October 2017 Newsletter

Dear Friend of The West End Museum,

We hope your summer brought fun in the sun with family and friends and — for those of you in New England — that you’re looking forward to the changing leaves, crisp air and farm stands teeming with apples and pumpkins.

As we settle into fall at The West End Museum, we bring you news of …

A new project that’s capturing and preserving personal stories from former West Enders and an invitation to be part of this important effort.

A glimpse of Canal Street and changes in the area.

A cherished volunteer and his memories of growing up in the old neighborhood.

We hope you enjoy this edition of the Museum newsletter and would love to see or hear from you soon!

If you do enjoy our communications, exhibits and events, we hope you’ll consider becoming a West End Museum member. If you’re already a member, please help us spread the word about supporting our ongoing mission. Corporate and individual members are always welcome (special rates for students and seniors) as are donations. Membership and donations are tax deductible.

Remember to keep up and stay in touch with the Museum on our website and via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

By Matt Ellis

It’s been more than half a century since the buildings and streets of the old West End disappeared under urban renewal. Many families forced to move from “the greatest neighborhood this side of heaven” have scattered further, to their retirement in a southern state or to live with family in other communities. But, they continue to carry with them the memories and stories of what was lost to the wrecking ball. The West End Museum is endeavoring to collect and preserve those remembrances through its Share Your Story project.

As part of that project, the Museum hosted the Share Your Story Social on September 16. More than 40 original West Enders and their family members gathered together with a team of volunteer videographers. Attendees excitedly shared their memories on tape and caught up with one another, lending to a great atmosphere and mood throughout the day. In addition, Museum staff collected 10 written accounts of people’s experiences in the old neighborhood.

John Manolian, who lived in the West End from his birth in 1949 until he relocated in 1961, pointed out the location of his building on a large map that hangs at the Museum.

“I remember …

By Kathleen Bondi

As the weather in Boston begins to cool, the sports scene heats up. There’s the onset of Soxtober playoffs plus more Patriots’ action and — in the West End — the Bruins home season opener and the Celtics last preseason home game at the TD Garden.

If you haven’t visited the home turf lately, you may be surprised by the changing landscape around North Station and the nearby pre- and post-game staple, Canal Street. Bars like Boston Beer Works and The Fours are game day favorites, but stroll a bit further and you’ll see an evolving neighborhood welcoming new residents and businesses. This past July saw the first of what will hopefully become an annual block party type of event on this street.

A perfect summer day in Boston can sweeten the thoughts of even the saltiest New Englander. To walk through the city under blue skies with the sun on your skin and the occasional waft of sea mist in the air is to experience the finest of days in the city. The Open Canal Street celebration on July 8 began as one of those days and saw visitors from all walks of life come together to enjoy a neighborhood that has seen many iterations over the years.

Boston sports teams who call The TD Garden home were …

By Nicholas DeBlasio

The atmosphere inside The West End Museum is always brightened by the arrival of volunteer and former West Ender, Joe Greenberg. Often, when joined by other old residents and volunteers, the mood becomes more like that of a neighborhood clubhouse than a museum. That communal, clubhouse feeling was always present in the old West End, as the people in the neighborhood were close both socially and literally. “One of the main wonderful parts of growing up in the West End,” said Joe, “is that, for the most part, you knew just about everybody, and they knew you.”

Born in 1944, Joe lived at 347 Charles Street, sharing a 400-square foot apartment with his father, mother and brother Jeff. Seven other families lived in the building. Joe’s grandparents lived in the building next to him, his aunt lived right around the corner with her family, and his two uncles both lived within walking distance. He saw his extended family often, “and that made it a warmer place to grow up.” Joe also remembers a cousin of his mother’s, a military man called Biggie, who would come in from the naval shipyard twice a year and give Joe and Jeff each a dime — this being a time when a kid could get two pieces of candy for a penny at the store.

Such local stores were a major part of life and socialization in the West End. Joe and his family, like many other families, didn’t have a refrigerator, so food didn’t last long. That meant that West Enders were in and out of the local mom-and-pop stores every day. Joe remembers frequenting Manko’s grocery store and Schnipper, a huge man that everyone got their fruits and vegetables from. Seeing his fellow West Enders out shopping was a key part of social life in the old neighborhood. “Most of these people were also your neighbors, so again it was one of those things that drew the community close together, and in my opinion …