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The state wants to redo the Hurley Building. But how?

The state wants to redo the Hurley Building. But how?Boston Globe To some, the Charles F. Hurley Building is a giant concrete tombstone, memorializing a once-vibrant city block buried by urban renewal. For others, it’s a historic treasure, a throwback to a grandiose, monolithic style of architecture. To the Baker administration, the three-plus-acre Hurley property…

Christmas Exhibit

West End Holiday Celebrations

West End Holiday Celebrations With the holiday season in full swing, it’s a special time to look at the history of the West End’s rich holiday and religious culture. During and after the Immigrant Era, the West End was home to people of many different ethnicities, nationalities and religions who honored a variety of religious…

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Remembering the man who destroyed the West End

Remembering the man who destroyed the West EndUniversal HUB Jerome Rappaport died the other day, and the Globe had a glowing obituary, complete with a quote from the mayor, about his decades of philanthropy and as a builder who helped shape the Boston of today. But as CommonWealth Magazine alerts us, they really glossed over the thing…

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Ghosts in the Museum: The Leverett Street Jail

Ghosts in the Museum: The Leverett Street JailBeacon Hill Times The eclectic West End was uniquely known for its Urban Renewal, influential residents, and abolitionists. The culturally diverse neighborhood was home to African, Irish, Eastern European, Italian, Greek, Asian, and Albanian immigrants. It was also infamous for its executions (predominantly of pirates of African or…

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October 2021 Newsletter

October 2021 NewsletterA Message from the Director Hello, Since my last message to all of you, a lot has happened at The WEM (including this new branding). Programs have returned, as promised, and it has been wonderful to start seeing many of you around the neighborhood again! I’ve been deeply moved by the continued generosity…