Courtesy of Boston City Archives

Combat Zone term is introduced.

April 27, 1951

During the arraignment of soldiers charged for brawling outside the Playland nightclub, Boston Municipal Court judge George Roberts exclaims, “It’s a combat zone, a bucket of blood all along Essex Street. They ought to award battle stars for service on Essex Street.” The term is popularized by a series of newspaper articles in 1964,* and the area is officially designated under another name in 1974.*

Sources
  • Vacca, Richard
  • Brecord