Joseph Greenberg - Former West Ender and West End Museum Volunteer
If you ever decide to visit the West End Museum on 150 Staniford Street, Boston MA. You would most likely come across Volunteer and former West Ender Joe Greenberg who lightens up the museum with personal stories, and his love for the neighborhood he once called home. Born in 1944, Greenberg shared a 400 foot square apartment with his mother, father, and brother Jeff on 347 Charles Street. As a group of researchers for the West End my team, and I were fortunate enough to meet and have a discussion with Greenberg. We were able to put our feet in his shoes, and get a vivid image in our minds of how life once was in the West End.
Growing up, Greenberg's favorite memories relate to his family. Living in the West End allowed him to be able to have a close knit relationship with his family. For instance, his grandparents lived on 349 Charles Street only two doors away from his parent's home, and his aunts, uncles, and cousins were only around the corner. All of them living within a 5-10 minute walk made it easy for him to see them on a regular basis. Living in the West End also exposed him to diversity, due to many ethnic groups residing in the area. There were at least 10 to 15 different ethnicities in his tenement, making the community in the West End a 'melting pot' not only for diversity, but for "cultural exposure, philosophies, and aspirations," This was important to him because it taught him and his brother about "treating people with equality, compassion and honesty; and never judging them based on where they came from, what they believed in and what they looked like." Teaching them a life lesson that they could carry and take advantage of for the rest of their lives.
After being forced to leave their home in the West End, Greenberg and his family relocated to Revere. He continued to have a good childhood, but moving into a new home and city brought a lot of negative changes that he had never wished for. He had lived in the West End for 13 plus years, and his parents had resided in the neighborhood for much longer. His whole family was happily accustomed to the lives that they had in the West End, until change occurred affecting them in only negative ways. Greenberg once was able to see the majority of his family everyday, building a strong bond between his immediate family and his extended family. This was all due to the close proximity that each of them had with each other. Unfortunately, when they moved it separated his family from most of his relatives, as they all moved sporadically around different regions of Boston. They had no car, and limited finances which made visiting more difficult. This heavily saddened Greenberg and was something that he missed dearly stating, "I missed this. I loved my family and had grown accustomed to seeing them all the time. That changed a tight-knit nuclear family into a diaspora that changed our lives in many ways." The change in scenery also affected his parents' everyday lives. They both worked in Boston and the displacement forced them to have to take public transportation to go into the city to be able to maintain their employments. This meant more time away from their children, due to them having to travel to work, as well as increased expenses for his family. Lastly, another hardship that he had to face due to the displacement was having to change schools. He had once attended Boston Latin School, which was considered the best public high school in the country. He was very proud and grateful for the opportunity he had to attend the school, and was aware of how special it was to be able to study at this school. When the displacement occurred, he could not continue to attend the school because his parents could not afford the out-of-city tuition. He was disappointed because the school had excited him for the future to come. Sadly, when he arrived to the Revere public system he saw how drastic of a change it was, and noticed that he was a year or more ahead of his fellow peers. He still continued to have a great and long career, teaching education for 44 years, but the thought of "what if" has never left his mind.
Greenberg's fond memories of the neighborhood he once called home will forever stay with him. These memories that were sadly short lived did not only affect his life, but it also impacted how he viewed political figures, and the city of Boston in general. He states "we felt cheated, robbed and fully taken advantage of by those who caused the destruction of the West End. Remember, we moved in the late 50's and till this day, my brother and I view politicians in a negative way and don't trust those in power to do what they say--we expect they will 'feather their own nests' at the expense of the powerless." This demonstrates the resentment that Greenberg continues to have and has all the right to feel. He does not hold a grudge, nor is he pity about the event, but he still feels angered and upset that the city forgot about the residents of the community. Overall, the situation was very desensitized because the city of Boston not only took away their homes, but they never provided the assistance, nor did they offer a positive alternative for those who were displaced.
This event had such a large impact on his life, that it influenced him to become a volunteer at the West End Museum when a former friend had mentioned that there was a museum dedicated to the event. He was taken back when he first saw the museum, due to happy memories that flooded his mind of the neighborhood he once called home. He states that he, "was totally taken with the exhibits and permanent collection and was able to relive part of my childhood experiences by absorbing myself in the what the Museum had to offer." Focusing on the good memories, rather than the severe effects the displacement of the West End had on his life. He loves being a volunteer at the museum, and is eager to educate others on the event. He wants to bring a lot of awareness towards a conflict that was forgotten about by most. If you ever have a chance, we truly recommend going to the museum located on 150 Staniford Street and taking the time to talk with Joe Greenberg.
