Continuing my tradition of celebrating with Rust Craft holiday cards, here is a Thanksgiving offering from the 1950s. Yes, that is a plastic ear of corn on the front of the card. Rust Craft was known for its clever cards featuring 3D elements, pop-ups and whimsical artwork. The company’s later creations were not nearly as interesting. I hope you enjoyed this holiday greeting from Dedham’s past; have a GRAND Thanksgiving Day!
I recently discovered this manhole cover on a Washington Street sidewalk near Dedham Bike and Leather. Most people might walk right by it and not even notice it, but for me it was an instant and strong reminder of my father and his employer for 30 years, the Boston Edison Company (BECO).
My father George Donald Parr began working for the Edison on March 19, 1957. His start date is engraved on the 10 year pin presented him by the company, which I proudly wear on my jacket.
The company began its existence in 1886 as the Edison Electric Illuminating Company; reminders of this original company name can be found on several downtown Boston buildings as well as in the call letters of radio station WEEI. The Boston Edison Company came into existence in 1937 when the Edison Electric Illuminating Company merged with two local competitors. This would be the name of the company for the next 60 years until it merged with Commonwealth Gas and became NSTAR. After a merger with Northeast Utilities in 2015, NSTAR was rebranded as Eversource.
My father worked for the Edison for about 30 years. He was a World War II vet who served in the China-Burma-India Campaign. He was born 100 years ago today in Mattapan. He’s been gone for 20 years, but little reminders like these keep his memory alive for me and my brothers and sisters.
Happy Birthday, Dad.
On October 29, 1940, a blindfolded secretary of war Henry Stimson reached his hand into a glass container filled with capsules containing draft lottery numbers, and pulled out the “lucky” number. The previous month, President Franklin Roosevelt had signed the Selective Service Training and Service Act, instituting the first peacetime draft since the Civil War. Across the state, anxious families listened to the radio to learn if their loved ones would be one of the first to be called. In Dedham, 22-year old Stephen Ferris was eating lunch at his Fairview Street home when he heard his mother cry out as his number, 158, was called first. According to the Transcript, Ferris responded by proclaiming “Hooray for Uncle Sam, I’m the first one!”
When the first draftees and volunteers began reporting a few weeks later, local draft boards were encouraged by the Federal Draft Headquarters to honor the new recruits with ceremonies to commemorate their departure. The first such ceremony in Dedham was held on November 18 at the Superior Court House as two hometown boys and one Canton resident (all volunteers) began their year of service. Among the more than 50 well-wishers gathered in the early morning chill were family, clergy, selectmen, draft board officials and members of V.F.W Post 2017. The new recruits then walked a short distance to the train station on the other side of Route One, where they boarded a train headed to Camp Devens after a brief stop in Boston.
The following January, when larger numbers of men began reporting, more elaborate departure ceremonies were held. An honor guard and small marching band accompanied recruits from the Court House to the train station as appreciative residents watched and cheered along High Street. Draftees were often served refreshments by the Women’s Defense Corps, and given a billfold with cash by the Dedham Association for Men in the Service. In 1944, Naval recruit Phillip Jackson performed his drumming duties one last time before handing over his drumsticks to his replacement and boarding the train to begin his own time of service.
These are just a few of the many inspiring and amazing stories in my latest book, World War II Massachusetts. The book is available at the Dedham Museum and Archive, The Blue Bunny Bookstore, and from all online booksellers. I will be featuring more stories throughout the coming year as the nation and the world observe the 80th anniversary of the events of the last year of the war.
This handsome dwelling once occupied a prominent site on a very busy street in town; much of the stone wall still stands and you probably recognize it. If you want to test yourself, I’ve placed the modern day photograph at the bottom of the page so you can scroll down after you’ve made your guess.
Built in 1834, this was the home of Thomas Barrows, mill owner and prominent Dedham citizen. Born in Middleboro in 1795, Barrows began working in mills in Plymouth County at age 17, making his way to Dedham in 1825 to work as an agent for Benjamin Bussey. Barrows’ life is a perfect example of a rags to riches story. After working at several Dedham mills, Barrows purchased the 1835 Stone Mill on Mother Brook in 1863 and expanded and renovated the mill to manufacture wool products. Barrows had 4 children; his oldest son Thomas was killed in a railroad accident, his daughter Elizabeth married Eliphalet Stone, another influential citizen who lived on Mt. Vernon Street.
This 1876 map shows the Barrows estate on High Street, as well as other Barrows properties, including Barrows Street, which was named after the mill owner.
Barrows was president of the Dedham Institution for savings and a committee member of the Brookdale Cemetery Commission. He sold a portion of his land for the development of the cemetery.
The land was purchased by the Archdiocese of Boston for St. Mary’s Church and the house torn down in 1959. For the next 50 years, the elegant stone wall of Dedham granite bordered a parking lot that was quite full on Sundays during the church’s heyday in the 1960s and 70s. The large rectangular lot also served as the playground for students from the school. I recall running up and down that giant tar playground during 7th and 8th grade recess in the early seventies; 50-80 rambunctious middle schoolers running wild under the semi-watchful eyes of just a few nuns.
The Town of Dedham purchased a portion of the land in 1976 to develop the Dedham Housing Authority O’Neil Drive Elderly Housing complex. In 2009 the Town purchased the rest of the land (about 2 acres) and used the lot for various purposes including DHS band practice and snow removal. In 2011 about half of the property was developed and private homes were built.
Dedham Tales 