Mayors of Chelsea 1857 - 1991
1857 Francis B. Fay 1858 - 1860 Hosea Ilsley 1861 - 1863 Frank B. Fay 1864 - 1866 Eustace C. Fitz 1867 - 1868 Rufus S. Frost 1869 - 1870 James B. Forsyth 1871 - 1872 John W. Fletcher 1873 - 1875 Charles H. Ferson 1876 Thomas Green 1877 - 1878 Isaac Stebbins 1879 - 1880 Andrew J. Bacon 1881 - 1882 Samuel P. Tenney 1883 - 1884 Thomas Strahan 1885 - 1886 Eugene F. Endicott 1887 - 1888 George E. Mitchell 1889 - 1890 Arthur B. Champlin 1891 Albert D. Bosson 1892 - 1893 Alfred C. Converse 1894 - 1895 George H. Carter 1896 John C. Loud 1897 Hermon W. Pratt 1898 - 1899 Seth J. Littlefield 1900 - 1901 James Gould 1902 - 1907 Edward E. Willard 1908 John E. Beck 1908 - 1912 Board of Control 1912 James H. Malone 1913 - 1914 Edward E. Willard 1915 - 1916 James H. Malone 1917 - 1918 Edward E. Willard 1919 - 1921 Melvin B. Breath 1922 - 1926 Lawrence F. Quigley 1927 John J. Whalen 1928 - 1929 Lawrence F. Quigley 1930-1931 John J. Whalen 1932-1935 Lawrence F. Quigley 1936-1941 Edward J. Voke 1942-1947 Bernard L. Sullivan 1948-1949 Tom Keating 1950-1951 Joseph A Melley 1952-1955 Andrew P. Quigley 1956-1959 Hugh McLaughlin 1960-1963 Alfred Voke 1964-1969 John J. Slater 1970-1971 Joseph Margolis 1972-1975 Philip J. Spellman 1976-1983 Joel Pressman 1984-1985 James D. Mitchell 1986-1987 Thomas Nolan 1988-1991 John Brennan September 1991 - Massachusetts Legislature placed Chelsea in Recievership. End of Mayoral form of government.		FRANCIS B. FAY - First Mayor of Chelsea Francis B. Fay was born in Southborough, Massachusetts on June 12, 1793. He served as reprensentative in the Legislature from 1830 to 1831. In May 1831 he became agent of the Chelsea Ferry and Land Company, and moved to Boston. In 1833 he moved to Chelsea, building the seventh building in Chelsea south of Prattville. He represented Chelsea in the Legislature from 1834 to 1836 and from 1840 to 1845.  In 1852 he was elected to Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Robert Rantoul. He was the first president of the Chelsea Savings Bank, a director of the North Bank of Boston and several other banks. In 1857 he was elected the first mayor of Chelsea. He did much to develop the lower part of the city by forming theWinnisimmet Land Company in 1833. He died on October 6, 1876. HOSEA ILSLEY, Chelsea's second mayor, was born in Newbury, Massachusetts, 25 February 1799. In 1838 he was elected to the State Legislature of Maine from Portland, where he was then living. In 1839 he moved to Chelsea and served as town moderator for several years, and chairman of the selectmen in 1843-47-48. He represented Chelsea in the Legislature in 1842-43-44 and was senator from Suffolk County. He served as Mayor in 1858-59-60. He died October 25, 1887. FRANK B. FAY Frank B. Fay, known as the " War Mayor," a son of Francis B. Fay the first mayor, was born in Southborough 24 January 1821, and moved to Chelsea in 1834. He served in the Legislature in 1857; was mayor 1861-63, and State Senator in 1867. During the Civil War he spent much time at the front looking after Chelsea's soldiers and others. In 1864 the United States Sanitary Commission established the Auxiliary Relief Corps of which  he was made chief with power to choose two assistants. During the last year of the War over one hundred thousand sick and wounded came under the care of the corps. He served as a delegate to the Republican Conventions of 1864 and 1868. Union Park was erected as a result of his efforts. During his life "he opposed capital punishment and took an active interest in the societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, holding office in each for many years. EUSTIS C. FITZ Eustis C. Fitz, Chelsea's fourth mayor, was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts on February 5, 1853, and died at his home on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, 27 May 1895. His parents moved to Chelsea in 1841. He served in the common council in 1861-62-63, and as mayor in 1864-65-66. In the Legislature 1872-73, and in the Senate 1875-76, and on the Governor's Council in 1881-82. He was president of the Boston Board of Trade in 1881-82, president-of the Blackstone National Bank, a director of the New York and New England Raflroad, and trustee of the Five Cent Savings Bank. He was a trustee of Brown University, Wellesley College, Newton Theological Institution, and served other institutions. He was the first president of the Chelsea Y. M. C. A., and purchased and gave to the city the George W. Gerrish estate for a public library. At its dedication, James Russell Lowell was the orator.
