On the Market: A Stately Colonial That Once Belonged to JFK’s Uncle
This Dorchester home was the site of Fitzgerald family gatherings and visits from future president JFK.
Photos by Jack Vatcher Photography
3 Rundel Park, Dorchester
Price: $1,299,000
Size: 3,322 square feet
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 2 full, 1 partial
Few families have had an impact on American politics like the Fitzgeralds and Kennedys. From these broods we got members of Congress, mayors, and one very noted president. But before JFK became, well, JFK, he was a little boy spending his time listening to his relatives talk politics at his uncle’s home in Dorchester. While many families have a rule of no political talk at the dinner table, it’s a given that the Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys broke that rule—after all, JFK’s grandfather John “Honey Fitz” Fitzgerald was the mayor of Boston (and served as a state senator in his lifetime). Now a Fitzgerald family home—owned by both JFK’s uncle and cousin at different points and said to have housed his maternal grandparents later in life—is up for sale, offering a chance for you to own a piece of one of the last great American political family dynasties.
The five-bedroom home was built by noted architect Edwin J. Lewis in 1892. Located in the Carruth neighborhood of DOT, the home offers views of the Blue Hills from its perch at the end of a cul-de-sac street. Original street lamps dot this roadway, harkening back to the time when the home’s famous former owners lived here. These period details carry on to the the home, as well: You’ll find three mantled fireplaces, dentil and crown molding, high ceilings, and hardwood floors that have been well-maintained throughout the decades.
While this home has vintage charm, it’s also been updated for modern convenience. Kitchen and bathroom renovations shaped the rooms into contemporary spaces with amenities like a cooking range and disposal; a new roof, driveway, and masonry, meanwhile, has the exterior looking fresh for your arrival. Plus, new Nest technology has been installed in the home to make your life a little bit easier. Even if you don’t have the Kennedys’ political connections, you’ll have access to technology they never did in this beauty of a home.
Note: A previous version of this story misidentified which of John F. Kennedy’s family members owned the home.
For information, contact Leslie MacKinnon, Compass, compass.com.
Photos by Jack Vatcher Photography
Photos by Jack Vatcher Photography
Photos by Jack Vatcher Photography
Photos by Jack Vatcher Photography
Photos by Jack Vatcher Photography
Photos by Jack Vatcher Photography
Photos by Jack Vatcher Photography
Photos by Jack Vatcher Photography
Photos by Jack Vatcher Photography
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