Edward J. Kennedy, left, and Mary Elizabeth Kennedy, right
Born: 1872
Died: 1937
Married: Mary Elizabeth Sullivan (1905)
Children: Agnes Esther Kennedy, Mary Elizabeth Kennedy, Edward James Kennedy, Jr.
Edward James Kennedy worked for Leonard's, and then went into partnership with George A. Toupin at 8 Broadway. He was looking for a place to start a business of his own; his friend Phelps Smith introduced Kennedy to John Harding, who was looking to sell the Harding Block, and Kennedy bought the building in March, 1918. He opened the store the day after Labor Day the same year. The family lived in an apartment above the store. 1
Kennedy hired the firm of Scopes and Feustmann to design a new storefront for the building, knocked out the interior ground floor divisions, and opened what was for ladies the equivalent of T.F. Finnigan's or C. J. Carey's.
Unidentified news clipping, December 6, 1937
E. J. Kennedy, 65, Dies Of Heart Ailment
Edward James Kennedy, 65, proprietor of one of Saranac Lake's leading dress shops, and long a merchant in this village, died last night at 9 o'clock at his home, 89 Main street.
Mr. Kennedy had suffered from a heart ailment for some time and was seriously ill for the past three months.
A Solemn Requiem Mass will be celebrated tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock at St. Bernard's church of which he was a communicant. Burial will follow in the family plot in Pine Ridge cemetery.
Council 599, Knights of Columbus, of which Mr. Kennedy was a member, will hold a memorial service tonight at the residence. The Rev. W. A. Nugent will act as chaplain. The Knights will meet at the K. of C. rooms at 8 o'clock to attend the service in a body.
Mr. Kennedy had been in business in Saranac Lake for the past 35 years. He was first a member of the firm of W. C. Leonard and Co., and later became a partner of George A. Toupin firm, a dry goods and clothing establishment.
Twenty years ago he opened his own store in the Harding building at 89-91 Main street, shortly afterward purchasing the property.
He was regarded as one of this village's most successful merchants and enjoyed the respect of the community not only as a business man but as a person of character, generosity and kindliness. His many friends here were shocked and grieved to learn of his death.
He was born in Waddington, the son of the late Patrick and Agnes Kennedy. He lived in that village until he was 14 years of age when he went to Potsdam where he learned the business in which he was later engaged.
His survivors Include his wife, the former Mary H. Burke of Ogdensburg; and three children, Miss Elizabeth Kennedy, Miss Agnes Kennedy, and E. J. Kennedy, Jr.
The E. J. Kennedy's store remained in the Kennedy family until December, 1973. It was managed by Agnes Kennedy starting about 1934.
Lake Placid News, December 10, 1937
E.J. KENNEDY, STORE HEAD, DIES AT SARANAC L.
Was in Clothing Business For 35 Years
Edward James Kennedy, 65, proprietor of Kennedy's store in Saranac Lake and long a merchant in that village, died Sunday night at his home.
Mr. Kennedy had suffered from a heart ailment for some time and was seriously ill for the past three months.
A Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated Tuesday at St. Bernard's church. Burial followed in Pine Ridge cemetery.
Mr. Kennedy had been in business in Saranac Lake for the past 35 years. He was first a member of the firm of W. C. Leonard and Co., and later became a partner of George A. Toupin firm, a dry goods and clothing establishment.
Twenty years ago he opened his own store at the present location, shortly afterward purchasing: the property.
He was born in Waddington, the son of the late Patrick and Agnes Kennedy. He lived in that village until he was 14 years of age when he went to Potsdam where he learned the business in which he was later engaged.
His survivors include his wife, the former Mary H. Burke of Ogdensburg; and three children, Miss Elizabeth Kennedy, Miss Agnes Kennedy, and E. J. Kennedy, Jr.
Footnotes
1. Adirondack Daily Enterprise, September 23, 1970
