Politics & Government
Dedham 375 Committee Explores Options of Commemorative Book
Dedham historian Robert Hanson offers suggestions as the group considers creating a memory book celebrating the town's history and 375th anniversary.
The Dedham 375 Committee took a trip back to the future Monday, minus the DeLorean.
Dedham historian Robert Hanson reviewed memory book options as the group considers creating a written work commemorating the town's history and its 375th anniversary celebration.
Hanson explained the town's previous historic celebrations to help the committee develop a plan. Committee co-chair Marie-Louise Kehoe emphasized the work currently lacks boundaries.
Find out what's happening in Dedhamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"The book is not going to be huge," Kehoe said. "It might end up as some sort of periodical."
Hanson stressed the importance of brainstorming ideas to develop a concrete plan.
Find out what's happening in Dedhamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"You're going to need some sort of parameters," Hanson told Kehoe. "The possibilities are endless."
Dedham honored its 250th anniversary with a published book celebrating the town's historical sites, but the celebration expanded 50 years later as the town's tricentennial included a parade and a speech from Governor James Curley.
Dedham's anniversary celebrations have varied, but Hanson found a common thread.
"All of these [celebrations] are memorialized, in one form or another, in print," Hanson said.
But Dedham's options remain wide open, and the committee could even produce "Seven Lights of Dedham," a movie highlighting the town's history. Hanson acknowledged the film's script was created during the town's 300th anniversary celebration.
"We have the outtakes [and] we have the spliced version," Hanson said, "but obviously someone would have to consolidate these."
Kehoe supported Hanson's suggestions, offering the historian the opportunity to take the reins on the group's memory book efforts.
"I think [the memory book] needs to be something that will be intriguing," Kehoe told Hanson. "The way you talk about the history of the town makes it intriguing."
Kehoe noted the book was scheduled to be roughly 60 pages, but the length could change.
The group anticipates the book could be released next February, and will develop the book with Hanson in the upcoming months.
"We can expand the size of the book if it warrants it," committee member Nancy Baker said.
