The West End Trail is about to become a reality. Come and be part of the fun! We are looking for volunteers to install trail markers on Saturday Sept 28 and Oct 5. There are morning and afternoon time slots each day. All ages are welcome. Meet in Fairview Park at 10am for morning slot or 1pm for afternoon slot.

To insure we have enough supplies please sign up before the event. email: vpnaboise@gmail.com or call Jeff at 608-2385

Trail markers are similar to the “Drains to River” markers on storm drains. Installation involves squirting adhesive on curb and pressing markers down. Installation on Oct 5 will include removing sod to install 6×6 inch pavers.

Announcing a two part event focusing on the architecture and history of the “West End” and the chance to research your own home.

Part 1 – Student Presentations: This winter the Boise High BAP club has been researching the history and architecture of various properties in the “West End” to help with VPNA’s walking
trail grant. At this event students will present their research on the following properties:

• West End Drive-in                      
• The former Guernsey Dairy     
• 2314 W. Woodlawn                 
• Possibly others as well…

At the VPNA annual meeting students gave us a preview of what to expect including presentations on the United Congregational Church and 2400 W Bannock. Their presentations were excellent.

Part 2 – Discover Your Home’s History: Following the presentations we’ll move up to the 3^rd floor of the library where staff and students will help you discover your own home’s history. In an hour or so you can discover a lot about your home including things like…

• Construction date
• Names and occupations of previous owners
• Number of houses on your block in the 20s, 30s, 40s…
• Possibly much more using Idaho Statesman online database and microfiche

When: Wednesday, April 4^th at 6:30pm (presentations will last 30-45 minutes, research portion will follow)

Where: Downtown Library! in the William F. Hayes Memorial Auditorium. This meeting space is at the southwest corner of the Main Library with an external entrance facing 8th street.

What to bring: Your library card

Preservation Idaho will feature Tully Gerlach leading a historical/architectural walk of the Fairview Park Neighborhood this Thursday (9/29/11). Space is limited and the evening walk is full. Tickets are still available for the lunch-time walk at noon. To register follow this link.

This walk will be similar to the one Tully did earlier this summer in the Pleasanton neighborhood but this one will focus on the southern part of neighborhood.

As part of the Walking Trail project VPNA is organizing a training workshop “ How to conduct effective oral history interviews” led by Brandi Burns, Boise City Historian.

When:        Thursday July 21^st from 7-8:30pm

Where:       2400 West Bannock Street

Who:          Anyone interested in learning the story of our neighborhood can attend

Cost:          Free

In August and September we will be coordinating small backyard potlucks/BBQs where neighbors will have the chance to learn the story of their street, block, etc… Oral histories could be done with longtime residents, refugees, a church/mosque, a business owner, etc… The interviews will be recorded and hopefully portions of them will add human interest to the interpretive walking trail. We’re especially interested in learning from people in all parts of the 30^th Street Neighborhood (see map of proposed trail for area of interest). We want to keep these events intimate so they will be by invitation of the host on whatever date works best.

We need your help to make this work.

Please contact us if you’d like to host an interview or if you know of someone we need to interview or if you have historical information or photos.  email: vpnaboise@gmail.com or call Jeff Anderson at 608-2385

VPNA invites you to a free walking tour “History of Boise’s West End”  by Tully Gerlach.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011, 7:30 pm

We’ll start from the parking lot of the 1st Congregational Church at 23rd St and Woodlawn. The total walk will be about 1.5 miles with lots of stops.

We are hoping to do a VPNA fund raiser raffle as part of the tour so be sure to bring cash or a checkbook to buy tickets.

Tully will focus on the Pleasanton Addition, shown in the attached map, although much of the information applies to the larger neighborhood too.  Tully did this same walk last summer as part of Preservation Idaho’s “Arch Walk” series.

This event is part of a effort to build an interpretive walking trail through the 30th Street neighborhoods which will highlight the area’s history, cultural diversity and architecture. To find out more about this project click here.

Also if this kind of thing interests you, Tully will be doing another Arch Walk for Preservation Idaho on September 29th which will highlight the Fairview Park Neighborhood. Space is limited for the Arch Walks and they often fill up. To register follow this link.