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Most Endangered Historic Resource
28 Goodhue Street, c. 1900 (Listed 2000)
Status – Moved from Endangered to Lost 2005
This building, which sat behind the Public Storage building at the corner
of Goodhue, Bridge and Boston Streets, was one of the few remaining
industrial timber frame buildings in Salem. Built before 1910, it might
have been the last shoe manufacturing factory surviving in Salem from
before the Great Fire of 1914.
In the summer of 2004, the new owners of the building requested a waiver
of the demolition delay ordinance in order to demolish the building.
Historic Salem and residents of nearby neighborhoods worked with the
owners and the Historical Commission to try to save the oldest portions
of the building. The owners withdrew their request to waive the demolition
ordinance to explore the feasibility of saving the structure. Historic
Salem supported their request for a waiver of the demolition delay for
most of the newer sections that have accreted on the building. With
support from the Historical Commission, Historic Salem then worked with
the owners throughout their evaluation of the viability of saving the
oldest portion of the building. Sadly, after examination by the owner’s
geo-technical engineers, it was determined that the building was constructed
on landfill, and its pilings, while adequate for the building for its
original use, were not adequate for re-use of the building, with all
its finishes and trim. The costs to replace or strengthen them were
judged by the owner to be too costly – and the building was demolished.
John Wathne of Structures North and former President of Historic Salem,
along with a host of neighborhood residents, City Boards and HSI members
contributed to the effort to save the building. The Historical Commission
also played an important role in helping to find a way to balance the
opportunity to save one of Salem’s few remaining old factory buildings
with the owners’ need for a project with economic viability.
Historic Salem continues to take an interest in the mixed-use building
planned for the site.
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