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DEDHAM, MA, January 18, 2006 – MIT Endicott House, still sparkling in its holiday décor, was the scene Tuesday evening, January 17, 2006, of the formal inauguration of its 50th year celebration with a tribute to “The Families of Eighty Haven Street.”

The semi-formal event, hosted by General Manager, Michael Fitzgerald, was the first of many celebratory events marking MIT’s ownership of this exquisite manor house and estate. “What was most meaningful to us was the fact that for the very first time, we had members of all three families gathered together to share their remembrances,” Mr. Fitzgerald said. The multifaceted event was attended by family members, members of the MIT Endicott House Board of Directors and the MIT community, neighbors, Dedham historical society members, and house staffers.

The evening also served as the introductory party for a specially commissioned coffee table book called, A Home on Haven Street. Written by the Christopher and Joseph Nahil, the book traces the history of all three occupants of 80 Haven Street from its very beginnings in the hand of Civil War hero General Steven Minot Weld, to the passing of the property to the Endicott family and, finally, from the Endicotts to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The book recounts in narrative and photographs – some never before published – the care and love that has been lavished on this property since the early 1800’s. Included are remembrances and recollections by current Board member, Brad Endicott, and his sister Priscilla who grew up on the property, as well as those of Rose Weld Baldwin and Kay Weld Bacon, granddaughters of General Weld, who also lived at 80 Haven Street. Art direction and design of the book is by Joseph Gallant and Coy’s Brook Studio.

The MIT Family Era
MIT Endicott House has played host to political dignitaries, Fortune 100 business executives, and members of thousands of educational, political and community groups. Of note is the fact that MIT Endicott House was the official “residence” of the MIT Sloan School of Management’s world famous Senior Executive Program.

During a short program meant to honor the families, Stephen D. Immerman, Senior Associate Dean for Student Life and Executive Director of Enterprise Services and a member of the Endicott House Board of Directors, paid tribute to the families via a champagne toast and thanked Brad Endicott, in particular, for his continued service to MIT and the MIT Endicott House. Brad was an original member of the Board, and has served an uninterrupted tenure since the beginning in 1956.

Grounds Restoration
Since the grounds of Eighty Haven Street, have such a storied past, Immerman also used the occasion to announce the establishment of “The MIT Endicott House Landscape Restoration Project.” The project will be under the able hand of Richard Burck Associates, landscape architects familiar to the MIT community. Skip Burck, principle of the company, delivered a detailed presentation on the historical significance of the grounds, as well as the likely areas of restoration. The objective of the project is to begin the long process of identifying historical garden areas in order to restore the grounds as envisioned by both General Weld, who saw the property almost as a private arboretum, and by H. Wendell Endicott, who continued Weld’s tradition of horticultural excellence and further sought to showcase the mansion’s extensive Frederick Law Olmsted-designed grounds.

The Event
As with all events at the MIT Endicott House the evening was planned Mike Fitzgerald and his staff. The menu for the evening included an elegant and varied menu of passed hors d’oeuvres created by Executive Chef Edward Cerrato and his culinary staff. Chef Cerrato is celebrating his 22nd anniversary as an MIT Endicott chef.

The Book
A Home on Haven Street is available from MIT Endicott House. The cover price is $24.95.

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