Dedham Tales

November 22 marks the 60th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. For those who are old enough to remember, it was a time of overwhelming shock, grief and uncertainty. I recall watching the funeral at four years old with my mother and being fascinated by the riderless horse with the backwards facing boots in the stirrups. For residents of Massachusetts, the loss of President Kennedy hit especially hard; he was one of “ours.” He was also a hero to Irish Catholic families like mine- the only political items I ever saw in my house were from Kennedy’s 1960 presidential campaign.

The response in Dedham to Kennedy’s death was much like that in cities and towns across the state and country. Flags were flown at half-staff, public buildings were closed and draped in black bunting. On Monday November 25, the nation observed a National Day of Mourning, and Dedham’s memorial service began at noon just as the president’s funeral was commencing in Washington. Starting at Memorial Park, town leaders and veteran’s groups marched to the square accompanied by a solemn drumbeat provided by members of the DHS band. Other groups in the procession included the Knights of Columbus, police and fire departments, and the Women’s Auxiliary. The procession ended in front of the police station on High Street where clergy from local churches gave brief remarks. A traditional volley of gunfire was followed by the singing of “America” and the national anthem. The ceremony ended with a bugler playing “Taps.”

With the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays occurring so soon after this national tragedy, residents tried to carry on as best they could, but clearly there was an underlying sadness present in all of the festivities. Out of respect for the president’s memory, the 5th annual torchlight parade and football rally which was to be held the night before Thanksgiving was canceled, but the traditional game against Norwood continued, with the Marauders crushing the Mustangs at home, 30-0. On Friday the 29th, a busy Santa arrived by helicopter at the Dedham Plaza in the morning, then flew over to Mal’s Department Store in Norwood for an afternoon visit. On December 10, at the 153rd annual meeting of the Society in Dedham for Apprehending Horse Thieves, a moment of silence was observed for Kennedy, who had become a member following his election (it is the custom of the Society to bestow membership on presidents and other politicians). Newly sworn-in President Lyndon B. Johnson was then accepted for membership. 

The president had a direct connection to Dedham through his cousin John Fitzgerald, who lived on Meadow Street with his wife Helen and their three children. Kennedy had also visited the town on several occasions during his senatorial campaigns.

JFK first came to Dedham in 1952 as the Democratic candidate for the senate, appearing at a reception and campaign rally at the Ames Junior High in September and at the Oakdale School in October. In November he would defeat the incumbent republican Henry Cabot Lodge Jr for the senate seat. In 1953 the senator was the featured speaker at the annual meeting of St. Mary’s Holy Name Society, addressing a crowd of 800 in the school hall. Kennedy’s final visit to Dedham was another campaign stop in October 1958, when he and Jackie attended a dinner in their honor at the Hotel 128, followed by a reception at the old Dedham High on Whiting Ave. On November 4, Kennedy won reelection with a whopping 73% of the vote over Republican attorney Vincent Celeste.

In the weeks following the assassination, town leaders began discussing the best way to memorialize the president. Originally selectmen considered erecting a standing memorial somewhere on town property, but that idea was abandoned in favor of something that would, according to the Transcript “embody some of the warmth of the late president for people, some of his love for athletics and his interest in literature.” In the end it was decided that a scholarship in the president’s name would be established at Dedham High. The scholarship was given every year at least through 1973, but does not appear on the list of scholarships awarded to the Class of 2021.