History of Dedham, Massachusetts, 2000–present

The history of Dedham, Massachusetts from 2000 to present covers important changes and new projects in the town. This includes new buildings, the town's 375th birthday celebration, and updates to how the town is run.

New Buildings and Growth

Dedham has seen many new buildings and projects since 2000. These changes have helped the town grow and offer new places for people to live, learn, and shop.

Learning and Living Spaces

• The Rashi School, a Jewish school, opened in 2010. It's a big, modern building that cost $30 million. It's built on a large campus called NewBridge on the Charles, which is also home to many senior citizens. The school is designed to be very energy-efficient.
• NewBridge on the Charles welcomed its first residents in 2010. It's a large community for older adults.

Shopping and Entertainment

• Legacy Place, a large shopping center, opened in 2009. It has many stores, restaurants, and a big movie theater. The first movie shown there was Inglourious Basterds.
• When Legacy Place opened, some smaller shops in Dedham Square had a harder time.
• An old, tall water pipe on Walnut Street, built in 1881, was taken down to make space for a new house. It was once the oldest steel water tank in the country.

Town Building Projects

Dedham has worked on several important building projects to improve its public services.

New Town Hall and Senior Center

• In 2014, the town decided not to buy a very large building for a new Town Hall, Senior Center, and Police Station. This plan would have cost $40 million.
• Instead, the town voted to buy the historic Ames Schoolhouse for $5.85 million. The plan was to make it the new Town Hall and a Senior Center. People who wanted a Senior Center were very happy about this decision, as it had been discussed for over 30 years!
• The cost to fix up the Ames Schoolhouse later increased from $10.6 million to $14.1 million after a closer look at the building. Most town offices moved into the Ames Schoolhouse in June 2020.

Modern Public Safety Building

• After the town offices moved, the Police Department was going to fix up the old Town Hall. But plans changed!
• It was decided to tear down the old Town Hall and build a brand new building for both the police and fire departments. This new building would be a combined public safety center.
• Work on the new building started in March 2021. The building at 26 Bryant Street opened in March 2023, and the public was invited to tour it.
• The old police headquarters is expected to be torn down to create a new town green (a public park area) in Dedham Square.

Honoring William B. Gould

• In November 2020, a park in Dedham was renamed the William B. Gould Memorial Park. It was officially dedicated in September 2021.
• A committee was formed to create a statue of William B. Gould for the park. Gould was an important figure in Dedham's history.
• On May 28, 2023, the statue was unveiled by some of Gould's great-great-great-grandchildren. The statue shows Gould as an older man, with details like his military coat and a toolbox representing his life's work.

New Town Green Space

• A special ceremony for the new Town Green was held in May 2024. This new public space is located where the old Memorial Hall and Police Station used to be.

How Dedham is Governed

Dedham is governed by its citizens through Town Meeting and elected officials.

Changes to Town Rules

• In 2012, a committee was formed to look at Dedham's main governing document, called the Town Charter. They suggested several changes.
• Town Meeting approved most of these suggestions, except for one about term limits for officials.
• In 2014, voters approved five out of six changes to the Charter. The only change not approved was increasing the Town Clerk's term from three to five years.
• A new Charter Committee was appointed in 2020 to continue reviewing the town's rules.

Town Meetings During the Pandemic

• The COVID-19 pandemic caused Town Meeting to change how it met.
• In fall 2020, Town Meeting was held online using Zoom. It was the first time this had happened, and it lasted until after midnight because of technical issues.
• In May 2021, the meeting was held outdoors at Stone Park.
• In November 2021, it was held indoors at the Dedham Health and Athletic Complex, a very large space that allowed people to stay far apart.

Select Board Elections

The Select Board is a group of elected officials who help run the town. Here are some of the election results from recent years, showing who was chosen to serve on the board.

