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.