Dedham, Massachusetts

17th century Settled in 1635 by people from Roxbury and Watertown, Dedham was incorporated in 1636. It became the county seat of Norfolk County when the county was formed from parts of Suffolk County on March 26, 1793. When the Town was originally incorporated, the residents wanted to name it "Contentment." The Massachusetts General Court overruled them and named the town after Dedham, Essex in England, where some of the original inhabitants were born. The boundaries of the town at the time stretched to the Rhode Island border. At the first public meeting on August 15, 1636, eighteen men signed the town covenant. They swore that they would "in the fear and reverence of our Almighty God, mutually and severally promise amongst ourselves and each to profess and practice one truth according to that most perfect rule, the foundation whereof is ever lasting love." They also agreed that "we shall by all means labor to keep off from us all such as are contrary minded, and receive only such unto us as may be probably of one heart with us, [and such] as that we either know or may well and truly be informed to walk in a peaceable conversation with all meekness of spirit, [this] for the edification of each other in the knowledge and faith of the Lord Jesus…" The covenant also stipulated that if differences were to arise between townsmen, they would seek arbitration for resolution and each would pay his fair share for the common good. Dedham is home to the Fairbanks House, the oldest surviving timber-frame house in the United States, scientifically dated to 1637. On January 1, 1643, by unanimous vote, Dedham authorized the first taxpayer-funded public school, "the seed of American education." Its first schoolmaster, Rev. Ralph Wheelock, a Clare College graduate, was paid 20 pounds annually to instruct the youth of the community. Descendants of these students would become presidents of Dartmouth College, Yale University, and Harvard University. The first man-made canal in North America, Mother Brook, was created in Dedham in 1639. It linked the Charles River to the Neponset River. Although both are slow-moving rivers, they are at different elevations. The difference in elevation made the canal's current swift enough to power several local mills. 18th century Just 15 months after asking for their own church, 40 men living on the north side of the Charles River suddenly asked the General Court to separate them from Dedham. Their petition cited the inadequate services provided, namely schools and churches. They also said that, if they were simply to be made a precinct instead of a separate town, that they would suffer political reprisals. Dedham agreed that the services were inadequate and did not oppose the separation, but did try to reduce the amount of land the separatists were seeking. Dedham also asked for a delay of one year. The General Court agreed with the petitioners, however, and created the new town of Needham with the original boundaries requested. Those who remained in Dedham still held rights to the unallotted lands in Needham, however, and any decrease in taxes would be offset by a decrease in expenditures. There may have also been some satisfaction in separating themselves from those on the other side of the 1704 power struggle. In November 1798, David Brown led a group in Dedham protesting the federal government; they set up a liberty pole, as people had before the American Revolution. It carried the words, "No Stamp Act, No Sedition Act, No Alien Bills, No Land Tax, downfall to the Tyrants of America; peace and retirement to the President; Long Live the Vice President", referring to then-President John Adams and Vice President Thomas Jefferson. Brown was arrested in Andover but because he could not afford the $4,000 bail, he was taken to Salem for trial. Brown was tried in June 1799. Although he wanted to plead guilty, Justice Samuel Chase urged him to name those who had helped him or subscribed to his writings in exchange for freedom. Brown refused, was fined $480, and sentenced to eighteen months in prison. It was the most severe sentence up to then imposed under the Alien and Sedition Acts. 19th century In 1818, though citizens were still taxed for the support of ministers and other "public teachers of religion", Dedham set a precedent toward the separation of church and state. Residents of the town selected a minister different than that chosen by the church members; the selection by residents was confirmed by the Supreme Judicial Court. This decision increased support for the disestablishment of the Congregational churches. The local Endicott Estate burned to the ground in 1904 after the local volunteer fire department, responding to three separate fires burning simultaneously, reached the Endicott fire last. By the time they arrived, only ashes remained. It is said that the estate's owner, Henry Bradford Endicott (also founder of the Endicott Johnson Corporation) took the burning of the homestead as a divine command to rebuild (which he did). The rebuilt Endicott Estate is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The estate and surrounding grounds are open to the public, upholding Henry's stepdaughter Katherine's wish to use the house and property for "educational, civic, social and recreational purposes." 20th century In 1921, the historic Sacco and Vanzetti trial was held in the Norfolk County Courthouse. Dedham Pottery is a cherished class of antiques, characterized by a distinctive crackle glaze, blue-and-white color scheme, and a frequent motif of rabbits and other animals. Dedham is sometimes called the "mother of towns" because 14 present-day communities were included within its original broad borders. 21st century In March 2023, Dedham dedicated a 84,000 square-foot public safety complex on the site of the former Town Hall at 26 Bryant Street. ==Geography==

