Salem Willows

• The Salem Willows Park is a 35 acre waterfront site was designated a city park in 1858 and is named for the original white willow trees that were planted there around 1800.
• In 1877, the Naumkeag Street Railway Company began "running horse-drawn trolleys to Salem Willows. It also started acquiring land for a planned amusement park", according to Jim McAllister in the News.
• The park opened for business in 1880 and was immediate popular. The major attractions were the Willows Pavilion, originally home to a skating rink and restaurant. Popular bands like Salem Cadet Band played outside at the Willows Park Theatre. The water chute at the intersection of Fort and Columbus Avenue was popular. People were carried up to the top of a tall slide in small "boats" and then sped down a long track into a pool of water below.
• Charleshurst Ballroom which opened in the 1920's, was owned by Charles Schribman. This nightspot attracted big bands from around the country and was one of the social centers of the North Shore.
• One of the most popular eateries was Chase's Willow House which opened in 1874. Other restaurants were Ebsen's and Downing's.
• A fixture at the Willows is Hobbs' popcorn and ice cream stand. Everett Hobbs and Wilbur Eaton began selling popcorn in the mid 1880's at a concession in the pavilion. They are still in operation, as the fourth generation of Hobbs' continue to sell salt-water taffy, homemade ice cream and popcorn.
• In 1870, one of the most popular rides was Brown's Flying Horses carousel. Joseph Brown, a native of Bavaria, was an expert woodcarver who carved all the animals by hand. The carousel was first manually turned, then replaced later by a real live horse, then by a steam driven engine for its five minute trip. This was a fixture for seventy years until Brown's son-in-law passed away and the horses were sold in 1945 to Macy's Department Store for their Christmas display.

See Also

Vertical File in the Salem Collection - Salem Willows

Salem Willows Salem web tales by J. McAllister

"The trip to the Willows: History of Salem" Salem Evening News, April 28, 1999. C1

"Flying Horses vital part of Willows Park" Salem Evening News, Sept. 19, 1941, p.?

"Dismantle famed Willows Flying Horses" Salem News, July 20, 1945.

"Taking a spin on Salem's Old Carousels" Salem Gazette, May 11, 2007, p.4

Salem and the Willows Collection of Photographs

Salem Willows Yacht Club 75th Anniversary Salem Willows Yacht Club, 2008.