Once upon a neighborhood North Enders tell their tales in new book By Cindy Mindell WEST HARTFORD - It's about to feel like 'old home week' for former residents of Hartford's North End. The Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford will unveil its latest book, "Remembering the Old Neighborhood: Stories from Hartford's North End," to celebrate the area that looms large in the history of the local Jewish community. The book spans the early years of the twentieth century to the mid-1960s and includes more than 150 accounts by Jews and others who grew up in the neighborhood. "North End" is a loose term that was largely defined by the participants, says Estelle Kafer, executive director of the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford. Three major features that helped draw the boundaries were area synagogues, Weaver High School, and Keney Park. Kafer had heard many stories about the North End since becoming director of the historical society in 2004. "Most of our members grew up in the Hartford area, and many of them would talk about the North End," she says. "They had wonderful stories and memories which needed to be documented." In fall 2007, a committee met to discuss possible oral history projects. North Ender Susan Juster Viner, then a new member and now on the board, suggested focusing on the old neighborhood. The committee agreed that it was important to record the stories, before they were lost, Kafer says. The society set up focus groups, organized by decade of birth, and asked participants to discuss four topics: Schools, entertainment within the North End, shopping, and Jewish experiences. A group of North Enders born in the '20s and '30s was interviewed at the Hoffman SummerWood Community. "Then we got the people who grew up there in the '60s, which was totally different than the '50s," Viner says. "There were riots and a change of population, and by 1969, there was hardly a Jewish person left in the whole area." As news of the project spread through word of mouth and ads, more people sent in their stories, and the society offered oral interviews conducted by its members and student interns. Viner suggested that the book be modeled after "Windsor Storytellers," Windsor Historical Society's collection of stories by residents. Viner spent hours in the history room of the Hartford Public Library - the city doesn't have a historical society - and credits director Brenda Miller with helping to unearth salient photos for the book. The Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford provided a major grant for the book, with additional funding from the Greater Hartford Arts Council and the society. When it was time to edit the stories, Kafer brought in journalist and communications instructor Joan Walden, on the recommendation of society member Cyral Sheldon, who had heard Walden read personal memory essays at the Yom Kippur Yizkor service of Kehilat Chaverim in West Hartford. Walden, who lives in West Hartford, was charged with fashioning the written stories and transcribed oral histories into a book. "It was really a challenge," she says. For one thing, some of the answers submitted on the society's questionnaire were not long enough to use as stand-alone accounts. Nonetheless, Walden says that she tried hard to include all participants. "Almost to a person, the majority of interviewees had warm, strong feelings and all agreed that it was a safe, comfortable place to live, where family and neighbors were all-important," Walden says. "Anybody's parents, if you were playing in front of their house, took responsibility for the children. The majority of the participants said that they were poor but didn't know it." The book is organized by decade of interviewees' births; the oldest participant is Sooky (Sara) Greenberg, born in 1910. "Composite Memories," at the end of the book, includes those submissions and interviews too brief for individual stories. There is also a glossary of Yiddish terms used in the accounts. The society hopes to post all the stories on its website, Walden says, and to spark more reminiscing. "Even if you didn't contribute to the book, if you lived in the North End, we want someone to sit you down and get your story," she says. "Remembering the Old Neighborhood: Stories from Hartford's North End" will debut in a community-wide celebration on Monday, June 29 at 7 p.m. at the Emanuel Synagogue, 160 Mohegan Drive in West Hartford. The multi-media event is free and open to the public, and will include time for old friends to reunite and catch up, Kafer says. The book will be offered at a discounted price that evening. RSVP to Bea Brodie: (860) 727-6170.