Hello again I thought that I'd follow up my Joe Louis Tour with one on The Great John L. Most of information on where he lived is from the book, "John L. Sullivan And His America". Enjoy Bob JOHN L. SULLIVAN This content is protected BOXING CAREER - 1877 - 1905 TURNED PRO IN 1879 1856 - 1862 5 EAST CONCORD STREET - BOSTON Sullivan's parents were married in 1856 and moved into this boarding house with a couple named Norton. The Great John L. was born here on October 12, 1858. By 1862 the Sullivan's decided to find a larger house to live in. 1862 - 1868 AMEE PLACE - ROXBURY, MA (off Harrison Avenue) SULLIVAN FAMILY HOME The Sullivan's moved into this house. They lived here until John was ten years old. 1868 - 1882 8 PARNELL STREET - BOSTON HEIGHTS The Sullivan brood next moved here when John was ten. This would be the last home his parents lived in. They lived here until their deaths. It was while he was living here that John started boxing and making good money. In 1882 he was able to pay off what his folks still owed on the house and then gave it to them. That same year (or 1883), he moved to his own place. 1885 26 SAWYER STREET - BOSTON Sullivan paid $3,450 for this house and gave it to his parents. They remained living in their home on Parnell Street and used this house as a rental property. 1882 FEBRUARY 7 - MISSISSIPPI CITY HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH Sullivan knocked out the champion Paddy Ryan in the ninth round and became the new world champ. APRIL HAMMOND STREET AND SHAWMUT AVENUE It was on this corner that a friend introduced Sullivan to Annie Bates Bailey and they were soon living together. 1883 - 1886 4 LOVERING PLACE - BOSTON Sullivan bought his first house. Gal pal Annie Bailey moved in with him. They got married on May 1, 1883, but by then the relationship was sinking after than the Titanic. She moved in 1884 but it years before they were divorced. Sullivan sold the house in 1886 and bought a new one. 1883 - 1899 714 WASHINGTON STREET - BOSTON Sullivan bought this building, which had originally been a shoe store, for $15,000, including $4,000 for the lease. He then spent thousands of dollars remodeling the place and turned it into The Champion's Saloon. He opened the doors for business on August 7, 1883. He sold it in 1899 when he moved to New York City. 1886 - 1899 7 CARVER STREET - BOSTON Sullivan moved here from the Lovering Street house. 1887 Prize belt presented to John L. Sullivan, bare-knuckle boxing champion This content is protected The "Boston Bully," Sullivan was the most famous sports figure of his day. To honor their hometown hero, Boston fans raised $10,000 for this elaborate trophy. Encrusted with 350 diamonds (now lost) and decorated with Sullivan's portrait and crossed Irish and American flags, the gold-plated belt has this inscription: "Presented to the champion of champions by the people of the United States." In 1983 the Smithsonian acquired Sullivan's belt for its sports history collection. SEPTEMBER 7, 1892 - NEW ORLEANS This content is protected Lost the heavyweight title to Jim Corbett when he was knocked out. OCTOBER 18, 1892 - NEW YORK CITY MADISON SQUARE GARDEN This content is protected 1899 Moved from Boston to New York City 608 6th AVENUE - NEW YORK CITY (Just off Broadway and Harold Square Plaza) Sullivan opened a saloon here but had to close it the same year. 1177 BROADWAY - NEW YORK CITY THOMAS ALLEN'S SALOON After losing his bar, Sullivan went to work as a greeter for Tom Allen. They soon became partners. 1902 LEXINGTON AVENUE AND 42nd STREET - NYC THE VANDERBILT HOTEL John L. was living here at the time. 1909 PRESCOTT, ARIZONA THE HOTEL ST. MICHAEL This content is protected Sullivan and Jake Kilrain boxed two exhibition bouts in Prescott on May 24 and May 25. During their stay in town they stayed at the Hotel St. Michael. MARCH 26, 1916 - NEW YORK CITY THE NEW YORK HOTEL SULLIVAN AND JAMES J. CORBETT First photograph of the two former holders of the world's heavyweight championship, posed together since they met in the ring a generation ago, shows James J. Corbett and John L. Sullivan upon meeting at the New York Hotel, where both had come to the the Willard-Moran fight. This content is protected This content is protected 1912 - 1918 DONELEE ROSS FARM - WEST ABLINGTON, MA. Died here on his farm on February 2, 1918. FEBRUARY 2, 1918 JOHN L. SULLIVAN DIES Sullivan died at his home in the afternoon. He was 59. FEBRUARY 4, 1918 - ROXBURY, MASS. Sullivan's body was laid out in the parlor of the home of his sister, Annie E. Lennon. His funeral was held at Roxbury's St. Paul's Church. SULLIVAN'S FUNERAL This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected
When Sullivan was buried the ground was frozen so hard that they had to blast out the grave with dynamite. Jake Killrain who was present said: "Old John L would have aproved".