RUFUS S. FROST RUFUS S. FROST, fifth mayor, was born in Marlborough, New Hampshire, 18 July 1826; died in Chicago, Illinois, 6 March 1894. He entered the wool business in Boston. In 1871-72 he was a member of the State Senate. In 1873-74 he was a member of Governor Washburn's Council. In 1874 he was elected to the Forty-fourth United States Congress. During his administration as mayor, new projects were undertaken, new organizations formed, new .interests created. The city was piped for water, Union Park was completed, and a soldiers' monument built, now located in Basset Sq. On 29 August 1868, the Chinese Ambassador and other high dignitaries were guests of the City of Chelsea. Mayor Frost met the Ambassador at the Chelsea end of the bridge with a magnificent yellow barouche, and drove him and Mayor Shurtleff of Boston followed by the rest of the party to the City Hall. Mayor Frost founded the Chelsea Memorial Hospital.
DR. JAMES B. FORSYTH DR. JAMES B. FORSYTH, sixth mayor, was born in Farmington, Maine, 25 October 1809. Graduated from Harvard Medical School, and in1842 settled in Chelsea. He served in the common council in 1857-58; in the Board of Aldermen 1860-61; 1863-64. He was mayor from 1869 to 1870. He was a man of few words. He once said, " I cannot talk, though I can pray, but give me something to do and I will do it." The Great Peace Jubilee and Music Festival was held in Boston in June 1869. The Chelsea Choral Society made up a part of the grand chorus of over ten thousand voices. The building of the immense coliseum was watched with great interest by the lovers of music and others in Chelsea. He died 8 March 1872, and is buried at Woodlawn Cemetary. CHARLES H. PERSON CHARLES H. PERSON, eighth mayor, was born in Francestown, New Hampshire, in 1819; moved to Chelsea in 1843. He was overseer of the poor; councilman 1860-61 and 1868; city marshal 1869-70; mayor 1873-74-75; representative to the General Court 1879-80. During his administration the city grew in population (doubled in size over the population of 1868) and taxable property. He died September 5, 1891.			.JOHN W. FLETCHER,  JOHN W. FLETCHER, seventh mayor, was born in Norridgewock, Maine. He served in the Civil War, being discharged with the rank of Captain. He served as mayor in 1871-72; his election was the most exciting contest in Chelsea's history up to that time. The defeated candidate was C. M. Whittlesey, who was the choice of the citizens' caucus. Mr. Fletcher won by 517 votes. A barouche drawn by four horses with silver mounted harness was sent to Boston to bring the mayor elect home. He was escorted through the city by the Chelsea brass band and a large procession of citizens with great rejoicings, illuminations, and fireworks. Mr. Whittlesey, feeling sure of the election, had engaged a banquet hall and provided a liberal feast for the reception of friends and fellow citizens. With magnanimous heart he invited Mayor-elect Fletcher and backers to participate with him, but the invitation never reached him, being rejected unofficially by one or more subordinates. The outstanding events of his administration were the appropriation for the high school $70,000 - and the widening of several of the principal streets.
