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A telltale splash of green on the Evacuation Day law

E-mail|Link|Comments () March 17, 2010 04:09 PM

By Stefanie Geisler, Globe Staff

A state archivist recently discovered some green ink in an unlikely place: the bottom of a bill signed into law by a long-ago governor. But maybe this particular splash of color should come as no surprise.

The document, signed by former Governor Leverett Saltonstall in 1941 in both green and black ink, proclaims March 17 a holiday in Suffolk County. Officially, it marks the date in 1776 when British troops retreated from South Boston. But it also happens to fall on a more widely recognized holiday: St. Patrick's Day.

The discovery was prompted by a curious State House reporter, Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin said today.

The reporter had heard the document was signed in green ink, and he wanted to find out if it was true.

"The only way we could figure that out was to pull out the original parchment document, which is stored in our archives at Columbia Point," Galvin said.

The document was retrieved, and the archivist quickly discovered the green and black ink.

The countywide holiday, commonly known as Evacuation Day, has sparked controversy in recent years. Governor Deval Patrick today reiterated his opposition to it.

Government offices, schools, and libraries across Suffolk County close for the holiday. Galvin's office is one of the few exceptions. It has remained open on the day for years.

The document also makes June 17, Bunker Hill Day, a holiday in Suffolk County.

But the document makes no reference to the names of either holiday. It also doesn't mention St. Patrick's Day.

So why did Saltonstall use green ink?

"I think we can speculate that he was making a witty aside about Evacuation Day and St. Patrick's Day coinciding," Galvin said.