This is extremely disappointing to hear. My imagination was also captured by the stories of these two fountains in my youth. The map fountain I especially loved as my grandparents would let me wade in it after getting popcorn from the seller at the Common (also gone). Why is it that "progress" always seems to bring destruction on the beautiful details that make Salem special? I hope that the town pump fountain will be preserved in some way, it deserves to be in a museum. How long has it been since you could actually drink from the bubbler in the back? It seems like just yesterday I was asking to be picked up so I could have a sip in that historical place. So sad to grow up and see the great things fade into the past.

Bill, I wasn't aware the fountains were doomed to the wrecking ball......I agree with you that they should stay.
I can always depend on your for local Salem news and an education of my own town (that I probably should know by now anyway)!

Thank you for advocating for saving two memorials to Salem's illustrious history, lest we forget. One thing that lifts us beyond the capacities of other animals (besides things like war, slavery and genocide) is our ability to memorialize and to learn from our history. Those that forget their history are doomed ro repeat it. Oh well perhaps we will invest in other forms.

I bet if they were witch related they would stay .
Save our fountains !!

This is a part of that area, that since I was a kid I remember going to and walking around the fountians, they were just one of the activitities as a kid we loved to frequent. Cobble stones are a part of this citys history. I can see adding some trees etc, but taking it all away is like...Putting a fake tv witch right across the street and saying thats a part of Salem history...oh wait there is a fake tv witch across the street...Why don't we move that sad, sad representaion of our history somewhere else and restore what is right!

Frankly, over the years, the concept never lived up to he reality of broken pumps, broken beer bottlers, soap etc. The pace would have been far more useful if it have been usable for vendors at the various weekend events. Trees are great, but the way that they were planted also le to more difficult to clean ( from leaves, trash & don't forget snow ) corners. Benches are fine, especially of they could be removed as needed. The mall never was designed with leaning or winter in mind.

As a professional cartographer, I love maps but I've got to side with the wrecking ball crew as long the changes to the Ped Walkway are a net positve. It's such a great place with so much potential, now unfortuantely filled with a moribund mall, kitsch shops galore, and a crumbling fountain that hasn't been used in years (unless I've been oblivious). Perhaps a somwhat artistic Salem map could be recreated the map on the one of the nearby brick faces?

Leave the fountains! Tourist as well as residents love these two areas! PEM surrender some funds!

While I am relatively new to town, only here 8 years, I too have come to enjoy the fountains. The map of salem in the large fountain is a brilliant way to show how Salem's boundaries have changed over time. Obviously the fountains and cobblestone roadway needs attention and attention only comes when there is money thrown at the problem. While I don't want to see it go and I absolutely do not want more traffic on that area of Essex Street, I understand that something has to be done in order to beautify and breath life back into that area of the pedestrian mall.

Only 2 or 3 years ago, the big fountain was working and our kids loved playing there whenever we visited PEM. When it's working , the fountain is wonderful. It should be preserved!

The mall is the big drag on the area (both aesthetically and financially). It doesn't fit in at all, it's ugly and people avoid it BECAUSE of that. I doubt anyone is going to tear it down (although that would be a step in the right direction) but "updating" the area in hopes of reviving the area is perhaps another step in losing what makes Salem an attractive, special place for businesses, visitors and residents - a step that started with building that monstrous eyesore in the first place. Let's not rob Peter to pay Paul.

As a regular visitor to Salem, I would hate to see the fountains go. I do agree that the Essex St Pedestrian needs some work (those cobblestones really are not easy to walk on) but it would be a shame to lose the fountains.

The fountains have needed to go for years. The larger has been broken and poorly repaired. I have never seen it work. Yes kids like to jump around blocks. But a new and engaging space an serve the children and be a programmable place for the entire city and work with the "flavor" of Salem.
Tha small commemeritive fountain should be rethought. The site has important historical value but the fountain is a disaster. The City should rethink the area and create, not destroy an important visitor site.

Revision. Renovation. Although nostalgia is very attractive, it's not enough nor should it be. DOCUMENTED history is important. Demolition is (in most cases) forever. Thus...think think think..."measure twice, cut once." In this case, measure a dozen times.

