Timeline
1776 Construction of Fort Lee
1800 Smallpox Hospital constructed (and willows planted) in the Willows
1858 Salem Willows Park dedicated
1910 The Salem Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis Health Camp, a day camp for tuberculosis patients, established on the current site as Camp Naumkeag.
1920 Circa: Several of the remaining structures at Camp Naumkeag were constructed
1930 The Pioneer Village was constructed in the Forest River Park for Salem’s Tercentenary celebration
1946 The Camp Naumkeag site was purchased by the Rotary Club for the Girls Scouts
1963 The Salem Kiwanis Club built the Lower Restroom Building on the adjacent site
1964 Naumkeag Associates, a non-profit, began managing the property
2002 City took possession of Camp Naumkeag
2011 Salem YMCA began leasing the site for a summer day camp
2017 A Building Survey Report of the Camp Naumkeag structures was completed
2018 A Facility Assessment of both Camp Naumkeag and the Pioneer Village was completed
2019 An Advisory Committee for the project was formed to provide comments and feedback
2020 Salem YMCA ceased leasing the site due to the lack of code compliance.
An archaeological assessment of the Camp Naumkeag site was completed
A design team led by Oudens Ello Architecture was selected as the designer for the proposed project
2021 5/18/21: The design team presented a conceptual design for the project to Parks & Recreation
6/2/21: The City of Salem requested a consultation with and provided an overview of the project to the Salem History Commission.
9/15/21: In response to a request made at the 6/2/20 meeting, the City of Salem’s historic consultant, the Public Archaeology Lab, provided updated Area Forms for both sites and met again with the Salem Historic Commission.
10/18/21: The City of Salem filed a demolition request with the Salem Historic Commission.
11/3/21: The City of Salem met again with the Salem Historic Commission.
12/8/21: Updated Concept Design presented to the Salem Historic Commission.
1/19/22: Demo Delay issued for Camp Naumkeag.
11/16/22: Updated Area Forms for Pioneer Village and Camp Naumkeag forwarded to Salem Historic Commission.
2/22/23: Returned to the Salem Historic Commission (see presentation for all that was covered).
May 2023: New Administration / Transition
7/19/23: Salem Historic Commission Presentation (18 month Demo Delay on CN ends)