Author to discuss book on Bucky Lew, early Black basketball player

FITCHBURG — The Fitchburg Historical Society will host a talk by Lowell author Chris Boucher, discussing his latest book, “Harry ‘Bucky’ Lew, A Biography of Basketball’s First Black Professional” on Thursday, Oct. 1, at 6 p.m.

Boucher examines Lew’s story and impact in the world of sports in his book and during his appearance at the Fitchburg Historical Society. The talk is free and open to the public.

Though he grew up in Lowell, Harry “Bucky” Lew’s family had Fitchburg ties: his wife Florence Genevieve Smith Lew grew up in Fitchburg and was the daughter of Emma Loisa Treadwell Smith and Isaac Smith.

Her father, Isaac, had escaped from enslavement in Louisiana in 1862, then served in the Army and eventually settled on Summer Street in Fitchburg. Bucky Lew may have met his wife at the Fitchburg Armory, a building that still stands, and serves as the Fitchburg Senior Center. It’s not known whether they met when he was in town to play basketball or when he was playing the violin, another of his skills. Maybe, since in those days, promoters often combined basketball games and dances, it was both!

In 1902, Bucky Lew became basketball’s first Black professional when he signed with the New England League, the start of a 25-year, history-making career. Lew achieved milestone after milestone and Fitchburg was there to support them all.

The city hosted Lew when he brought his independent teams here as early as 1906; Fitchburg had a team in the Massachusetts League when Lew made more history as a franchise owner, and Fitchburg State College was Lew’s first opponent when he coached for what is now UMass Lowell.

Boucher is based in Lowell, and was named a Distinguished Scholar in 2021 by Southern New Hampshire University, where he received his master’s degree in Creative Writing. He is also a graduate of University of Massachusetts, Lowell.

The event is free and there is plenty of free, on street parking. Boucher will sell and sign copies of his book at the event. His website is: https://chrisboucher.net.

The Fitchburg Historical Society is located at 781 Main St., in the Phoenix Building. For more information, visit www.fitchburghistoricalsociety.com, call 978-345-1157 or email [email protected].