Pick up any newspaper or the latest best-seller chronicling the Kennedy family and you'll learn about the payoffs, black market dealings, and extramarital affairs its members have allegedly engaged in. These sordid tales make it difficult to remember there was once a time in this family legacy in which childhood innocence prevailed and the Kennedys, living out of the public eye, were residents of tree-lined Brookline rather than the White House and the shores of Hyannis. Their home, full of childhood toys and plenty of memories of this prominent family, was later made into a historic site and now sits among the modest homes of the neighborhood, holding within its walls stories, memories, and an inside look at the days before Camelot.

What to Expect
After visiting the JFK Museum and Library, one may be disappointed at the small stature and unpretentiousness of the green and yellow, three story house, with only a National Parks Service sign and a gas lamp on the sidewalk outside to indicate its importance in American history. But, once inside, one can feel the reverence for the family.

The house, as well as its furnishings, has stood the test of time and remains as a symbol of the rich history of the Kennedy family. It was purchased in 1914 for $14,000 and three of Joe and Rose's nine children were born there. It was sold in 1921 and was being occupied by a private family the year the President was assassinated. The house was repurchased by the Kennedy family in 1966, who intended to use it as a memorial for their deceased son and brother.

Since the refurbishing was done by Rose Kennedy herself, it is either what actually sat in the house when the family lived there or a close replica. Some of the items include a grand piano given to Rose and Joseph Sr. as a wedding gift, a christening dress worn by all the Kennedy children and John F. Kennedy Jr., and a file box Rose kept containing cards with all the children's heights and illnesses throughout the years.

The walk through the home begins in the basement, which has been completely transformed into a bookstore and film viewing area. Tours are given regularly by National Parks Service tour guides. The tour lasts about 45 minutes and includes two floors of the Kennedy residence. The tour guides have many interesting stories to share, elucidating on everything from the family pictures on the walls to the recent visits to the home by living family members, including Senator Ted Kennedy.

One of the most interesting features of the home is a recording of Rose Kennedy describing the objects and uses of each room. She talks about her family, relating the childhood activities and some of the fun the family had together. She gives a voice to history, as many of the visitors to the home, including most foreign tourists and school groups, were not even alive during JFK's presidency.

Related Tours
The home is too small to browse through for very long, so this stop is best for a quick visit as part of the larger, walking tour of the area. The National Parks Service sponsors walking tours through the immediate Brookline area and to the parts of Boston important to the Kennedy history. The schedule for these tours is set about a month in advance so be sure to call ahead (617-566-7937).

Hours, Fees, and Directions
The National Historic Site is open March through the end of November, Wednesday through Sunday from 10 AM - 4:30 PM. Wednesdays and Thursdays are normally the slowest days with the weekend being the busiest, so try to plan around that. Tours are given on the half hour and admission is $1 for adults and free for senior citizens and children under 16.

The last tour begins at 3 PM and the home goes into an open house format from 3:45 PM until closing, allowing for visitors to walk through without taking a tour. We definitely recommend a tour for the first-time visitor, however, since the guides are full of interesting stories and information.

To get to the site, take the Green C line to Coolidge Corner and walk north on Harvard Avenue for four blocks. Take a right onto Beals Street and look for #83 on the right. It can be easy to miss so keep an eye out for the old-fashioned gas lamp on the sidewalk-- it's the only home that has one. We recommend not driving to this sight since parking is not available specifically for the site and because it makes for a nice walk.

By Kristen Turick

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