Endicott Family: Keep the Estate the Same

Even though the future of the may not be decided for six months, the family of Katherine Endicott has taken a stand.

“It is my true feeling that Katherine, and knowing Katherine, would like the estate to remain as is,” said John Hutchins, the grandnephew of Katherine Endicott.

He made a surprise visit to Town Meeting Monday evening to speak on behalf of the family against involvement of a private management company, and wished to see it kept in the town’s complete control.

“I hope that you will respect her wishes and keep the estate the way it is,” Hutchins said.

Town Administrator William Keegan’s article to form a study committee for the future of the Endicott Estate passed Monday evening.

“We have not studied anything yet. That is the purpose of this article. We haven’t started,” Keegan said. “I have not reached any conclusions at all.”

The committee will spend the summer evaluating the estate, what Keegan says is a $400,000-a-year loss and the level of civic use of the property.

Keegan’s Endicott committee will reach a decision and report to a Special Town Meeting in the fall, Keegan said.

“It is something we have to evaluate. At the end of the day we will come back here with a recommendation,” he said.

A private management company would have the ability to rent the estate out to business groups, conferences and for other uses to make profit from it.

When the town administrator in April, they emphasized Katherine’s will, which mandates Dedham continue the civic use of the facility.

“The use of the estate by the town groups must continue and the separate rate structure for town residents must continue,” said Endicott commissioner and Town Meeting member Barbara Gula.

Keegan said he plans to meet with the scores of civic groups that use the facility during the evaluation period

“I will honor the estate’s will, which is to provide that for civic purposes and also provide the opportunity for us to run the estate the way it should be run,” Keegan said.

At least one Town Meeting member wants to strike a balance between using for civic use and keeping up the maintenance.

“It does seem clear that the way we are going, this is not going to be able to continue,” said Susan Fay. “I do hope we can proceed […] to find the best route to maintain this building.”