• 2024: James A. Macdonald was elected.
• 2023: Dennis J. Teehan and Joshua Donati were elected.
• 2022: Erin Boles Welsh and Dimitria Sullivan were elected.
• 2021: James A. Macdonald was elected.
• 2020: Kevin R. Coughlin and Dennis J. Teehan, Jr. were elected.
• 2019: Sarah Macdonald and Dimitria Sullivan were elected.
• 2018: James A. Macdonald was elected.
• 2017: Dennis J. Guilfoyle and Dennis J. Teehan, Jr. were elected.
• 2016: Brendan Keogh and Michael L. Butler were elected.
• 2015: James A. Macdonald was elected for a three-year term. Brendan Keogh was elected for a one-year term in a separate election.
• 2014: Dennis J. Teehan, Jr. and Dennis J. Guilfoyle were elected.
• 2013: Carmen E. Delloiacono, Jr. and Michael L. Butler were elected.
• 2012: James A. Macdonald was elected.
• 2011: Sarah Macdonald and Paul Reynolds were elected.
• 2010: Carmen E. Delloiacono, Jr. and Michael L. Butler were elected.
• 2009: James A. Macdonald was elected.
• 2008: Sarah Macdonald and Paul Reynolds were elected.
• 2007: Michael L. Butler and Carmen E. Delloiacono, Jr. were elected.

Dedham's State Representatives

Dedham is represented by people in the state government, called the General Court. Here's who represented Dedham over the years:

School Updates

Dedham has made many improvements to its schools, including building new ones and updating old ones.

School Building Committee

• In 2000, the town created a special committee called the School Building/Rehabilitation Committee (SBRC). Their job is to plan and oversee school construction and renovation projects.

Dedham Middle School

• A new Dedham Middle School opened in 2006. It's a large, modern building that cost over $22 million.
• The new school is a "Certified Green School," meaning it was built to be good for the environment.
• An old house, the Charles and Mary Brown House, had to be moved to make space for the new middle school.

Avery School

• A new Avery Elementary School opened in 2012. It cost over $19 million and was also designed by the same company that designed the middle school.

Early Childhood Education Center

• In 2015, the SBRC started thinking about building a new center for young children.
• In 2016, the town voted to build a new Early Childhood Education Center at the Dexter School. This $18.9 million project was the first of its kind in Massachusetts to get state funding for a pre-school and kindergarten facility.

Oakdale and Riverdale Schools

• In June 2023, the School Committee planned to combine the Greenlodge School with the Oakdale School. However, many people disagreed with this idea.
• In March 2024, the School Committee changed its mind after a survey showed most people wanted Oakdale to remain a separate school.
• In August 2023, a colorful mural of rubber ducks was painted on Needham Street near the Riverdale School. The goal of this art project was to help slow down traffic and make the area safer for students.

Dedham's 375th Anniversary

• In 2011, Dedham celebrated its 375th birthday! A special committee planned a whole year of events.
• In September, the month Dedham was officially founded, a big birthday party was held at the Endicott Estate. Over 7,500 people attended, and there was free food, rides, games, and trolley tours for Dedham residents.
• Other events included a cocktail party, a church service where different churches shared their histories, and an essay contest for kids.

Recognitions and Achievements

Dedham has seen many people and groups receive special awards and honors.

• In 2015, Debra Gatley, the principal of Dedham Middle School, was named Principal of the Year for Massachusetts secondary schools.
• The town created the Public Service Recognition Award in 2012 to honor citizens who do amazing things for the community. Many people have received this award, including Don Gosselin, Amy Black, Caroline Bell (youth award), and Bill Podolski.
• In 2015, the Dedham Fire Department honored Chief Henry J. Harrigan with a plaque at their headquarters. He died while on duty.
• Later, Lieutenant William Walsh and Firefighter Jared Blaney received the Henry J. Harrigan Medal of Honor for bravely saving someone from a burning building.
• In 2023, Roselyn "Rose" Murphy made history by becoming the first female Eagle Scout from Dedham.

