History of Dedham
Established in 1635, the Town of Dedham originally served as buffer between Native American land and the Main Colonies of the coast. In 1638 the townsfolk established the 14th church of the Massachusetts Bay Colony which would become one of the only outlets of music in the early years of the town. The Church’s Choir was established in 1766 and it wasn't until 1785 that the parish voted to allow singing outside of the church. “the founders of the church were diligent readers of the Bible, which abounds in songs of praise and thanksgiving and joy, so the were willing to have psalm singing in the church service but strenuously opposed to the introduction of instrumental music. Not until 1790 was there any instrumental music in the church service” (Smith 57). The towns economy was based on agriculture
In 1793 Dedham became a shire town for the County of Norfolk, and began to see more and more people beginning to emigrate to it. The Norfolk and Bristol Turnpike was run through it and it began to abandon its original agricultural routes. Over the next fifty years railroad construction would turn Dedham into a hub for transportation and its population increased exponentially. With this boom in population there was also a great increase in industry “By 1845, the town’s manufactories employed over 650 people, and produced such varied goods as cotton, cotton thread, woolens, silk, brooms, furnaces, shovels and hoes, paper, chairs and cabinets, tin ware, sheet iron, vehicles, boots, shoes, saddles and harnesses, cigars, pocket notebooks, and marbled papers” (Dedham Historical Society).
In 1793 Dedham became a shire town for the County of Norfolk, and began to see more and more people beginning to emigrate to it. The Norfolk and Bristol Turnpike was run through it and it began to abandon its original agricultural routes. Over the next fifty years railroad construction would turn Dedham into a hub for transportation and its population increased exponentially. With this boom in population there was also a great increase in industry “By 1845, the town’s manufactories employed over 650 people, and produced such varied goods as cotton, cotton thread, woolens, silk, brooms, furnaces, shovels and hoes, paper, chairs and cabinets, tin ware, sheet iron, vehicles, boots, shoes, saddles and harnesses, cigars, pocket notebooks, and marbled papers” (Dedham Historical Society).