This letter was submitted to the Salem Historical Commission in regards to the planned bollards and construction work in front of Ropes Mansion.
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April 15, 2025
Attn: Patricia Kelleher
Salem Historical Commission
City of Salem
98 Washington Street
Salem, MA 01970
Re: Planned Roadwork at Essex and Cambridge Streets
Dear Commissioners:
Further to the letter sent earlier to the Salem Historical Commission by the Historic Salem, Inc. Brick Committee, let me please add and reinforce a few points:
- We appreciate the efforts to acknowledge the popularity of the Ropes Mansion as a tourist site and the need to provide a safe viewing area.
- It appears that the proposed plan for brick work in front of the Ropes Mansion calls for the brick to be laid in a diagonal pattern which conflicts with adjoining sidewalk patterns. HSI believes that there should be pattern consistency on the sidewalks within the McIntire Historic District.
- The plan shows that handicap ramps will be formed in concrete instead of brick. This is unacceptable. Ramps in Salem’s historic districts have been completed using brick ramps. Grace Church, Salem Public Library, and Derby Street are just a few examples. Concrete ramps are an eyesore and unnecessary in the historic districts, especially next to some of Salem’s most famous historic houses.
- The hitching post outside of 329 Essex Street should remain in place. The carriage step should also remain in place and not be sloped, as they were at 24 Chestnut Street.
- Any bollards used outside of the Ropes Mansion should be similar to those present in the Historic McIntire District. The steel black reproductions shown as part of the project attachments do not do justice to the importance of the historic Ropes Mansion or the surrounding properties.
- McIntire District sidewalk medallion inserts (e.g., corner of Cambridge and Essex Streets) should remain in place or be reset to their proper place.
- HSI has advocated for the repair of the brick sidewalks and curbing on Cambridge Street between Chestnut and Essex Streets. This would be an appropriate time to do this work.
Again, we support efforts for a safe viewing area for the Ropes Mansion, but this should not be provided at the expense of the historic fabric and character of the Mansion or surrounding properties.
Best regards,
Richard Lindeman
President
cc:
Colleen Brewster, HSI Brick Committee Co-Chair
Cynthia Johnson, HSI Brick Committee, Co-Chair
Raymond Jodoin, Director, Public Services
Louis Sirianni, HSI Brick Committee
