As stewards of the Town’s institutional memory local historians have much to be serious about, and yet there are times when our past and our present intersect in a lighter fashion.  Readers of a certain age will no doubt recall the popular television show Mr. Ed, which ran from 1961 to 1966, featuring a talking Palomino and his hapless owner, Wilbur Post, played by actor and one-time Dover resident Alan Young.

While best known for his role as Wilbur Post, the British born Canadian bred actor had a lengthy career beginning with The Alan Young Show which aired on Canadian radio from 1940-1944, in the United States from 1944-1949, and on television from 1950-1953.  Young received two Emmy’s for the television show in 1951.

It is the role of Wilbur Post, however, for which he is best known. Ironically, his television wife, Carol Post, was played by actress and Dedham native Connie Hines (1931-2009).  Guest stars playing themselves on the show included Mae West, Clint Eastwood, George Burns, Zsa Zsa Gabor, and Sharon Tate.

In the aftermath of Mr. Ed Young retired from acting in order to help establish a film and broadcasting center for the First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston.

On December 1, 1969 Young and his second wife, Virginia McCurdy, purchased a newly constructed home at 4 Knollwood Drive.  He would spend the next three years working on the film and broadcasting center and then another two years touring the country as a Christian Science lecturer.

The Youngs sold their home in Dover on July 2, 1973, apparently during his time as a travelling lecturer.  On returning to Hollywood he became the voice for the Disney character Scrooge McDuck.

Young died at the Motion Picture and Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California on April 12, 2016 at the age of 96.

By Elisha Lee, President

(photo in public domain, shows Connie Hines, Alan Young, and Bamboo Harvester aka Mr. Ed)