THOMAS GREEN ISAAC STEBBINS THOMAS GREEN, ninth mayor, born 13 July 1822, in Boston. In 1847, he married Anna Elizabeth Marden, and had five children. He served two years in the common council, and was mayor of Chelsea in 1876. He declined re-election in 1877. ISAAC STEBBINS, tenth mayor, born at Stamford, Connecticut, 3 October 1817. Became a citizen of Chelsea in 1842; served as selectman, representative to the General Court 1874-75. After extensive travel abroad, he was elected mayor in 1877, and re-elected in 1878.   His habits and tastes were quiet and bookish. Chelsea was fast getting into debt and the dominant thought of the citizens was to choose an honest, faithful and capable city government. People were clamoring for many needed improvements but, with the high rate of taxation, it was impossible to make them. He was elected to handle the situation as the best and most practical man, irrespective of party or creed. He died 22 April 1887.  He founded the Tradesman's Bank, which became the First National Bank, and for thirty-eight years was its president. He was president of the Chelsea Gas Light Company. He built and controlled the Academy of Music, where many famous old plays were acted. He died on June 22, 1888. Chelsea lost by death a public spirited citizen, and an honorable upright man. By his will he left the city $6500 for a drinking fountain for man and beast to be located in Chelsea Square.
ANDREW J. BACON, eleventh mayor, born in Watertown, Massachusetts, 8 October 1834; came to Chelsea when a boy. He served in the Civil War with the Chelsea Company until promoted to Lieutenant of the 29th unattached company of heavy artillery for conspicuous bravery, and before the end of the war became a Captain. He served as an alderman in 1877-78, and as mayor in 1879-80. Died January, 1916. SAMUEL P. TENNEY THOMAS STRAHAN SAMUEL P. TENNEY, Chelsea's twelfth mayor, born in Barre, Massachusetts, December 6, 1838. He was married in Chelsea on July 26, 1862; served five years as a councilman and four as alderman, and as mayor in 1881-1882. THOMAS STRAHAN, thirteenth mayor, was born in Scotland, 10 May 1847; was married in Chelsea in 1867. He was a manufacturer of wall paper. After two years in common council was elected mayor 1883-84. EUGENE F. ENDICOTT GEORGE E. MITCHELL EUGENE F. ENDICOTT, fourteenth mayor, born October 14, 1848; was the first mayor to be born in Chelsea. He was a decendant of the earliest Massachusetts settlers, and his ancesters served in the Revolutionary War. His official life began when he was chosen to represent GEORGE E. MITCHELL, fifteenth mayor, born May 8, 1844; served in the common council 1878-79, and as alderman in 1880-81. Was mayor in 1887-88. His son, Charles E. Mitchell, was president of the largest bank in the world, the National City Bank of New York City. the upper ward in the city council for five consecutive years, the last three as president. He was elected mayor in 1885 and served two terms. While he was mayor, improvements were made to the fire department and the water department. He served in the army during the Civil War. Was a member of the firm of Goodall, Mitchell & Dexton, produce dealers. During his administration electric lights were introduced in the streets of Chelsea, and the reservoir was built on Powderhorn Hill.