Dedham in Movies and TV

Dedham has been a popular spot for filming movies and TV shows!

• The Endicott Estate was featured in the 2000 film The Perfect Storm.
• The movie State and Main (2000) was filmed in Dedham, and one of the characters even stayed at the Endicott Estate.
• The 2014 film The Judge filmed some scenes in Dedham Square, showing the Norfolk Superior Court and First Church.
• Kathryn Bigelow's 2017 film, Detroit, was filmed inside the Dedham District Court.
• The movie I Care a Lot was filmed at the Norfolk County Courthouse and Norfolk County Registry of Deeds.
• In July 2023, the TV show Pawn Stars filmed an episode of Pawn Stars do America at the Endicott Estate.
• Scenes from the 2023 film Finestkind were also filmed in Dedham.

The Friends of Eddie Coyle and a Real Bank Robbery

• The movie The Friends of Eddie Coyle was filmed partly in Dedham, including a bank robbery scene.
• In June 2009, just a few weeks after the movie was released on DVD, the same bank was robbed in a way that reminded people of the film!
• A man named Delroy George Henry forced his way into the bank before it opened, just like in the movie. He tried to make staff open the vault and ordered them to sit on the floor while holding a gun.
• Luckily, an employee texted someone at another bank branch, who called the Dedham Police Department. A police officer nearby quickly caught Henry.

Sports and Athletics

Dedham has a strong history in sports, with many local athletes achieving success.

• In 2007, the Dedham High School Marauders changed their mascot logo from a Native American to a pirate. Discussions about changing the logo again began in 2015.
• The James Joyce Ramble, a famous 10K race, hosted the USA Track & Field National Masters 10K Championship in 2013, 2014, and 2015. The race was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19.
• Dedham High School wrestlers have achieved great success:
  • In 2015, Declan Harris won the state wrestling championship in his weight class.
  • Eric Reyes won the state wrestling championship in 2015, 2014, and 2013 in different weight classes.
• Joey Lenane won the United States Golf Association's 94th annual New England Amateur Golf Championship in July 2023. This win earned him a spot in the next U.S. Open and British Open golf tournaments.
• Peter Megdal set a world record by riding his bicycle 47.43 kilometers in one hour!

Churches

• An addition was built onto the Fellowship Bible Church in 2005.

Little Free Libraries

• Starting in 2013, the Dedham Library Innovation Team began putting up Little Free Libraries around town. These are small boxes where people can take a book or leave a book for others to enjoy.
• In 2021, a grant helped to fix up and maintain these libraries.
• Each Little Free Library has a unique theme and was decorated by a different artist or group:

Special Days and Celebrations

Dedham has honored special people and events with dedicated days.

• October 21, 2022, was celebrated as Commander John A. Benda Day in Dedham. This day marked the 225th anniversary of the launching of the USS Constitution. Commander Benda was the second commanding officer of the Constitution to come from Dedham.
• December 3, 2023, was declared Rita Mae Cushman Day in Dedham. This honored the Cushman and Civitarese family, who have put on a huge Christmas light display at their house for 50 years.

Flag Day Parade

• The Flag Day Parade is a very popular tradition in Dedham. It was almost canceled after the financial crisis of 2007–2008, but a fundraising effort saved it.
• The 48th annual parade was held in June 2015.
• In 2017, for its 50th anniversary, the parade was moved to a Saturday to include fireworks.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, the parade was canceled in 2020 and 2021. Instead, people held an unofficial "rolling rally" of cars along the parade route.

Court Case in Dedham

• In 2024, a court case involving Karen Read and the death of John O'Keefe took place at the Norfolk County Courthouse in Dedham. This case received a lot of media attention.
• There were many protesters outside the courthouse who believed Karen Read was innocent.
• The judge ordered a special "buffer zone" around the courthouse to keep witnesses and jurors from being influenced by the crowds.