553957070803599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-45208795992417852642019-09-26T08:58:43.759-04:002019-09-26T08:58:43.759-04:00Thanks for commenting. Any idea how the Whops-Demo...Thanks for commenting. Any idea how the Whops-DemonStrators feud started?Hell's Acresnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-42375972036225818562019-09-26T07:23:46.134-04:002019-09-26T07:23:46.134-04:00I remember when polacko was killed. Heck, I recall...I remember when polacko was killed. Heck, I recall seeing him around my block in dwight street where I lived right across the street from Lincoln school. Alot kids in that block. He would show up on his bike. I knew a kid they called little man who's big brother was a Demon Strator. He and a few other kids started a gang called the skulls...but didn't last long they were too young. Dwight street had its moments, it wasn't that far from Calhoun and yet, I never heard shoot outs while I lived there. Wow..lots of memories...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-86270885077833418242018-10-04T10:57:38.418-04:002018-10-04T10:57:38.418-04:00Thanks for reading. What ever happened to Donald S...Thanks for reading. What ever happened to Donald Street?Hell's Acresnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-31281088870297706662018-10-04T04:18:34.023-04:002018-10-04T04:18:34.023-04:00I remember I was about 9 yrs old I lived in an ugl...I remember I was about 9 yrs old I lived in an ugly green house on main st I used to ride my blue columbia bike up and down Donald st where the gang members the shops used to hang out at with their big ol portable boom boxes the ones that had a strap on it..and I remember the hysteria among the puertorican mothers n fathers ushering the kids inside the house because the word on the street was the gangs were out to fight..wow this article brought me backAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-40348236019610311542017-01-22T13:35:46.272-05:002017-01-22T13:35:46.272-05:00Thanks for commenting. I had to look up "de v...Thanks for commenting. I had to look up "de verdad" lol. Yes, it's mostly media regurgitation. If you'd like to add to the story, be my guest. I'm sure it would be interesting-- even if it's short. One thing I'm not clear on: how did the Last Survivors become the Whops? Were they 2 groups or was it just a name change? And why the name "Whops"?Hell's Acresnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-31874574247032569092017-01-21T13:45:03.530-05:002017-01-21T13:45:03.530-05:0049yr old that was involved in all aspects on the &...49yr old that was involved in all aspects on the "Black & Gold" side. Who are you? I was 1 of 3 initiated members under 18. Youngest of the 3 at 13. Honestly didn't read through because it was more like media regurgitation. "Hell's Acres", de verdad bro? Miles away, never heard of it.lol. I wish I could give y'all the unfiltered, intimate, details from an actual participant, but not my style. Who am I? Was surprised that I could Google reference. Don't know why, I guess it's the times. May all your lives be well!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-15785031155596189372016-09-18T15:50:53.973-04:002016-09-18T15:50:53.973-04:00For some of us the gang's were our family.For some of us the gang's were our family.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-87367494728846361762016-06-15T23:37:44.005-04:002016-06-15T23:37:44.005-04:00I remember those days. I lived in the north end. ...I remember those days. I lived in the north end. Remember when the shot Polaco, and remember thr shootings. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-25537551915983169072015-05-14T12:34:23.234-04:002015-05-14T12:34:23.234-04:00I was 6 years old, living on Winthrop Street durin...I was 6 years old, living on Winthrop Street during this time. I have a distinct memory of some sort of gang war going on outside, on my street. I'm trying to find documentation of it. This is the closest I've found. My mother moved us shortly after that incident. Thank you for posting this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-44423876946650682392014-03-30T19:27:30.643-04:002014-03-30T19:27:30.643-04:00No love lost between those folks in Springfield th...No love lost between those folks in Springfield then...Hell's Acresnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-29701394171102020912014-03-30T16:27:13.687-04:002014-03-30T16:27:13.687-04:00Towards Kensington Ave...I am not sure which group...Towards Kensington Ave...I am not sure which groups, I was so young; Puerto Ricans vs Italians, I remember that much. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-12172766029929627672014-03-30T12:15:01.085-04:002014-03-30T12:15:01.085-04:00Up the hill? You mean toward Summer? To fight who?...Up the hill? You mean toward Summer? To fight who? Forest Park and South End kids were feuding back then...Hell's Acresnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-41706184283604874802014-03-30T06:54:45.363-04:002014-03-30T06:54:45.363-04:00I lived off of Dickinson Street, near the firestat...I lived off of Dickinson Street, near the firestation. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-44316211767592937132014-03-29T19:17:39.745-04:002014-03-29T19:17:39.745-04:00Wow. What neighborhood were you living in in '...Wow. What neighborhood were you living in in '75?Hell's Acresnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-22190655295365540372014-03-29T18:30:24.002-04:002014-03-29T18:30:24.002-04:00It was in '81, '82. It was the summer bef...It was in '81, '82. It was the summer before I turned thirteen, or maybe twelve. It was early 80"s anyway.