Salem Willows
Encyclopedia
Salem Willows is an oceanfront neighborhood and amusement park in Salem, Massachusetts
. It is named for the European white willow
trees planted there in 1801 to form a shaded walk for patients convalescing at a nearby smallpox hospital. The area became a public park in 1858, and in the twentieth century became a summer destination for residents of Boston's North Shore
, many of whom escaped the heat of the city on newly popular streetcars. Many establishments on Restaurant Row, the park's north side, served fresh seafood, while a carousel with carved flying horses was another special attraction at an amusement park that survives to this day. Although the last of the original restaurants closed in the 1960s, there are still numerous take-out stands to choose from. While it is not actually an amusement park anymore, it has several arcades, one containing a few rides. There is also a small beach.
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
. It is named for the European white willow
Willow
Willows, sallows, and osiers form the genus Salix, around 400 species of deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere...
trees planted there in 1801 to form a shaded walk for patients convalescing at a nearby smallpox hospital. The area became a public park in 1858, and in the twentieth century became a summer destination for residents of Boston's North Shore
North Shore (Massachusetts)
The North Shore is a region in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, loosely defined as the coastal area between Boston and New Hampshire. The region is made up both of a rocky coastline, dotted with marshes and wetlands, as well as several beaches and natural harbors. The North Shore is an important...
, many of whom escaped the heat of the city on newly popular streetcars. Many establishments on Restaurant Row, the park's north side, served fresh seafood, while a carousel with carved flying horses was another special attraction at an amusement park that survives to this day. Although the last of the original restaurants closed in the 1960s, there are still numerous take-out stands to choose from. While it is not actually an amusement park anymore, it has several arcades, one containing a few rides. There is also a small beach.