Dedham is located at (42.244609, −71.165531). is now a peninsula at 91 Common Street. • Highland Street, near Lowder Street, runs up Earwicker's Hill. • Ashcroft is the neighborhood between Cedar Street and Sprague Street. It includes Paul Park and the Capen School. • The undeveloped strip of land between Beech Street and Turner Street is known as Ogden's Woods. • Fairbanks is the neighborhood between East Street and Wigwam Pond. ==Climate==

Dedham has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Dfb under the Köppen climate classification system), with high humidity and precipitation year-round. ==Demographics==

As of the census of 2020, there were 23,464 people, 8,654 households, and 6,144 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 10,885 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 82.04% White, 5.1% Black or African American, 0.00% Native American, 1.87% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.80% from other races, and 6.8% from two or more races. 7.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. As of 2024, the most common ethnic groups are those of Irish or Italian heritage, with many descended from those who came to work in the mills along Mother Brook. The largest religious group are Catholics. There were 8,654 households, of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them. 56.3% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.14. Dedham's population was spread out, with 22.2% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males. The median income for a household in the town was $128,955. The per capita income for the town was $69,825. About 3.2% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over. Religion ==Seal and flag==

The town's seal was originally designed by a member of the Dedham Historical Society. In the center is a crest containing the Old Avery Oak. When the tree was finally felled, the gavel used by the Moderator at Town Meeting was carved out of it. The gavel was designed and carved by Edward F. Snow Sr., whose family were long time residents. Above the tree are the scales of justice, representing Dedham as the county seat and home to Norfolk County's courts. On the left of the tree are agricultural instruments, and on the right is a factory, showing Dedham's history first as a town of farmers and then as one with a number of mills and factories, particularly along Mother Brook. Below the tree is a banner with the word "Contentment", the name of the original plantation. The town flag is red with the seal prominent and in the center. In the lower left corner is part of the Avery Oak, and in the lower right is part of the Fairbanks House. It hangs in the select board's chambers at town hall and in the Great Hall of the Massachusetts State House. ==Government==

A charter adopted in 1998 lays out the basic structure of the Town government, although it has been amended occasionally over the years. A seven-member Charter Advisory Committee, appointed in 2012, recommended six substantial changes and numerous minor changes be made to the document. The Selectmen consolidated them into six articles for Town Meeting's consideration, and five were presented to the Meeting in 2013. Voters approved four of them in 2014. A version of the sixth and final proposal was adopted at the Spring 2014 Annual Town Meeting. Town Meeting According to Dedham's charter, the "administration of all the fiscal, prudential, and municipal affairs of the town, with the government thereof, shall be vested in a legislative branch, to consist of a representative town meeting." Town Meeting is to consist of no less than 270 members, but not more than necessary to achieve an equal number coming from each precinct. There are currently seven districts, but could be as few as six or as many as nine, with lines drawn by the Select Board and the Registrars of Voters every ten years. Votes are by voice unless members call for a standing or roll call vote, either of which can be called for by the Moderator. All Town officers are required to attend Town Meeting and multiple member bodies must send at least one representative who have all the privileges of a Member except the right to vote. If 5% of Town voters petition the Select Board within 14 days of Town Meeting, any action taken may be submitted to voters. The final result is to be determined by majority vote, but Town Meeting can not be overruled unless 20% of registered voters participate. Town Meeting sets its own rules and keeps a journal of proceedings. The Town Meeting may establish various ad-hoc and standing committees on which any Town Meeting Member or voter may serve. Before each Spring Annual Town Meeting, the Public Service Recognition Award is given to recognize citizens who have performed outstanding acts of service to the community. The Board of Library Trustees has five members, each of whom serves three-year terms, and has care of the town's public library at the Endicott Branch and Main Branch. The Board develops policies to dictate how the library functions and operates. The Board is responsible for the library's buildings, including library hours and building use outside of regular operating hours. The Board also reviews the Director's budget request, makes recommendations, and officially adopts the operating budget. The current chair is Tom Turner, with Brian Keaney serving as Vice Chair. Crystal Power serves as Clerk. Annette Raphel and Rita Chapdelaine also serve as members. The five elected members of the Planning Board make studies and prepare plans concerning the resources, possibilities, and needs of the town. It also prepares the Master Plan. Currently the board is chaired by Michael A. Podolski, Esq., with Jessica Porter serving as Vice Chair. James E. O'Brien IV serves as Clerk. John Bethoney and James F. McGrail, Esq. are also members. Andrew Pepoli serves as an unelected Associate. There are five elected members of the Parks & Recreation Commission. Section 3-10 of the Town Charter states that the goal of the commission is to promote physical education, play, recreation, sport and other programs for people of all ages. The commission is currently chaired by Lisa Farnham, with Jon Briggs serving as Vice Chair. Lisa Moran, Chuck Dello Iacono, and Ryan O'Toole are also members. There are five elected Commissioners of Trust Funds who manage and control all funds left, given, bequeathed, or devised to the town, and distribute the income in accordance with the terms of the respective trusts. The commission's Chair is Emily Reynolds, with Nicole P Munchbach serving as Vice Chair and Salvatore A Spada as Clerk. Robert Desmond and Dan Jon Oneil Jr. are also members. There are five members of the Housing Authority Board. Four are elected by the Town and one is appointed by the Commonwealth Commissioner of Community Affairs. As members of the Board, they have all of the powers and duties which are given to housing authorities under the constitution and laws of the Commonwealth. The current chair is Donna M. Brown Rego and Margaret Matthews serves as the Assistant Chair & State Appointee. Skye Kessler serves as Treasurer, John B. Kane as Assistant Treasurer, and John Wagner as a member. == Politics ==