AUTHUR B. CHAMPLIN AUTHUR B. CHAMPLIN, sixteenth mayor; born in Chelsea, 7 February 1858. He was publisher of the Chelsea Gazette. He began is public career in 1878 when elected to the common council, in which he served for seven years, the last two of which he was elected president, being the youngest man in the history of the city to fill that office. He was elected to the State Legislature 1887-88. He was mayor in 1889-90, and State Senator in 1891-92. In a speech before the Senate he referred to Chelsea as Queen City of the Commonwealth, a name which clung to it for many years. During his administration the city gained many important improvements: Electric lights were introduced, several miles of sewer and water pipe were built, brick sidewalks were laid, the police and fire departments were re-organized and the tax rate was lowered. ALBERT D. BOSSON ALBERT D. BOSSON, seventeenth mayor, born in Chelsea, November 8, 1853, he is decended from a long line of patriotic New England ancestry. His four great grandfathers served in the Revolution and his grandfather, John D. Bosson, was one of the early settlers of Winnisimmet village took an active part in the War of 1812. At age fifteen he graduated from Chelsea High School and entered Philips-Exerter Academy. He was a graduate of Brown University in 1875 and Boston University in 1877. In 1882 he was appointed associate justice of the Chelsea Court. He was elected the first democratic mayor in the year 1891. While mayor he advocated and was instrumental securing the abolishment of grade crossings between Chelsea and Charlestown. He was the first to advocate the overhead bridge to Charlestown. He was the first to recommend improvements to Winnisimmet Square and an advocate of the Metropolitan Park system. Governor Russell appointed him judge of the Chelsea Court in 1893. In 1887 he married Alice Campbell the daughter of C. A. Campbell. They had two children, Campbell Bosson, born November 18,1888 and Pauline Arland Bosson, born February 24, 1894. Albert Bosson died on April 6, 1926. ALFRED C. CONVERSE ALFRED C. CONVERSE, eighteenth mayor, born in Ringe, New Hampshire, 17 March 1827. His father was a prosperous farmer and was also connected to the woolen industry. Educated in the public schools and New Ipswitch Academy, he later taught school in his native town and later in Townsend and Fitchburg, Massachusetts. In 1850. he moved to New York and began work as a type founder. He served in the council in 1877, and in the Board of Aldermen in 1889-90, and as mayor in 1892-93. During his administration important financial measures of direct value to the city were incorporated. Numerous street improvements and new sewers were projected and completed. During his tenure there was a lot of agitation for a revision of the city charter. The desired changes were supported by Mayor Converse.
GEORGE H. CARTER GEORGE H. CARTER, nineteenth mayor, was born in Chelsea, May 5, 1859, at 461 Broadway. He entered the employ of D. & L. Slade Company at fifteen, and before his death became the head of the firm. He served two years in each branch of the city government, and became mayor in 1894 and 95. He advocated annexation to Boston (a greater Boston) and a new charter the latter became a fact. He vetoed several matters which were then defeated.
JOHN C. LOUD JOHN C. LOUD, twentieth mayor, born at Plymouth, Maine, in 1844. When the Civil War broke out, he enlisted in Company H, 22nd Maine Volunteers, at eighteen years of age, and served until the end of the war. He came to Chelsea in 1875 and in 1885 engaged in the bakery business. He served in the council and then four years as alderman. In 1891-92 he served in the State Legislature. In 1896 he served as mayor. During his administration money was appropriated to build the Highland School and a police signal system was installed. Washington Avenue was widened from the bridge to Cary Avenue. The B. & M. railroad was compelled to place signal gongs at Everett Avenue, Spruce to West Third Street crossings, and he also signed an order to compel the placing of electric wires underground. On June 1, 1896, he was forced to transfer his duties to John T. Hadaway, president of the board of aldermen, on account of ill health, and at the end of his term declined re-election.
HERMON W. PRATT HERMON W. PRATT, twenty-first mayor of Chelsea; born 20 July 1845. He served in the council in 1884-85-86; as alderman 1887-88-95-96, and was mayor in 1897. Through his efforts Washington Park was secured for the city, Garfield and Sagamore Avenues were laid out. Washington Avenue, between Cary Square and the bridge, was widened to permit two tracks. Winnisimmet Square was beautified. No special loans were made during his administration. Money was provided for connecting the city with the metropolitan sewerage system. A contract with the Frost Hospital was made to the benefit of both. The Prattville School was built. The annual report was printed before appropriations were made: $10,000 was appropriated for macadamizing roads, as a start for better streets. The top of Powderhorn Hill was purchased for a park. A Bill was presented to the Legislature requiring all wires to be buried. The Boston & Albany R. R. Company was induced to remove the freight yard at the Chelsea station and turn it into a park. An attempt was made to induce the Government to build a drive on the water front of the Naval Hospital grounds; the stone wall surrounding it was removed, and an iron fence erected in its stead. The Carter playground and Highland parks were purchased and laid out. His vetoes were few, but wise, notably that which vetoed the granting of oil tanks in Ward 3 and car tracks on Nichols Street. He declined to run for a second term on account of his health, but later carried on his work for Chelsea as president of its Board of Trade. He died on May 2, 1918.
