Salem Common Historic District

The city of Salem is filled with one of the largest inventory of historical homes in the United States. One of the key locations of many of these homes is Salem Common. It is located right in the middle of the downtown section. It is one of the many key features that the city offers as it provides open space to walk, sit, read, people-watch, and often enjoy some of the many celebrations that the city provides. Not exactly Central Park of New York City, but at least the city has protected it from being developed.

Originally there were eight acres that were swamp with several ponds and hills. During the day on the lower flat grounds animals were brought here to graze during the day. Interesting to also note in these days of all the long-term debates over gun laws, the common was used as an area where people could practice shooting in the event they were called into military duty. It was not until 1801 that money was used to improve the conditions. The ponds were filled in and the surface was leveled.

This photograph was taken on December 29, 2020. The common was quite quiet that afternoon as it was a cold day with temperatures in the 30’s with a sharp biting wind. People were using the common to walk and socialize with their dogs. A few joggers were doing the loop around the common. In the back corner, there were only a few children playing.

Open common spaces play a key role in the quality of a community. People need places they can easily go to just to enjoy being outside. The great thing about this common area is many of the people of Salem have easy access by foot to enjoy it. Salem has additional parks to explore such as Salem Willows and Forrest River Park. However, for many these parks require a car or bicycle to get there.

At Generating Media we continue to encourage the real estate community to learn as much as they can about the history and features of the communities they represent. It provides a high level of confidence to a potential owner looking to find a listing agent as well as a potential buyer.