Dedham has shown a consistent trend of support for the Democratic Party in recent presential elections. From 1996 to 2024, Dedham's voting patterns have leaned heavily Democratic, with the party consistently winning the majority of votes. In the 2024 presidential election, Democrat Kamala Harris secured 63.27% of the vote, making a slight decrease from the 67.81% that Democrat Joe Biden received in 2020. In the 1980 election, the Republican Ronald Reagan notably received 46.81% of the vote, marking a significant challenge to the Democrats during that period. Prior to that, Dedham displayed a more competitive political landscape, with Republicans achieving over 50% of the vote in several elections, such as 1956 (61.84%) and 1948 (63.17%). The mid-20th century was characterized by a stronger Republican presence, with the party frequently outperforming Democrats in the early decades of the century. Dedham's modern political identity aligns with broader statewide trends in Massachusetts, where Democratic candidates typically secure a commanding share of the vote. Despite shifts in national political dynamics, Dedham's electoral results indicate a stable commitment to Democratic candidates, reflecting its position within a predominantly Democratic region. Third-party candidates have historically gained minimal support, though certain elections, such as 1992 and 1980, saw relatively higher percentages of third-party votes, reaching up to 22.38% and 15.91%, respectively. == Television and film ==

Dedham has been featured on both television and film screens. • William Desmond Taylor's 1919 silent film Anne of Green Gables was filmed in Dedham. It was the favorite role of star Mary Miles Minter, but no copies of the film are known to have survived. The film also starred Paul Kelly. • The 1973 film The Friends of Eddie Coyle was partially filmed in Dedham and starred Robert Mitchum, Peter Boyle, and Alex Rocco. • In the 1980s, the Endicott Estate was featured in an episode of Spenser: For Hire. • The 1982 film Pieces was filmed mainly in Madrid, but also included the same Dedham Square robbed in 'Eddie Coyle'. • The Endicott Estate was also featured in the 2000 film The Perfect Storm. • The award-winning 2000 film State and Main was filmed in Dedham, and Alec Baldwin's character slept in the Endicott Estate. • In a 2004 episode of The Practice, viewers learned that Alan Shore grew up in the town, and numerous references to the Sacco and Vanzetti trial were also made. Images of Dedham Square, the Dedham Historical Society building and the courthouses were shot on location. In addition, "extremely rare" interior and exterior photos of the courthouses from the turn of the 20th century were shown. • The 2010 thriller Shutter Island was partially filmed in Dedham. • The 2014 film The Judge was filmed partly in Dedham Square. • Kathryn Bigelow's 2017 film, Detroit, utilized the Dedham District Court as a filming location. • The film I Care a Lot was filmed at the Norfolk County Courthouse and Norfolk County Registry of Deeds. ==Infrastructure==

