Kennedy Compound

History

In 1926, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. rented a summer cottage at 50 Marchant Avenue in Hyannis Port. Two years later, he purchased the structure, which had been erected in 1904 as Malcolm Cottage for original owner Beulah Malcolm, and enlarged and remodeled it to suit his growing family's needs. In and around this house, their nine children spent their summers and early autumns, acquiring a lifelong interest in sailing and other competitive activities. The Kennedys previously spent their summers at a cottage on Nantasket Beach in Hull, Massachusetts (where Joseph Jr. was born in 1915). During the mid-1920s, the Kennedys explored purchasing a home in Cohasset, Massachusetts, but when Joe Sr. applied for membership at the exclusive Cohasset Country Club, he was denied. Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin wrote that in Cohasset, "Irish Catholics were still looked down upon by the reigning Protestant (WASP) establishment". Joseph Sr., who had connections with the members at the Hyannisport Golf Club, was accepted in spite of it being another "Yankee stronghold". It was a deciding factor for Joseph Sr. to purchase a house in the seaside village. In 1941, the Hyannis Port home became the family's primary (legal) residence.

In 1956, John bought a smaller home of his own at 111 Irving Avenue,() not far from his father's home. In 1959, Edward acquired the residence at 28 Marchant Avenue () adjacent to the other two, but in 1961 sold it to Robert and his wife Ethel. Edward lived in the main house at the compound until his death.

Layout

All three buildings are white, frame, clapboard structures typical of vacation residences on Cape Cod. Except for specific occasions at the Main House, the buildings are not available for public visitation.

Main house

Joseph Sr.'s home, the Main House and the largest of the three, is surrounded by well-tended lawns and gardens and it has sweeping views of Nantucket Sound from its long porches.

On the main floor are a living room, dining room, sun room, television room, kitchen, various pantries, utility rooms and the bedroom that John used before he purchased his own house in the compound.

On the second floor there are six bedrooms, a sewing room, packing room, and four servants' bedrooms. The house has a full attic.

The basement contains a motion-picture theater and a hall covered with dolls from all around the world. The dolls belonged to Joseph Sr. and were gifted to him from a number of different acquaintances during his time as the 44th US Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

The house has changed little, either structurally or in furnishings, since President Kennedy's association with it.

In 2012, the main house was donated by the Kennedy family to the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate. On the grounds are an enclosed swimming pool, tennis court, a four-car garage, and two guest houses.

There are two circular driveways with flagpoles standing in the middle, a boathouse and several large stretches of lawn area where many of the family's touch football games were played.

Other parcels of land that assorted members of the family have purchased remain as well-tended as those of the more prominent homes.

References

Sources

References

1. {{NRISref. 2007a
2. (April 11, 2022). "Kennedys in Hyannis Port; How it happened".
3. (August 2, 2019). "The Kennedy compound, in pictures".
4. Staff writer (August 27, 2009). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/27/kennedy-compound-converted-museum "Kennedy Compound to Be Converted to Museum – Sen. Edward Kennedy Succumbed to Brain Cancer at the Compound Tuesday Night and the Family Held a Private Mass for the Legendary Senator Thursday Morning"]. ''[[Fox News Channel. Fox News]]''. Accessed August 29, 2009.
5. (2022). "Incomparable Grace: JFK in the Presidency". Penguin Publishing Group.
6. (2016). "Bobby Kennedy: The Making of a Liberal Icon". Random House.
7. (2012-01-30). "Main House At Kennedy Compound Given To Institute". WBUR.
8. (July 15, 2011). "Kennedy family divided over Mass. family compound".
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14. Cillizza, Chris. (2023-04-18). "Power Players: Sports, Politics, and the American Presidency". Grand Central Publishing.
15. (2023-06-13). "How to Summer Like a Kennedy".
16. Productions, TalkinGolf. "TGH 66: The History of the Hyannisport Club".
17. (1978). "Robert Kennedy and His Times".
18. Berry, Jake. (2009-08-29). "Future of compound fueling rumor mill". Cape Cod Times.
19. Klein, Edward. (1997). "All Too Human: The Love Story of Jack and Jackie Kennedy". Pocket.