Founded by the Benevolent Fraternity of Unitarian Churches on January 1, 1892, the North End Union served the predominantly Italian-American community of the North End, Boston until 1998. The North End Union was the fifth oldest settlement house in the United States. As the principal human service agency serving the neighborhood, the North End Union’s mission was to improve the quality, opportunities, and standard of living in the community. Located at 20 Parmenter Street, the North End Union building included a large hall and gymnasium and featured fitness and education courses, as well as recreational programs for North End residents. Programs included English as a second language tutoring, citizenship classes, and workforce training. From the 1970s-1990s recreational activities included competitive sports teams which competed throughout the Boston area, local art shows, community dances and luncheons. The North End Union served as a training and placement site for graduate and undergraduate students in education, psychology, and social work. The nature and scope of the organization’s activities were designed over the years to accommodate the changing needs of what at the turn of the 20th century was an immigrant neighborhood.



In 1975 the governance of the North End Union was passed from the Benevolent Fraternity of Unitarian Churches to a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors. In the 1970s the North End Union took on the challenge of transitioning from a predominantly Italian-American community to the city of Boston’s growing diverse population, and aimed to meet the needs present in the community, which included providing adult education courses, fitness and sports leagues, a teen drop-in lounge, and senior support. Youth programs and recreational activities focused around the goal of providing positive alternatives to youth at risk of substance abuse or criminal involvement. In addition, the organization conducted both a boys and girls summer camp program at Camp Parker located at Hale Reservation in Westwood, MA. The North End Union was involved with the Can Do Alliance, a coalition of North End organizations working to strengthen the North End community by protecting rising property values due to the demolition of the Central Artery.



In 1985 the North End Union partnered with the North Benett Street School to streamline their programs and reach a broader portion of the community, servicing over three hundred local area youth through recreational programs and activities. The organization faced financial hardship in the late 1980s, and in 1989 it was reorganized with a balanced budget and rejuvenated programs. The early 1990s saw efforts to renovate the aging facilities and overhaul the youth programs. In May 1992 the North End Union celebrated its centennial with a 500-guest dinner at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Library. The North End Union closed its doors in 1998 after the building’s owner, the Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry, sold the building.