New Book to Feature Notable South End Residents

If you had to consider the most well-known, infamous, or even unsung members of the South End community, who would you pick?

South End Historical Society Executive Director Hope Shannon has set out to answer that very question. Shannon has signed with Arcadia Publishing to set  author a book entitled Legendary Locals of Boston’s South End.

The book will focus on both former and current South Enders that have had a lasting impact on the community.

“It’s not just the heroes, it’s the unsung heros – the barber that everyone knows, or the pharmacist who would lend to you on credit,” Shannon said. “I’m looking to feature the people you know from your community in Villa Victoria, SoWA, Eight Streets, Chester Square, Ellis and others,” she said.

One neat aspect of the project is that Shannon is welcoming community input and suggestions from South End residents. The finished book will feature 150-200 paragraph-long profiles. Suggestions will be accepted until April 19.

“This book is a product of the community,” said Shannon. “I’m the one writing it, but I don’t want it to be just a historian’s point of view. It needs to be a portrait of what the community thinks is important.”

To submit a person to profile, email Shannon at hope.shannon@southendhistoricalsociety.org, call 617-536-4445, or fill out the suggestion form found at www.southendhistoricalsociety.org/legendarylocals. 

The book should be printed and published by early 2014. It will be on sale through the South End Historical Society and through several South End retailers. Although, Shannon said the idea isn’t to turn a huge profit on the book.

“It’s just for the community and for us to have,” Shannon said.

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