The Forest River Bathhouse & Pool, located in Salem, Mass., masterfully integrates historic preservation with key community goals, including climate resiliency, accessibility, environmental education, and public art, resulting in the new Forest River Outdoor Recreation & Nature Center. This center is poised to benefit Salem residents for years to come. The project is a Robert H. Kuehn, Jr. Award recipient.
Overview
Forest River Park was initially owned by William Flint (1603-1673) and Alice Williams Flint (1608-1700) until Salem’s Board of Park Commissioners acquired it in 1907 to establish a public park. The original bathhouse, replaced in the late 1920s by a structure resembling an Ambrose Walker design, underwent major renovations between 1971-72, adding amenities and transitioning the pool from saltwater to freshwater in 1999. By 2017, significant deterioration led the City to consult the Salem Historical Commission. Given the bathhouse’s historical importance, as advised by the Commission and Historic Salem, Inc., the City decided to restore and renovate it rather than replace it.
Contribution
Epsilon’s team of Historic Preservation professionals completed a Massachusetts Historical Commission Form A (Area) for the City of Salem’s Forest River Bathhouse & Pool, a public park established in 1907 containing various buildings and recreational structures, including a collection of reproduction colonial buildings and an early 20th century saltwater pool. The documentation of the park was provided as part of a Project Notification Form submitted by the City to the MHC as part of its proposal to replace the existing swimming pool and associated structures. Epsilon’s services also included preparing an Environmental Notification Form and securing a Chapter 91 license for the project.
Achievement
The project received a Robert H. Kuehn, Jr Award from Preservation Massachusetts. The project restored the historic bathhouse in the fully accessible Forest River Outdoor Recreation & Nature Center, preserving its exterior stucco, corner quoins, roof parapet design, pool entrance, and north entrance gates.
