Built in 1806 by architect Asher Benjamin for a very socially active congregation, the West Church was also used as a safe house for the Underground Railroad. After the congregation disbanded in 1887, the building was used instead for the first branch of the West End library from 1896-1960, then became used for a church again. It was declared a historic landmark in 1971 and is still in use today as a church. As the first Jewish woman to become a branch librarian in Massachusetts, Fanny Goldstein (1895-1961) was also collector and bibliographer of Judaica for the Boston Public Library (BPL). The collection was displayed at this location and was second only to Harvard University’s collection. Born in Russia, she grew up in the North End and began her career working with Edith Guerrier and the Saturday Evening Girls. She was known for cross-cultural programming and recognition of the many ethnic groups that lived in the West End. Goldstein was also instrumental in sending books to refugee and DP camps in post-WWII Europe.
