Plans for New Hingham Bathhouse Move Forward

Rep. Garrett Bradley, (D-Hingham), and Sen. Robert L. Hedlund, (R-Weymouth)  are taking steps to move forward with the construction of a new Bathhouse at the Hingham Bathing Beach.

On Wednesday, the local officials announced that the State Legislature approved a home rule petition from the town of Hingham authorizing the Bathhouse’s renovation. The legislation now goes to the Governor, who has 10 days to sign the bill into law.

“This legislation enables the town, through the Trustees, to enhance the public enjoyment and continued maintenance of the structure,” Bradley said in a written statement. “Funds derived from the lease agreement will help the Trustees support and improve the bathhouse and the property on which it sits.”

At last October’s Special Town Meeting, Hingham voters approved the special legislation, which would allow the Trustees of the Bathing Beach to work with the town on entering into a lease agreement with a private vendor chosen through a bidding process. 

The proposed renovations would turn the 44-year-old building on Route 3A into a seasonal snack and refreshment stand and bathhouse where users of the beach could purchase cold drinks, sandwiches or ice creams during the summer months.

Hedlund is in favor of making the existing building useful for the town.

“The passage of this legislation enables the Town of Hingham and the Trustees to better maintain existing structures while increasing access to facilities and creating a better experience for the public,” Hedlund said. “I am encouraged by the partnership that this legislation creates.”

Hingham’s beach is the only one south of Quincy that is free to all members of the public and doesn’t require a permit for use.  With this in mind, there is no snack shacks in the area like you see across from Hull’s Nantasket Beach or Quincy’s Wollaston Beach.

Even with the support of the majority of Hingham residents who voted in favor of a new refreshment stand,  many Hinghamites expressed concerns that the bathing beach could attract more traffic to the area to the detriment of Hingham residents.

Cushing Street resident Bernard Manning, a former lifeguard at the Bathing Beach in the 1960’s, was opposed to the project. He questioned whether any businessman would want to invest time and money in a building that was only open for a limited time during the summer, while also drawing attention to the flocks of geese that share the area with the public.

“Each goose is capable of depositing two pounds of waste material every 24 hours,” he said. “The droppings and aroma are not conducive to enjoying a light snack, while chasing them away with a trained dog has proved unsuccessful."

Manning was also concerned that the bathhouse would be transformed into an area where teens would use drugs.

“The town is destined to lose money on the snack bar project," he said. "The isolated location would be the perfect cover for a clever drug dealer who could advertise ‘smack at the snack shack’.” 

Any developer chosen by the Trustees would be responsible for the renovation of the bathhouse and the disposal of any trash generated by the business.