Era: Immigrant Neighborhood (~1880-1960)
Immigration, first, second, and third-generation Americans, Settlement Houses, Irish politics, etc.
The Visionists were a group of bohemian writers, artists, and architects based primarily along Pinckney Street on the North Slope of Beacon Hill. Modeling their work after the arts and crafts movement, theosophy, and aestheticism. The short lived group left a mark on photography, the fine press, and Boston’s bohemian arts scene.
The Vilna Shul: The Last Immigrant-Era Synagogue in Boston The Vilna Shul is the last remaining immigrant era synagogue in Boston, now serving as the Jewish cultural hub of Boston. Built to serve Jewish immigrants from the Vilnius (Vilna) community, the shul has stood for over 100 years. It contains important examples of Jewish folk…
The Thriving Jewish Marketplace of Boston’s Old West End Part Two: Deli Meats to Kosher Eats This article is the third part of a series exploring Jewish life in the Old West End. This second part in our business series describes the many options for West Enders to purchase Jewish foods. Bakeries, delis, kosher butchers,…
The Thriving Jewish Marketplace of the Old West End Part One: Peddler to Proprietor This article is the second part of a series exploring Jewish life in the Old West End. The first part explored the synagogue life in the neighborhood. This introduction to Jewish businesses in the West End explains the economic path many…
The Signscape of Scollay Square Scollay Square, Boston’s port-side entertainment center, was full of flashing marquees. Directional signs on theatres, peepshows, and taverns helped people find their way through the maze of cobbled streets and guided crowds to transportation or fun. Though Scollay Square was destroyed by urban renewal, the vibrant electric atmosphere has been…
The Brief Reign of Daniel A. Whelton, Mayor of Boston On September 14, 1905, Bostonians were shocked by the sudden death of their mayor, Patrick Collins. Collins died from an acute attack of gastritis at the Homestead Hotel in Hot Springs, Virginia, where he had been recuperating “from the cares and toils of office.” Under…
Destruction and Disappointment: The Legacy of Boston’s Central Artery Boston’s Central Artery promised relief to the city’s traffic dilemma, but as with most major building projects of the mid-20th century, it brought demolition, displacement, and ultimately disappointment. Less than 20 years after the first automobiles hit the dirt roads of Boston, traffic congestion had become…
The West End News: Headlines in the Summer of 1926One Summer in the West End, Part Two Over the course of four months in the summer of 1926, Lou Coffee and Francis R. Whelton published a newspaper by West Enders for West Enders. These papers gave a glimpse into the diverse immigrant neighborhood facing the…
