Topic: Reports & Analysis
Data on the West End Neighborhood, critical takes on historical topics, population dats, employment data, demographics

ModernNeighborhood LifeReports & AnalysisUrban Renewal Photograph of an elderly man sitting with his dog next to a pile of stone and concrete debris.

Urban Renewal and Social Isolation

Urban renewal projects, like that in the the West End, have long promised to revitalize aging urban areas, create economic opportunities, and improve living conditions for residents. Despite these positive intentions, urban renewal has also resulted in false promises, the physical destruction of neighborhoods, and forced removal of residents. Such negative impacts have resulted in social isolation, lost social connections, and loneliness.

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African AmericansArt & LiteratureNew BostonOtherReports & AnalysisSocial & Religious InstitutionsWomen Five women in white dresses and a man in a suit and wearing glasses

The Reddick Story: The Life of Ruthena Felton King Reddick and Ray Reddick

Raymond Reddick, a lifelong Boston resident who is now 74 years old, has spent decades collecting, documenting, and speaking to different audiences about his extensive African-American family history with deep ties to the historic West End. After his grandmother, Ruthena Felton King Reddick, passed away in 1985, Ray began his ongoing genealogical research, which started with stories from family members and countless boxes of family artifacts in his possession. Ray Reddick approached The West End Museum to collaborate on a project that highlights his nineteenth-century ancestors — West Enders and Black Bostonians — captivating lives. Northeastern University’s Reckonings project has collaborated with Reddick and The West End Museum to produce, after a series of oral history interviews, a two-part, co-created report that spotlights Ray Reddick’s family history.

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BusinessImmigrant NeighborhoodImmigrationReports & AnalysisWest Boston An urban street in the early 20th century with cobble streets, brick structures, and many pedestrians

Dry Goods Stores in the West End: Exploring an Industry

The West End’s dry goods stores provide valuable insights into the economic activity of the neighborhood. With data sourced from Boston Business Directories and Barry Oshry – the son of one of the West End’s most well-known dry goods business owners – providing insights on his family business, this report explores how one of the most essential industries in industrial America fared in the West End.

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