Crime Scene: The West End’s Three JailsBy Leigh Blander Boston’s West End is known for many things: its rich immigrant history, connections to the abolitionist movement, urban renewal, and many famous actors, athletes, and artists. But the neighborhood has another distinction—it has been home to three major jails, including the notorious Leverett Street lockup. Leverett…
$20 Million Commitment from Esplanade Association Would Fund Major Improvements to ParkBeacon Hill Times The Esplanade Association (‘EA’), nonprofit partners of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (‘DCR’) as stewards of the 64-acre Charles River Esplanade in Boston, this week announced a gift to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that would fund the establishment of…
Landmarks Commission Gives Green Light for Demolition of Three Historic West End BuildingsBeacon Hill Times The Boston Landmarks Commission voted during a virtual meeting held Aug. 10 to waive a 90-day demolition delay for three historic West End buildings that will be razed as part of Mass General Hospital’s planned expansion. MGH intends to demolish…
Summer in the City – Remembering Charlesbank BeachBy Leigh Blander For some, summer in the city is a reminder of Charlesbank Beach, where thousands of Bostonians flocked to the banks of the Charles River in the West End to go swimming. Charlesbank – which ran from the Longfellow Bridge to the Museum of Science –…
How Bicycling Empowered FeminismSanta Barbara Independent When Massachusetts-based author Peter Zheutlin discovered that a long-lost aunt played an integral role in elevating the popularity of bicycling around the end of the 19th century, he decided to tell her story. In so doing, Zheutlin is educating the world about his great-great aunt Annie Cohen Kopchovsky, a…
MGH Project Team Discusses Community Benefits for Proposed ProjectBeacon Hill Times The project team for Mass General Hospital’s planned $1.9 billion expansion of its Cambridge Street campus were on hand June 24 for a virtual forum sponsored by the Beacon Hill Civic Association to discuss community benefits for the project. MGH has proposed a new…
Summer 2021 NewsletterA Message from Museum Director Sebastian Belfanti I began as Director of The WEM back in February 2020; needless to say, the year and a half since has been different than expected. But different hasn’t been all bad, and while I’m certainly happy to see many of you in person as we begin…
Long-Awaited Renovations Underway at West End MuseumBy Susan Gilbert For the first time since its incorporation, The West End Museum is undergoing renovations and a modernization designed to create an even better visitor experience. The first stage of renovations – installing a replacement floor in the main gallery – is expected to begin this August.…
The West End Museum Welcomes New Members to its Board of DirectorsBy Leigh Blander The West End Museum is pleased to announce four new members to its Board of Directors this year. Each brings lived experience in the West End, along with new areas of expertise. Let’s meet them. Leland Alexander Supt., Kaplan Construction Alexander…
Exciting Summer Programming at The WEM This summer, The West End Museum is hitting the streets offering several exciting walking tours. First, Museum Dir. Sebastian Belfanti will lead Exploring the West End on Saturday, June 19, 11:00 a.m. The 90-minute tour will feature dozens of historic places and people dating from 1640-2000, and discuss this area affectionately…