John E.Powers, Charming South Boston Politician

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John E. Powers, circa 1945

John E. Powers (1910-1998) was born on November 1, 1910 in South Boston, the son of irish immigrants. As a boy, he worked as a clam digger, messenger and machinist.

He entered politics and served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, representing Ward 6, South Boston, from 1938 to 1946. He was Democratic floor leader from 1941 to 1942.

Mr. Powers served in the Massachusetts Senate from 1948 to 1964. He was Senate Democratic floor leader in 1949 and from 1951 to 1960. He was president of the Senate from 1959 to 1964. He represented the 4th Suffolk District.

He ran for mayor of Boston twice, losing to Mayor John Hynes in 1955 and to Mayor John Collins in 1959, which ended in a longstanding feud with Collins that lasted 17 years. In 1964, he became Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court of Suffolk County. He retired in 1988.

Powers retired to Hyannis, Cape Cod and died on August 1, 1998. He is buried at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in Centerville on Cape Cod.

John E. Powers Memorial 

During his legislative career, Powers helped to create Pleasure Bay, a 170 acre lagoon encircled by a pedestrian walkway that runs alongside South Boston's coastline overlooking Dorchester Bay, leading right to Castle Island. 

After his death, a memorial stone was unveiled on July 8, 2000 on William J. Day Boulevard in South Boston honoring Powers' contributions to South Boston and to state government,.   Stephen F. Lynch and John A. Hart, Jr., led the process to place a plaque at Pleasure Bay acknowledging Powers' great service to Boston.

The John E. Powers Memorial is part of Boston's Irish Heritage Trail. 


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