Two confiscated gang vests on display at the Springfield Police Department Youth Aid Bureau
They called them the “Swiss cheese houses.” Donald Street, which is now non-existent in the North End, once ran parallel to Interstate 91—the turf-dividing line between the Demon-strators and their sworn enemies: a unification of two gangs called the Whops and the Last Survivors. Two pock-marked buildings on Donald Street, in the middle of “Whop City,” where the latter two groups hung out, were regularly shot up by the Demon-strators in the summer of 1981.
“Demon city!” they yelled from a passing car. “Demon city!” And then came the shots, one of which narrowly missed a three-year old girl in her bedroom. A photo in the Morning Union newspaper of the girl pointing to a bullet hole in the wall outraged the community, but did nothing to stop the violence. It took four years of gang-banging and shooting—and a couple of murders—for the police to finally clamp down on the thugs. Residents, intimidated by the gangs at first, starting making phone calls. Consequently, the Detective Bureau’s gang control program was able to arrest several hundred members and associates. After all the incarcerations, the youth of the neighborhood started making better life choices, and these crews died from attrition.
Until then, however, the North End was under siege, and it seemed as if there was no end in sight. The Whops ruled the Plainfield Street area. The east side of I-91 was Demon City. When the two gangs clashed, no one was safe.
* * * * *
At the beginning of the 1980s there were the Demon-strators, the largest and most powerful gang in the North End. They wore red berets, tied red bandannas to their pants legs, and had an extremely in-your-face presence in the community. Their territory was Calhoun Park, along with the surrounding streets, and anyone who didn’t recognize their authority got a beat-down—or worse.
But as is the case in many poor neighborhoods—as well as in prisons—when one gang dominates, supremacy breeds resentment, and other gangs form to challenge it.
In Springfield, a city in which I still maintain is the capital of bizarre gang names, gang violence rose rapidly in the Hispanic North End in the early 1980s. In 1980 there were street outfits other than the Demon-strators, with monikers of the likes of The Latin Hoods and the Maniacs. The smaller gangs faded away, but newer, larger ones emerged to counter what they perceived as the top gang’s tyranny, and fistfights escalated to shootings. In July of that year, after the Demon-strators shot a 16-year-old youth in the lower abdomen, there was a retaliatory attack in which eight people were shot in Calhoun Park, home of the Demon-strators. The gang wars were on.
The Midnight Glowers, the Whops, and the Last Survivors surfaced as the gangs with enough firepower to take on the Demon-strators, and things got ugly. When the Midnight Glowers sprayed Calhoun Park on August 7, 1980, they injured an eight-year-old boy and 15-year-old Juan “Polacko” Cruz. It was Polacko who would be involved in an incident the following year that would send the gang wars over the top. In the meantime, there was another shooting incident in 1980: 15-year-old Norma Cruz—Polacko’s pregnant sister—was blasted in the back, as was her cousin, on September 5.
In March of 1981, there were three gang shootings, culminating on March 31, when the Whops clipped a 16-year-old Demon-strator in the foot. The Whops, some of whom had moved to Springfield from the Bronx, were known to shave their heads and wear their baseball caps turned awry—New York style. Police at the time were concerned that the newer gangs, started by youths from New York and Hartford, were modeling themselves on the gangs in their old neighborhoods, and that meant using knives and guns when the going got tough.
It certainly got tough for Polacko, a member of the Spanish Lords who was stabbed in the stomach behind a Main Street apartment block on July 16, 1981. A trail of blood ran from Greenwich Street to Huntington Street, where he collapsed and died. He was found still clutching a Midnight Glowers jacket he had just taken from a youth he had been fighting—he was using it in a vain attempt to stop the bleeding. By then, the gang coalitions had been tightly formed: the Demon-strators and the Spanish Lords combined in a bitter rivalry against the Whops/Last Survivors. Polacko’s killer, 27-year-old Anibal Cruz (no relation) was a member of the Midnight Glowers, which had also been feuding with the Demon-strators/Spanish Lords.
The violence was getting so out of hand that the unarmed civilian crime patrol group The Guardian Angels formed a North End chapter. Did these volunteers quell the gang wars in any way? Not really. At that point, police said, Polacko’s slaying led to a rapid outbreak of disturbances, including Demon-strators firing shots into Kenefick Park (the Whops’ hangout) on August 20, a retaliatory shooting by the Whops the following day in Calhoun Park, and tit-for-tat shootings within an hour of each other between the Whops/Last Survivors and the Demon-strators/Spanish Lords on September 12, 1981 that began with the shotgun wounding of a 16-year-old girl:
That week was a living hell for the residents of the “Swiss cheese” houses on Donald Street. A few nights before, a youth fired on one of the buildings with a shotgun, but the recoil sent the shooter on his ass and the shot went high over the roof. However, the Demon-strators/Spanish Lords had better aim on September 12, firing 13 rounds of shotgun pellets and small caliber bullets. One round barely missed Helen Richie’s three-year-old sleeping granddaughter Kirsten—the one pictured in the newspaper.
“I don’t know how it missed her,” Richie told a Morning Union reporter. “Me and my brother went to bed and found little pieces of bullets right where she was laying.”
Regardless of the danger to innocents in the crossfire, the death of Polacko continued to be a fierce rallying point for the Demon-strators/Spanish Lords. He received his nickname because the Spanish Lords thought his sandy-hair and blue eyes made him look more Polish than Latino. “Remember Polacko” was emblazoned on a T-shirt worn by several of his friends and family members. They were determined to get revenge.
The tension in the summer and fall of 1981 was palpable enough for teenagers to think twice about going to area parks, especially at night.
How bad would it get? Try 40 gang shootings (15 people hit) between January and September of 1981. These incidents were no longer limited to the North End, and included a shot fired near a Guardian Angel and three Last Survivors in the parking lot of the United Skates of America roller rink in Chicopee. When Hartford’s Savage Nomads gang got into the act, forming an alliance with the Demon-strators and shooting at Last Survivors Jesus and Rafael LaBoy on August 31, the gang wars were taken to the next level: outside forces joining in on the hostilities.
“We can’t even walk to the store,” complained 15-year-old Donald Street resident Wally Martinez to a Morning Union reporter. “You don’t know whether they’re going to be in front of you or behind you.”
26 comments:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Talk about flashbacks!
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.
I had to be constantly supervised by staff and never left alone.
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.
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.
And that is just one of many such episodes I encountered, in the thirty days I lived there.
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.
Wow. Lucky to be alive. What time period?
It was in '81, '82. It was the summer before I turned thirteen, or maybe twelve. It was early 80"s anyway.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Wow. What neighborhood were you living in in '75?
I lived off of Dickinson Street, near the firestation.
Up the hill? You mean toward Summer? To fight who? Forest Park and South End kids were feuding back then...
Towards Kensington Ave...I am not sure which groups, I was so young; Puerto Ricans vs Italians, I remember that much.
No love lost between those folks in Springfield then...
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.
I remember those days. I lived in the north end. Remember when the shot Polaco, and remember thr shootings.
For some of us the gang's were our family.
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!
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"?
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 back
Thanks for reading. What ever happened to Donald Street?
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...
Thanks for commenting. Any idea how the Whops-DemonStrators feud started?
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.
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.
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.
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 days
Your information is wrong I was head of the Spanish lords my name is cisco.
Hey Cisco, tell me what I got wrong and I’ll see what I can do to make it right.
Post a Comment