SETH J. LITTLEFIELD SETH J. LITTLEFIELD, twenty-second mayor, was born in Waterboro, York County, Maine, in 1839. He is a son of William Littlefield, who was a well to do farmer in Waterboro. He spent his early days on the farm and attended the district school in winter. In 1860 he came to Wenham, Massachusetts and began working in a large general store. He later became a travelling salesman for the wholesale boot and shoe house of Hyde, Hutchinson & Co. and stayed with the firm until 1872. He came to Chelsea in 1865. During his residence in Chelsea he did much toward improving his personal real eastate as well as looking after public matters. His residence in Prattville had a grand view of the city and was surrounded by spacious grounds. He was elected to the city government in 1889, and served three years in the council and was alderman in 1893-4-5-6. His election to the office of mayor in 1898 was by the largest vote ever given a candidate and showed the confidence in him that the voters and taxpayers of Chelsea had. He served two terms, 1898 and 1899.
JAMES GOULD James Gould was the twenty-third mayor of Chelsea. He served as mayor in 1900 and in 1901. Further information being researched
EDWARD E. WILLARD   Edward E. Willard, the twenty-fourth mayor of Chelsea was born in Lancaster, MA on September 25, 1862. He is a direct descendant of Major Willard, who was one of the first residents of Charlestown, and who, later was the founder of Concord, MA. He was educated at Worcester Academy and Hinman's Business College. He served four years on the ward and city committee. He was a member of the common council in 1890 and in 1892-93-94, a member of the upper branch of city government. In 1895 he was elected to the house of representatives serving the 26th district of Suffolk County. He was elected mayor of Chelsea in 1902 and was re-elected continously until 1907. He was then elected mayor in 1913 and 1914 and again in 1917 and 1918.
JOHN E. BECK  John E. Beck was the twenty-fifth mayor of Chelsea. His term as mayor was terminated early by the appointment of the Board of Control in June of 1908 to manage the city after the disasterous fire of April. He lost both his home and his business, The Chelsea Gazette, in the fire of 1908.
BOARD OF CONTROL DUE TO THE GREAT CHELSEA FIRE OF 1908 In the days immediately following the great disaster everyone was busy caring for the homeless and the poor. A generous public poured $360,000 into Chelsea; but other problems began to arise. Amid the confusion there developed a widespread feeling that the best interests of Chelsea demanded some special body of men, with unusual powers. This demand for a new government was no reflection upon the Mayor and the Aldermen. It arose from a conviction that a few well-paid men selected for especial fitness, giving their whole time and given unusual powers, could better deal with the problems than a large body of unpaid officials whose time must be divided between their personal business and that of the city. Alton E. Briggs George E. Dunham William E. McClintock A. C. Ratshesky Mark Wilmarth  Mass meetings of citizens were held, virtual agreements were reached, and the Legislature acted and supplanted the Mayor and Aldermen by a Board of Control, consisting of five men. This Board, according to the act of its creation, was to be appointed by the Governor, three men for five years, one for two years, and one for one year, the latter being subject to the electorate at the end of their respective terms, and the whole Board passing out of existence at the end of five years, after serving the fifth year together with a Mayor and Board of Aldermen elected by the people in the fall of 1911, while in the fall of 1912 the people would vote upon the question, " Shall the Chelsea Board of Control be continued? " If an affirmative vote be recorded, the Governor shall appoint a Board of Control of three members to serve respectively for one, two and three years, together with the Mayor and Board of Aldermen, elected by the people. Under this act. Governor Draper appointed William B. McClintock, Alton E. Briggs and George H. Dunham of Chelsea, A. C. Ratshesky of Boston, and Mark Wilmarth of Maiden.   The Board of Control began its regime 4 June 1908. With its coming into being the Mayor, Aldermen and School Committee went out of office. Municipal elections were abolished until 1911. License was to be settled at State elections. The Commission, appointed a School Committee of five members. The Commission could appoint or remove all officials, and fix all duties, powers and salaries. The Commission could establish parks, squares and streets, or widen or discontinue streets; could establish building line and regulate height and character of buildings; could make public improvements and assess betterments. In 1912 Chelsea was to vote on the question, " Shall the Chelsea Board of Control be continued? " The Commission was made up of a civil engineer, a banker, a builder, an educator and a business man all able men. With the exception of Mr. Ratshesky, who drew no salary, all devoted their entire time to the interests of Chelsea.   The first thing the Board did was to float a bond issue of $1,000,000 - one-half at 4%, and one-half at 3 1/2% - and furthermore made a premium of $41,831 which was applied to the sinking fund which at the maturity of the loan will amount to $307,280. With this money the Board built the Williams and the Shurtleff School groups; took the land bounded by Broadway and Washington Avenue and built upon it a replica of Independence Hall for a City Hall; erected new city stables capable of housing all the various departments, new fire houses, a new Public Library with money presented by Andrew Carnegie and put $20,000 worth of books in it; widened and straightened many streets, and planted hundreds of shade trees. These and many other things, in addition to carrying on the daily routine of the various city departments, the Commission did, and did exceedingly well. Then the people of Chelsea on election day in 1912 voted to abolish the Commission and return to the old form of government, consisting of a Mayor, and Board of Aldermen.
