“Rebuild, and make it a million times better.” That was Henry Bradford Endicott’s motto after his homestead burned down. This is the story of the Endicott Estate.
The Endicott Estate stands gracefully here in Dedham. It is a three-story, 25-room Colonial Revival mansion with Georgian overtones. The estate spans over 18 acres. Stately elm, spruce, and weeping willow trees surround it.
Henry Bradford Endicott, founder of the Endicott-Johnson Shoe Corporation, built this mansion in 1904. It replaced the original Endicott homestead. That homestead tragically burned down. The local volunteer fire department arrived too late to save it. They were responding to three separate fires simultaneously.
Endicott saw the fire as a sign. He decided to rebuild in a grand manner. The open floor plan was designed for entertaining. A beautiful veranda adds to its charm.
Inside the Endicott Estate, you will find period furnishings. Works of art adorn the walls. Italian marble fireplaces add elegance. Rich paneling and classic oriental carpeting create a sophisticated atmosphere.
Interestingly, during construction, a radiator burst. This caused a raging river to crash down the main stairway. Endicott tore down one end of the house. He burned beautiful wall paneling, parquet floors, and elegant woodwork. Neighbors were dismayed but he added an additional 70 feet to the house. The construction cost $60,000. Endicott even bought the town a new fire truck.
The Endicott family owned the Estate until 1967. After his daughter Katherine died, she willed it to the Town of Dedham. It was to be used for educational, civic, and recreational purposes. Katherine lived there with a staff of 12. She had no children.
The town considered offering it to the Commonwealth. It would be a possible site for the Massachusetts Governors Mansion. But renovations would cost a million dollars. So the Commonwealth gave it back to the town in 1969.
Today, the Endicott Estate is listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2002. It serves the community. It hosts corporate and private events year-round. Art shows, car shows, concerts, and movie filming take place here.
The mansion accommodates a board meeting for 10 or a special occasion for 200 or more. There are five open and adjoining rooms on the first floor. These include three covered porches, a professional kitchen, and two pantries. Eight additional meeting rooms are on the upper level.
You could host a romantic ceremony here. Imagine it under a weeping willow tree, on the pillared portico, at the gazebo, or inside the mansion. The possibilities are endless.
So the next time you’re planning a special event consider the Endicott Estate. It is a place of history, beauty, and community. A testament to rebuilding better and grander.