KENNEDY MANOR TURNS 50

Woonsocket senior residence passes five-decade anniversary

WOONSOCKET – Residents of John F. Kennedy Manor celebrated the city apartment tower’s 50th birthday on Saturday evening with a special dinner attended by city officials and area dignitaries. The 10-story housing complex at 547 Clinton Street opened in November of 1967 as the second elderly high-rise to be completed under city urban redevelopment projects. Parkview Manor on Pond Street had opened as the first in October of 1964.

Kennedy Manor comprises 198 apartments spread out under a 22-unit

per floor layout with 180 featuring single-bedroom residences and 18 units configured as twobedroom apartments.

The building was dedicated in the memory of the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy and over the years often drew members of the Kennedy family to visit. U.S. Sen. Edward M. “Ted” Kennedy was known to stop in on the campaign trail and even sing for the residents, as he did during one visit while campaigning with his son, former U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy during his 1996 campaign.

Saturday’s celebration included a catered meal for about 80 of Kennedy Manor’s residents and also a birthday cake and an assembly of mementos from the manor’s social club and residents board, as well as newspaper articles on the building’s opening complete with ads offering well wishes from the companies and contractors participating in the project.

Retired Bishop of Providence Louis P. Gelineau, Rhode Island State Sen. Marc Cote, Rhode Island Rep. Michael Morin, the Rev. Dennis Reardon, pastor of All Saints Church, Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt and her husband Ed, and Woonsocket Housing Authority Executive Director Christine O’Connor joined the residents at the dinner tables.

Denise Leveillee, president of the Kennedy Manor residents’ social club, said the dinner was an overwhelming success in marking the housing complex’s anniversary date.

“I think it was great that we were able to share the 50th Anniversary of Kennedy Manor with everyone that attended,” she said.

Mayor Baldelli-Hunt said the evening was just another example of the warmth she typically encounters when stopping in at the manor.

“I have to say that all of the residents here are very lovely and warm-hearted and that it is always a joy to visit here,” she said. “Tonight is an example of how this is their home and that they make you feel welcome whenever you come here,” she said.

Follow Joseph Nadeau on Twitter: @JNad75

Photo by Joseph B. Nadeau Residents of Kennedy Manor celebrated the 10-story Woonsocket Housing Authority residential complex’ 50th Anniversary on Saturday with a dinner in the manor’s community room. From left are Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt, Debra Ducharme, Betsy Peloquin, both...

Photo by Joseph B. Nadeau Kennedy residents page through scrapbooks on the manor’s half-century history.

Photo by Joseph B. Nadeau ABOVE: Kennedy Manor residents help mark the manor’s 50th anniversary. From left are Olive Turcotte, Murielle Goyette, Leonard Cotnoir, Raymond Lachapelle, Raymond Brodeur and Kim Brodeur. BELOW: From left are Marguerite Robin, Lorraine Robin, Laura...