<br /><br />After that summer, I lived in a foster home in the South End. I got a new roommate who was part of the "Whops". She wanted me to join, for protection and safety, she said. I met one of the male members. He tought me first spanish words "dame un beso." He told me I was too white to join. <br /><br />I really had no clue about gangs, their culture or anything at that time; but after my hearing my roommates stories of opposing gangs being up in the trees, with guns, shooting at each other, shooting at cops on the ground, all because someone was wearing the wrong colors, that got to me. So, yeah, I do feel lucky. <br /><br />Later, quite a few of my girlfriends got into gang life because the guys said they would be cared for, protected, but in reality, they were owned. <br /><br />I remember too, when I was really young, no older than 7, probably in '75, the gangs tried to infiltrate our community. I remember the "men", really just high school boys, took up chains and tire irons, and gathered in a large group marched up the hill, off to "war". All of us women, out on our porches, watching the street, waiting...I never heard what happened, but I know our community never changed. I will assume our guys won. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-49635794488126329262014-03-27T20:15:25.796-04:002014-03-27T20:15:25.796-04:00Wow. Lucky to be alive. What time period?Wow. Lucky to be alive. What time period?Hell's Acresnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-6993947885898825452014-03-27T17:32:16.663-04:002014-03-27T17:32:16.663-04:00Talk about flashbacks!
When I was 13, I lived o...Talk about flashbacks! <br /><br />When I was 13, I lived on the main drag in the North End, in a run-away group home called RAP. I was almost killed one day for flipping off a kid who was making derogatory comments towards me. Next thing I knew, he jumped the fence and chased me with a knife. Thankfully the staff caught him and I was ushered inside.<br /><br />I had to be constantly supervised by staff and never left alone. <br /><br />It did not end there, though. This kid wanted me dead and he sent a pack of boys on bikes to track me down. One night, after I ran away from RAP, they caught me. I thought for sure I was going to die. One of them climbed on top of me and put a knife to my throat. Not having much to lose at that point, I told him to do it. But to my surprise he kissed me instead. He told me I was too cute to kill.<br /><br />After that, those boys became my guardians and would not let anyone near me. I don't know who they are, but I will never forget them. <br /><br />And that is just one of many such episodes I encountered, in the thirty days I lived there. <br /><br />The funny thing is, I was never really scared then, as I am now when I think about it. I thought I was so tough and invincibIe; I had no idea how dangerous gangs could be. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-91433811011961931862014-03-04T23:57:54.304-05:002014-03-04T23:57:54.304-05:00Growing up in Monson in the 80's people were a...Growing up in Monson in the 80's people were absolutely terrified of Springfield - I guess this was one of the reasons why. In high school I would drive into the North End by myself at night to go to the Spfld Chess Club at the Danaher Tool factory and people thought I was crazy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-4822842967671370372014-03-02T22:34:09.763-05:002014-03-02T22:34:09.763-05:00Yes, if you look at the Serv-U area on a map, it d...Yes, if you look at the Serv-U area on a map, it doesn't seem that far, but in reality it was a world away from what was happening in the North End.<br /><br />Funny you that mention that area, which straddles East Springfield/Hungry Hill. I was just thinking about another rivalry-- and some day I'll write about this feud between a group of East Side folks and some guys from the South End Gang. In 1974 and 1975 they were going at it in bars all over Springfield (the Highland on Boston Road, the Viking Lounge, Jo Jo's in Agawam, etc.) and it led to the shooting death of one of the South End guys.Hell's Acresnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-82271514105444358422014-03-02T21:45:25.406-05:002014-03-02T21:45:25.406-05:00Woooow! I was a little kid when all this was goin...Woooow! I was a little kid when all this was going on. And, while I had an inkling that Springfield had some problems, I had no idea things were as bad as that in Springfield at that time. <br /><br />My grandparents lived up off of St. James Avenue and Carew Street, near the Serv-U stores, which, I guess, is not incredibly far from where all this was happening. Thinking back, I can honestly say that to me, where they lived felt like a solid middle class neighborhood, definitely not anywhere near a gang war--in every sense of "anywhere." Though, I do remember my grandmother talking about the fact that "they" were moving up the hill when we would drive back from church. <br /><br />I remember that my mother really wanted my grandparents to get out of Springfield. To their credit, my grandparents stayed in that house for the rest of their lives, adding their own little piece of stability to their block.Agawamiannoreply@blogger.com