25 Years of “The West Ender”

Since 1985, “The West Ender” has been the voice of a lost neighborhood.

The paper became a catharsis; a way for people, who had no other medium to express themselves about their one time beloved neighborhood. They could share their stories from when they lived in the West End. The readers can connect with each other by relating to the different articles and stories. They could also use it as a medium to document their family’s oral history. A way to preserve what was wrongfully taken from them, their homes.

In 1985 “The West Ender” was founded by former residents who were displaced from their beloved neighborhood in the name of urban renewal by eminent domain. It is a combination of articles and editorials written by former West Enders who have memories to share or anger to vent.

Individuals also used it to blow off steam on being removed from their neighborhood. They identified the villains of the urban renewal project which removed them. Also anger at the system that allowed them to be displaced has been vented.

“The West Ender,” also allowed its readership to have a sense of place. Remembering the old neighborhood, and how it now resides in the minds of the former west enders. They can remember masses at St. Joseph’s Church. Summers spent at Camp Gannett, or programs at the West End House or Elizabeth Peabody House.

The exhibit includes articles and editorials from issues of “The West Ender,” and how it was used by former residents of this once great neighborhood.