Roads There are over 550 named streets in Dedham, and it continues to grow. Street names are assigned by the Select Board. There are 16 different street suffixes in use. The longest street is High Street, with 3.5 miles in Dedham, and the shortest is a tie between Kings Court and Redwood Court, both about 60 feet long. The very first the first street in Dedham to be laid out with house lots on either side, as opposed to simply being a road to connect one farm to another, was Church Street. It was laid out by Rev. William Montague from the Colburn Grant. Norfolk Street was next, followed by School street. In the 1800s, West Street turned south at what is today Burgess Lane and continued to Westfield Street. After Route 128 was built, it severed several roads in the area. That portion of West Street became Burgess Lane in the north and Schoolmaster Lane in the south. The portion of Westfield Street west of the highway became known as Country Club Road, named for the Dedham Country and Polo Club. Many streets were named for famous Dedhamites: • Ames Street was named for the members of the Ames family, including Nathaniel Ames and his sons Fisher and Nathaniel, and his wife Deborah. • Barrows Street is named for Thomas Barrows. • Bates Court is named for Joshua Bates. • Burgess Lane is named for Ebenezer Burgess. • Bussey Street is named for Benjamin Bussey. • Chickering Road is named for Hannah Chickering. • Dexter Street was named for Rev. Samuel Dexter. • Fairbanks Road is named for the Fairbanks family, beginning with Jonathan Fairbanks. • Haven Street is named for Jason Haven and his son, Samuel. • Marsh Street is named for Martin Marsh. • Martin Bates Street is named for Martin Bates. It had previously been known as Bates Street but, when the 9-1-1 service was introduced in the 1990s, it was changed to Martin Bates Street to avoid confusion with Bates Court. • Richards Street is named for Edward Richards. • Schoolmaster Lane is named for the teachers of the Burgess School, previously known as District Number 11 and the Westfield School, which was located on Westfield Street near Schoolmaster Lane. • Shuttleworth Place is named for Hannah Shuttleworth. It was created when a property was subdivided and two homes were put on it. The former driveway became a named road. The former owner, Dr. Louis Sawan, was instrumental in getting it named in Shuttleworth's honor. • Whiting Ave was named for the Whiting family, which began with Nathaniel Whiting. In 1871, William Whiting sold what was left of the family farm, which became Oakdale. Public transportation Commuter rail service from Boston's South Station is provided by the MBTA with stops at and on its Franklin/Foxboro Line. Also, MBTA bus routes 34 Dedham Square to Forest Hills serves Washington Street, Dedham Square, and the Dedham Mall, route 34E Walpole Center to Forest Hills serves Washington Street and Dedham Square, and route 35 Dedham Mall to Forest Hills serves Washington Street and the Dedham Mall. Police and Fire In March 2023, Dedham opened a 84,000 square-foot public safety complex on the site of the former Town Hall at 26 Bryant Street. ==Education==

Public education The Dedham Public Schools operates seven schools and is known for the first implementation of a tax supported, free public school system, now used nationally. • Dedham High School • Dedham Middle School • Avery Elementary School • Oakdale Elementary School • Greenlodge Elementary School • Riverdale Elementary School • Dr. Thomas J. Curren Early Childhood Education Center Private education In addition, there are several private schools in the town, including: • Noble and Greenough School, a private, co-educational day and boarding school for students in grades 7–12 • Dedham Country Day School, a private, co-educational, day school for students in pre-kindergarten to eighth grade • Ursuline Academy, an independent college preparatory day school for young women in grades 7–12. • The Rashi School, a Reform Jewish elementary and middle school. • Little Sprouts Early Education and Childcare, a preschool and kindergarten. • Regina Caeli Academy, based at St. Mary's Church. Former schools • Ames School, a former public elementary school named after distinguished Dedham resident Fisher Ames. • Charles J. Capen School, operated from 1931 to 1981. • St. Mary of the Assumption School, a former Catholic elementary school that operated as a part of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish until 1975. • The Quincy School, a former public elementary school that operated until 1982. • The Dexter School, a former public elementary school now operating as a private preschool and kindergarten, Little Sprouts Early Education and Childcare, Dedham location. Higher education • Queen of Apostles Seminary, a former Catholic minor seminary run by the Society of African Missions, closed in the late 1960s • Northeastern University Dedham Campus, a satellite campus located in the Queen of Apostles Seminary's former building ==Places of worship==

• Organizations • Dedham Historical Society and Museum • Dedham Public Library • Christmas light display at the Civitarese-Cushman House • Businesses • Dedham Health and Athletic Complex • Legacy Place, outdoor shopping center. • Endicott Estate • Dedham Mall, former enclosed shopping mall that currently operates as an open-air power center • Fairbanks House • MIT Endicott House • Norfolk County Correctional Center, situated in the median of Route 128. • Old Norfolk County Jail • Cemeteries • Baby Cemetery • Brookdale Cemetery • Fairview Cemetery • Old Village Cemetery • Boston United Hand in Hand Cemetery is located on Lower East Street straddling the West Roxbury line. Dating back to 1875, the original plot was full by 1896 but subsequently expanded a number of times. There are graves as recent as 1980 in the West Roxbury portion; the Dedham portion is still active. Chestnut Hill's Congregation Mishka Tefila currently owns the property. ==Notable people==

Arts and literature • Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women • Samuel Dexter, U.S. Representative, Secretary of War, Secretary of the Treasury, administered oath of office to Chief Justice John Marshall • Tommy Vietor, National Security Council spokesperson, podcast host of Pod Save America ==See also==

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