Who Was William B. Gould?

William Benjamin Gould was a Civil War Veteran and a passionate community leader in Dedham, Massachusetts. He was born into slavery in 1837. In 1862 during the Civil War, Gould, along with 7 others, were able to escape from slavery by sailing 28 miles down a river in North Carolina known as the Cape Fear River. When traveling down the river, USS Cambridge, a ship used by the Union, came across Gould. He then went on to serve in the Union Navy until the end of the Civil War in 1865. In the time after the Civil War ended, Gould lived in East Dedham, where he lived with his wife, Cornelia, and their six sons and two daughters. He passed away in May 1923, but is still remembered and acknowledged today for his service.

Gould's Impact on Dedham’s Community

William B.Gould was a very strong member of Dedham’s community. First, he was a founding member of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Oakdale Square. Gould also did plaster work for St. Mary's Church on High Street. He served as commander of the Grand Army of the Republic; an organization of those who served in the Civil War (Similar to the American Legion in Dedham today).

The William B. Gould Memorial Project

As quoted from the project’s website the inspiration for this memorial is that “In the summer of 2020, as statues around the country were toppled, we came together to build up our community by preserving the memory of a worthy Dedhamite. The effort has expanded to not only build a statue, but to rename a public park in his honor and to teach his story in the Dedham Public Schools.” The park has not yet been renamed, and the statue has not been erected as of now, but the committee and the Parks and Recreation Commission are hoping to reach those goals soon.

Interview With Project Committee Member Brian Keaney

Mirror: Is this the first time someone has tried to honor William B. Gould in Dedham?

Keaney: Yes. The exception is the Grand Army of the Republic who honored Gould when he passed.

Mirror: How has this project been received by Dedham?

Keaney: Very well received. Many have shown their support by emailing The Parks and Recreation Commission. Organizations have also shown their support, such as the Knights of Columbus.

Mirror: Any progress updates?

Keaney: In November, there is going to be a vote to rename the park after William B. Gould. There could possibly be a meeting in the spring, in which William B. Gould IV and William B. Gould V hope to fly from California to attend.

Mirror: Are there any upcoming meetings or events?

Keaney: The committee meets every couple of weeks over Zoom. Next meeting they are discussing fundraising, as they hope to raise 100k - 200k. They are also going to discuss designs for the statue and layout in the park.

More information and details about the project are available at their website https://gouldmemorial.org/. You can also visit this website to show your support for the memorial’s construction.

Lucy Auger, class of 2023, is a staff writer for the Dedham Mirror. She loves drawing, cross country, and playing the piano. She is also a member of the Cross Country team and the Art club.