James H. Malone Melvin B. Breath Mayor in 1912 and from 1915 to 1916 Mayor from 1919 to 1921
John J. Whalen Lawrence F. Quigley John J. Whalen was born in 1895 and was a lifelong resident of Chelsea. He was educated in the Chelsea schools and later graduated from Franklin Union of Boston and became employed as an electrical contractor. He then went into business for himself. He was a World War I veteran, having enlisted in the Navy in 1917. He was promoted to chief petty officer Lawrence F. Quigley was born in the Ward 1 section of Chelsea. He was anewsboy for eight years beginning at age 6. At age 14 he went to work as a messenger and was later promoted to the office. At age 23 he was elected state representative for two terms. His first try for mayor in 1920 was unsuccessful. In 1921, at age 28, he ran for mayor again and defeated Melvin Mayor in 1927 and from 1930 to 1931 Mayor from 1922-1926, 1928-1929 and 1932-1935 at the time of his discharge. His political career began in 1923 when he defeated James A. Quigley for the ward 1 seat. He was elected alderman in 1925 and mayor in 1927 and 1930 - 1931. In 1934 he was appointed deputy sheriff by sheriff John A. Kellher, retiring in June of 1965. John Whalen died in June of 1967 after a short illness. Breath, becoming the youngest mayor in Chelsea's history. He was re-elected from 1922 to 1925. In 1926 he was defeated by John J. Whalen in a hotly contested election. In 1927 Quigley defeated Whalen in the first of the two year mayoral terms. On December 24-30, 1934, Mayor Quigley was named commandant of the Soldier's Home, but was to finish out his term as mayor.
Edward J. Voke - 1936 - 1941 Edward J. Voke was born in 1889. Raised in Chelsea, he was the son of Alfred and Julia Voke. He graduated from the Williams School and summa cum laude from the Chelsea High School in 1906, where he was the only boy speaker on the platform. He later worked at the post office during the day and attended Northeastern University at night where he prepared for a legal career at the university's law school. The university honored him as an outstanding alumnus and conferred an honorary doctor's of law degree. Voke was elected mayor of Chelsea in 1936 and was re-elected for three consecutive terms. He retired from office at the end of his third term. After serving as treasurer of the late Govenor Maurice J. Tobin's campaign committee he was nominated in 1946 to the judical post to succeed the late Nelson P. Brown of Everett as justice of the Superior Court. He was the first man from Chelsea to be appointed to the Massachusetts Superior Court.
