Who was Leo Birmingham?

[Eva Webster]

Does anyone know who Leo Birmingham (for whom the Parkway in Brighton is named) was, and when was the Parkway built?  Looking up on Wikipedia, or googling the name did not offer any clues.

[Nathan Larson]

Looks like Vice President of BC in 1915  http://www.bc.edu/content/bc/schools/cas/communication/fulton/history/officers.html

and went on to become a Representative of Brighton in late 20s early 30s.  Couldn't find out much more because you have to pay to read all these news articles:

https://www.google.com/search?q=%22Leo+M+Birmingham%22&hl=en&biw=1870&bih=964&sa=X&ei=ARkpULHyDejo6wGg_YCQDQ&ved=0CC0QpwUoBg&source=lnt&tbs=cdr%3A1%2Ccd_min%3A1%2F1%2F1915%2Ccd_max%3A1920&tbm=nws#q=%22Leo+M+Birmingham%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ChkpUKiUKojq6wG1gIGwDQ&ved=0CCoQpwUoBg&source=lnt&tbs=cdr:1%2Ccd_min%3A1%2F1%2F1905%2Ccd_max%3A12%2F31%2F1950&tbm=nws&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&fp=cef37e26a3978a7f&biw=1870&bih=964

On Sun, Aug 12, 2012 at 1:57 AM, Eva Webster <evawe...@comcast.net> wrote:

Does anyone know who Leo Birmingham (for whom the Parkway in Brighton is named) was, and when was the Parkway built?  Looking up on Wikipedia, or googling the name did not offer any clues.

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[CF Baum]

Correction: He was VP of the Fulton Debating Society, which is a student organization @ BC. Not VP of the University.

Kit Baum

[barbm seager]

Asked my Dad,  81, our family's font of all things Allston Brighton, if he remembered Leo Birmingham and why a parkway dedicated
after him.
 
My Dad remembers he was a local Brighton Representative and he believes we died while in office.
His family owned a funeral parlor in Brighton going towards Oak Square (he believes on Washington Street near Oakland Street
ans Lake Street. - may have been called the Leo Birmingham Funeral Parlor?)  He was a likeable guy who was a family man and considered charitable and outgoing.
 
Mr Birmingham's daughter went to Mount Saint Joseph Academy on Cambridge Street and
my Dad went to a MSJA prom with her and that's when he met Mr Birmingham formally.  As a teenager, he didn't consider
Mr Birmingham "ancient" but probably someone 25-30 years older than himself- possible date of birth turn of century- 1900s?)
(my Dad graduated English High in 1949 but his prom going years were between 1948-1951).
 
The Parkway way built and developed after the horse races discontinued but the roadway was dedicated after Mr Birmingham's
death.
 
Hope some of this "oral history" points you in the right direction to uncovering more concrete information on Leo Birmingham.

 

 

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From: barbm...@hotmail.com
To: stephen.m...@bc.edu
Subject: FW: [AB2006] Who was Leo Birmingham?
Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2012 17:25:13 +0000

the mystery continues- this fellow must have done something else for brighton to have a pkwy named

 

 

> Subject: Re: [AB2006] Who was Leo Birmingham?
> From: kit...@me.com
> Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2012 13:21:01 -0400
> To: allstonbr...@googlegroups.com

[Lis Hulin Wheeler]

This is fascinating! Here's some info from the BC yearbook of 1915 (actual pdf here: http://ia700501.us.archive.org/8/items/subturriundertow1915bost/subturriundertow1915bost.pdf on page 39 of the pdf, 35 by book numbering):

"Leo Michael Birmingham

49 Chestnut Hill Ave., Brighton, Mass.
Born April 14, 1893, Jamaica Plain, Mass.

Next we present Leo Birmingham, or "Birmie" as he is usually called. Leo is one of the originals who started with us "way back" in 1907, and he is still with us, as is evidenced by his various work in all activities, both in and out of class. Ordinarily our Brighton friend is quiet and satisfied to sit down and be a good listener. But let some important question come up and Leo is ' right on the job" (if I may so speak). Especially does he arouse his dormant spirit and show his power as a speaker during class election times. A "live wire"? — Yes. Leo is famous for his tan shoes (we suppose these are to match his complexion).

It seems to be tan shoes or nothing with him. And, —well, we have never seen him barefooted. "Birmie" is probably a student. We don't know, with certainty. In the first place he has that happy lot of seldom being called on in class — a particular blessing in our belief. In the second place his answers are so erudite that they are "too deep" for most of us.

Somebody has called him Frank Kennedy's better half, so often are they seen together. But at the mention of better half "Birmie" gives that knowing wink — and is as silent as the Sphinx himself. At any rate a little thing like that wouldn't handicap our Brighton friend. In our opinion no obstacles will prevent his success. "