The New York Streets: Boston’s First Urban Renewal Project Prior to the demolition of Boston’s old West End, another vibrant, multi-ethnic neighborhood of tenement houses and mom-and-pop shops fell victim to so-called ‘urban renewal.’ The New York Streets: Boston’s First Urban Renewal Project, tells the story of this lost ‘sister’ community. “The New York Streets project…
Public transportation in Boston began with a group of private companies that were eventually consolidated under the West End Street Railway — predecessor of the T.
School Days in the West End Between 1800 and 1975, no fewer than 20 schools called Boston’s West End home. Following urban renewal, the last school in the community—the Peter Faneuil School—closed, and there has not been another public school in the West End or Beacon Hill since. Still, the neighborhood boasts a robust history…
Indelebile ItaliaA photography exhibit by Giselle Valdes The West End Museum hosted a new photography exhibit in its Members’ Gallery that celebrates the beauty and mystery of Italy. Indelebile Italia is part of the Museum’s annual commemoration of Italian Heritage Month in October. Indelebile Italia photographer and curator Giselle Valdes has been exhibiting her work since 1982. Her…
Tide Power in Colonial Boston To fuel mills for producing flour, fabric, lumber and even chocolate, innovators in colonial Boston turned to the power of the tides. Tide Power in Colonial Boston—tells the story of the development and use of tide mills in the city. “For 150 years prior to the industrial revolution, the tides sustained…
Dewey Defeats Truman/The Housing Act of 1949 With the modern-day 24-hour news cycle, it’s hard to believe that we once relied on daily newspapers to deliver word of current events. But so it was in 1948, when one of the most infamous—and totally inaccurate—headlines of the day broke. The West End Museum highlights that headline,…
In Pursuit of Excellence: The West End House In Pursuit of Excellence: The West End House in the Main Exhibit Hall featured artifacts, photographs, oral history video and memorabilia representing over 100 years. Among the club’s most distinguished alumni are Leonard Nimoy and crooner Buddy Clark. Of the West End House, Nimoy said “It was a…
The Legacy of Lawrence Berk Lawrence Berk grew up in the West End and is best known as the founder of Berklee College of Music. He played piano as a youth in the Boston English High School band and, at age 13, began moonlighting professionally. He pursued a “legitimate” career, earning a degree in architectural…
All but forgotten today, the Leverett Street Jail had a significant place in the Boston of the Young Republic. The jail held pirates, blasphemers, activists and others, and once stood at approximately 150 Stanford Street, Suite 7-9.
The New West Enders & Other Green Monsters With images by photographer Lolita Parker, Jr., The New West Enders & Other Green Monsters documents the rapid-fire changes in Boston’s West End over the past 16 years. Set against a backdrop of Garden events, sports bars and endless construction, Parker’s wide-angle perspective ranges from the personal to the…