Growing up, Greenberg's favorite memories relate to his family. Living in the West End allowed him to be able to have a close knit relationship with his family. For instance, his grandparents lived on 349 Charles Street only two doors away from his parent's home, and his aunts, uncles, and cousins were only around the corner. All of them living within a 5-10 minute walk made it easy for him to see them on a regular basis. Living in the West End also exposed him to diversity, due to many ethnic groups residing in the area. There were at least 10 to 15 different ethnicities in his tenement, making the community in the West End a 'melting pot' not only for diversity, but for "cultural exposure, philosophies, and aspirations," This was important to him because it taught him and his brother about "treating people with equality, compassion and honesty; and never judging them based on where they came from, what they believed in and what they looked like." Teaching them a life lesson that they could carry and take advantage of for the rest of their lives.
After being forced to leave their home in the West End, Greenberg and his family relocated to Revere. He continued to have a good childhood, but moving into a new home and city brought a lot of negative changes that he had never wished for. He had lived in the West End for 13 plus years, and his parents had resided in the neighborhood for much longer. His whole family was happily accustomed to the lives that they had in the West End, until change occurred affecting them in only negative ways. Greenberg once was able to see the majority of his family everyday, building a strong bond between his immediate family and his extended family. This was all due to the close proximity that each of them had with each other. Unfortunately, when they moved it separated his family from most of his relatives, as they all moved sporadically around different regions of Boston. They had no car, and limited finances which made visiting more difficult. This heavily saddened Greenberg and was something that he missed dearly stating, "I missed this. I loved my family and had grown accustomed to seeing them all the time. That changed a tight-knit nuclear family into a diaspora that changed our lives in many ways." The change in scenery also affected his parents' everyday lives. They both worked in Boston and the displacement forced them to have to take public transportation to go into the city to be able to maintain their employments. This meant more time away from their children, due to them having to travel to work, as well as increased expenses for his family. Lastly, another hardship that he had to face due to the displacement was having to change schools. He had once attended Boston Latin School, which was considered the best public high school in the country. He was very proud and grateful for the opportunity he had to attend the school, and was aware of how special it was to be able to study at this school. When the displacement occurred, he could not continue to attend the school because his parents could not afford the out-of-city tuition. He was disappointed because the school had excited him for the future to come. Sadly, when he arrived to the Revere public system he saw how drastic of a change it was, and noticed that he was a year or more ahead of his fellow peers. He still continued to have a great and long career, teaching education for 44 years, but the thought of "what if" has never left his mind.
Greenberg's fond memories of the neighborhood he once called home will forever stay with him. These memories that were sadly short lived did not only affect his life, but it also impacted how he viewed political figures, and the city of Boston in general. He states "we felt cheated, robbed and fully taken advantage of by those who caused the destruction of the West End. Remember, we moved in the late 50's and till this day, my brother and I view politicians in a negative way and don't trust those in power to do what they say--we expect they will 'feather their own nests' at the expense of the powerless." This demonstrates the resentment that Greenberg continues to have and has all the right to feel. He does not hold a grudge, nor is he pity about the event, but he still feels angered and upset that the city forgot about the residents of the community. Overall, the situation was very desensitized because the city of Boston not only took away their homes, but they never provided the assistance, nor did they offer a positive alternative for those who were displaced.
This event had such a large impact on his life, that it influenced him to become a volunteer at the West End Museum when a former friend had mentioned that there was a museum dedicated to the event. He was taken back when he first saw the museum, due to happy memories that flooded his mind of the neighborhood he once called home. He states that he, "was totally taken with the exhibits and permanent collection and was able to relive part of my childhood experiences by absorbing myself in the what the Museum had to offer." Focusing on the good memories, rather than the severe effects the displacement of the West End had on his life. He loves being a volunteer at the museum, and is eager to educate others on the event. He wants to bring a lot of awareness towards a conflict that was forgotten about by most. If you ever have a chance, we truly recommend going to the museum located on 150 Staniford Street and taking the time to talk with Joe Greenberg.