Era: Immigrant Neighborhood (~1880-1960)
Immigration, first, second, and third-generation Americans, Settlement Houses, Irish politics, etc.
The William Blackstone SchoolSchools of the Old West End, part 1 Built in 1913 to serve the West End’s growing immigrant population, the William Blackstone School served as a place of learning, a gathering place, and a sight of many memories until it closed its doors in 1959. The school was spared the initial years…
Charles Angoff Charles Angoff (1902-1979) was a West Ender originally from Minsk who went on to a career in writing and publishing. His series of semi-autobiographical novels following the immigrant Polonsky family reflected on his youth in the diverse West End neighborhood and his experience as a Jew in America. His writings offered a glimpse…
Behind Closed Doors: Illegal Gambling at 11 Irving Street In August of 1949, Boston Police raided an apartment at 11 Irving Street. Inside they found evidence of illegal gambling connected to a nationwide baseball betting racket. This raid and the coverage it received in the Boston Globe offers a glimpse into how illegal enterprises existed…
J.W. Strom and the Bowdoin Square Museum For a brief period of less than three years, J.W. Strom ran the Bowdoin Square Museum from the Parkman Building in Bowdoin Square. More of an enclosed carnival sideshow than our notion of a modern day museum, Strom’s venue offered Bostonians the most sensational entertainment 5 cents could…
The Thriving Jewish Marketplace of Boston’s Old West End Part Three: Yiddish Books to Fashionable Looks This article is the fourth part of a series exploring Jewish life in the Old West End. This third part in our business series describes the Jewish shops, services, and professionals in the West End. Pharmacies, antique dealers, doctors,…
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,…
