Salem's Derby Wharf Reopens To Visitors

SALEM, MA -- The National Parks Service and the Salem National Maritime Historic Site announced Tuesday that Derby Wharf in Salem has been reopened. The wharf had been closed indefinitely March 5 after being damaged in the March 2-3 storm.

Metal rebar in the concrete and stone work was twisted and pulled loose in the March 2-3 storm. After a March 5 assessment, the wharf was closed indefinitely. Destination Salem, the city's tourism arm, said the storm created hazardous conditions that make it unsafe for the public to walk the length of the wharf to Derby Light. Repair work began last month.

While not as bad as the January 4 storm in terms of storm surge, the rain and winds on March 2 followed by March 3's wind gusts left parts of Salem flooded. The storm knocked down trees and caused lengthy power outages throughout the northeast. Throughout the first weekend in March, multiple Salem streets were closed as crews worked to remove downed trees.

Derby Wharf was underwater during high tides throughout the storm. That flooding, as well as hurricane-strength wind gusts, caused damage on the wharf.

Construction on Derby Wharf began in 1762 by one of Salem's earliest and wealthiest merchants, Richard Derby Sr. The wharf eventually reached its current length of half a mile to become Salem's longest wharf and at one point had 20 structures on it, according to the National park Service. Derby Light Station was added to the end of the wharf and first lit in 1871.

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Photo by Salem National Maritime Historic Site.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).