Bernard L. Sullivan Tom Keating Joseph A Melley Mayor from 1942-1947 Mayor from 1948-1949 Mayor from 1950-1951 Bernard L. Sullivan was mayor of Chelsea from 1942 to 1947 serving three terms as mayor. Born in 1894, He was an electrician by trade. He was an alderman in the 1930's and State Senator from 1938 to 1942. Bernard Sullivan died in February of 1965 at age 71. Thomas A. Keating was born in Chelsea on January 17, 1909. He was the son of Dennis P. and Annie (McCann) Keating. He was educated at St. Rose parochial school, Chelsea high school and the Chelsea evening high school. He was engaged in the fuel oil business in all parts of Chelsea. In his earlier years he was a well known baseball and basketball player and for many years pitched for the old Highland S. & A. Club.He was a member of the Chelsea K. of C. and the Sagamore Club. He ran for alderman in 1935 and in 1937 but was defeated. In 1939 he he ran again and topped the ticket. He was elected mayor in 1948. Thomas Keating was married to Margaret M. (Cronin) and had one daughter. His residence was at 28 Harvard Street in Chelsea. He had three sisters, Mary and Katherine Keating and Mrs. Margaret Collari who resided in Everett.
Andrew P. Quigley Andrew Quigley was born in Chelsea on January 13, 1926. He was the son of the late Lawrence F. Quigley, who served as mayor of Chelsea for 11 terms. He attended the old Cranwell Academy in the Berkshire Hills before graduating from Chelsea High School in 1944. He served in the Navy in the Pacific during World War 2. After his discharge in 1946, he attended Georgetown University, Harvard University, Boston University and Dartmouth College. In 1948 at the age of 22, Andrew Quigley was elected to the House of Representatives. In 1950 he was elected to the State Senate. He was elected Mayor of Chelsea in 1951 and served as both mayor and senator until 1955, despite criticism from the city's alderman. During the late 1950's he worked with then U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy in Kennedy's unsuccessful vice presidential nomination. From 1956 to 1965 Quigley served as the director of the Massachusetts Department of Commerce. Mayor from 1952-1955 In 1949 Mr. Quigley bought the Winthrop Transcript, which he consolidated with the Winthrop Sun in 1959. In 1976 he took over the near-extinct Chelsea Record. At the Record he wrote all the editorials, some news and a weekly column called "Short and Sweet." Under his leadership the paper's circulation increased from 1900 to almost 5000 in 12 years. In 1983 he bought the Saugus Advertiser and in 1986 launched the East Boston Sun-Transcript. In 1988 he sold all four of his publications to Journal-Transcript Publication of Revere. First elected to the School Committee in 1961, Mr. Quigley approached BU president John Silber in 1986 to run the city's ailing school system for the next ten years. From 1973 to 1975 he was coordinator of the project that converted the grounds of the former Naval Hospital into a residential development of luxury apartments, townhouses and a marina, now called Admiral's Hill. Andrew Quigley died on May 25, 1990 at the New England Deaconess Hospital from a series of illnesses at age 64.
Hugh McLaughlin Alfred Voke John J. Slater Alfred Voke was born Charlestown in 1919. He attended Chelsea High School, graduating in 1936 and Lawrence Academy in 1938. He was a pre-law student at Boston University and attended Suffolk Law School before enlisting in the U. S. Army during World War 2. He retired from the Army in 1947 as Captain. He was elected to the state legislature in 1956, 1958 and 1960. He was elected mayor in 1960, serving two terms. He was married to Marion E. (Ahearn). He died on September 14, 1983 at the Veteran's Adminstration Hospital in West Roxbury after a long illness at age 64. Mayor from 1956-1959 Mayor from 1960-1963 Mayor from 1964-1969
Joseph Margolis Philip J. Spellman Joel Pressman Mayor from 1970-1971 Mayor from 1972-1975 Mayor from 1976-1983
James D. Mitchell Thomas Nolan Mayor from 1984-1985 Mayor from 1986-1987
John Brennan John Brennan graduated from Chelsea High School in 1962. He was a life long resident of Chelsea and its last mayor. In 1983 he was elected Alderman at-Large where he topped the ticket. He was elected mayor in 1988. In September of 1991 the Massachusetts Legislature placed Chelsea in recievership due to its worsening fiscal crisis. James F. Carlin was appointed receiver from 1991-1996. This ended the mayoral form of government that ran Chelsea from 1857 to 1991, a period of 134 years. Mayor from 1988-1991