Charles Adams

Background

Adams was born in Newport, Vermont on October 18, 1876 to Frank and Elizabeth (Benoit) Adams. As a teenager Adams purchased logs for his father"s sawmill.

Career

His family struggled financially and at a young age Adams took a job as a chore boy at a corner grocery store to help subsidize the family"s income. After working for a time as a traveling grocer and tobacco salesman, Adams moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he became treasurer of the New England Maple Syrup Company. He later worked for the Fitzgerald, Hubbard & Company banking and brokerage firm.

Adams left Fitzgerald, Hubbard & Company to work for the John T. Connor Company, which later became the First National Store chain.

Boston Bruins

Adams was an avid hockey fan, watching amateur hockey in Boston and traveling to Montreal to watch professional hockey. After a scandal involving Boston amateur hockey players that resulted in many Boston fans becoming disenchanted with amateur hockey, Adams decided to try to bring professional hockey to the United States.

On November 1, 1924, Adams was awarded the Bruins franchise for $15,000. In 1926 Adams bought the entire Western Canada Hockey League from Frank Patrick and Lester Patrick for $300,000.

This gave the Bruins the rights to Eddie Shore, Harry Oliver, Duke Keats, and Frank Boucher.

To ensure the team had a fitting arena to play in, Adams guaranteed $500,000 toward the construction of the Boston Garden. Boston Braves

On May 15, 1927, Charles Adams bought out the shares of Albert H. Powell to become a minority owner and vice-president of the Boston Braves. In 1935, after Emil Fuchs" attempt to revive interest in the team by signing Babe Ruth failed, Adams demanded that Fuchs either step down as President or buy out his shares.

On July 31, 1935, Emil Fuchs forfeited his shares to Charles F. Adams, who planned to sell the team as soon as possible.

On November 26, the National League took over control of the Braves due to the club"s failure to fulfill its contractual obligations. The club was awarded to Bob Quinn on December 10.

Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis did not allow Adams to be part of the new ownership group due to his stake in Suffolk Downs. Suffolk Downs

Adams was the head of Eastern Racing Association, the syndicate that founded Suffolk Downs.

He remained involved with the race track until 1945, when he sold his shares for $4 million.

Adams died on October 2, 1947 in Boston after a long illness. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1960. The National Hockey League"s Adams Division was formed in 1974 as part of the Prince of Wales Conference.

The division existed for 19 seasons until 1993.

lieutenant was named in honor of Adams. lieutenant is the fore-runner of the National Hockey League"s Northeast Division.

Adams was inducted in to the Vermont Hall of Fame in 2013.

Achievements

• Under his leadership the Bruins won their first Stanley Cup in 1929.