Walk and Learn excursions led by local historian Jim Briand will reveal the story of the West End neighborhood’s demolition under urban renewal with stops at five buildings spared by the wrecking ball including Old West Church, the Otis House , Vilna Shul, West End House, and St. Joseph’s Church.

Registrants will receive a series of photos to view on their phones during the tour, which will enable visual comparisons between the West End of today and of the past. Briand will tie the locations to different aspects of the neighborhood’s history, including its origins and transformation from an elite neighborhood into a tenement district; the influx of Jewish, Italian, and Southern European immigrants; and the family experience. Several factors that laid the groundwork for so- called urban renewal — such as the influence of ethnic bias and Progressive Era (1890-1920) thinkers — will be considered. Briand will also discuss the roles of religious institutions, social welfare organizations, business forces, and local politics. The tours will conclude by reflecting on how the West End’s destruction shaped subsequent public policy and city planning, and its legacy on about 7,500 exiled residents.