As a purely personal, not professional aside: The pedestrian mall should stay. It has proved to be a vital part of other cities' vital identity and in a town like ours I'd even argue for the historical significance...

As someone who has visited from out of state, these fountains are both interesting and informative. I think it would be so wonderful if there was a way to save them. They tell a different story than most of us visitors have come to "hear."

If the city handles this as well as it is handling Bridge st. All the contractors will have NH plates. What a way to waste our tax money and stimulate out of state employment rates.

They need to FIX the fountains, not demolish them. I can't remember the last time there was water in them. :(

I guess I don't understand the gain here that would come with eliminating the fountains. What is the context provided by the larger plan? Is the idea to re-open Essex street to vehicles? I could support that, if it were done carefully. In season, the pedestrian mall seems like little more than a giant outdoor smoker's lounge. However, when speaking of projects from the 70s, it is all too typical to blame the objects themselves for being poorly maintained, when the fact is that the neglect is a kind of passive/aggressive manifestation of human dislike. I do think that the Town Well fountain is important: there is nothing else at that intersection indicate that it is practically the oldest spot in town; and the piece of kitsch (harmless, but undeniably kitsch) across the street needs to be counterbalanced. The map-fountain is a more complicated problem. If only there were a way to remove the parts of that wretched mall that abut it (particularly the spot where Asahi was, which has never been able to sustain a business for more than a few years) and replace it with open space. Of course we need the parking, so it can't go. But the whole sad history of the spot is a sobering reminder that trying to "fix" things often leads only to a new and unanticipated set of problems.

Are they taking down the "Town Pump" statute to open up the street for traffic? If so they can move it across the street to where the ridiculous Samantha statue is; and move Sam to outside one of the hokey wax museums or haunted houses that would probably love to use it as an attraction for tourists to climb on and pose with.

I see no way to reopen Essex St without removing the fountain in the square

Save the fountains!

A few years back I helped run a program out of Salem High School for students to work, landscaping around the city. One of the areas we worked in was the mall area in a partnership with City Hall and the Salem Garden Club. When this area gets some attention, it looks really good, we kept up the garden beds, cleaned trash, planted flowers, removed debris from the tree beds, and watered. This was a few years ago, I remember back then the map fountain was usually on. When the fountain is working it's a magnet for people to enjoy a beautiful afternoon and when people take the time, it offers a unique view of Salem's history. There were days we'd be working surrounded by people and I would always take a moment to appreciate what a beautiful city I live in. I'd hate to see the fountains go, but agree that they deserve some attention. I think the fountains are unique and should be incorporated in any plans moving forward.

Keep the fountains. Let me know what I can do to help the cause. On another related topic: I personally don't think allowing cars down Essex street is the answer. The stores there don't do good business because there arent diverse options... For locals especially...and we are the ones that would shop there daily.. Instead, the options for shopping are geared towards tourists and they don't come in hoards anytime except October. How many palm readers, tshirts shops and kitchy witch gift shops do we need? Look at any town that has a walking downtown mall: Burlington, VT, for example....the commerce is fantastic! Why? Because the shoppiitself fantastic. Downtown Salem has to bring in a shopping experience that is fun and diverse. It has to have more mom and pop places to acquire good food, visit good bars, boutiques, grocery...etc. i cant get a fresh loaf of bread in Salem on my way home from the train at 7pm because there isn't a shop that sells convenience items to us locals that are ready to stimulate this economy. Salem doesn't currently have the right mix of commerce in the right pkaces so does driving down Essex street to the same old shopping options allow for more business? I know I still have no need to regularly visit any one place on Essex street.. I have to go to Swampscott to buy groceries. Sorry...but for my and many others I've spoken with...it's the truth. Driving instead of promoting a good walk is not good for society, either.

Imagine Salem with outlet stores! Today I see the mayor is leading the charge to tax internet shoppers so we will all be on an equal ground. Is there any tax mayor driscoll is not in favor of? The mayor was elected to manage the city not take on Amazon.Fix the streets before you take the world.

I can't agree more that downtown shopping (especially on the pedestrian mall) is a mixed bag (I'm being kind) - we would like to spend more time & money downtown, but the restaurants and a few stores are all that serve residents - everything else is a small version of a larger store that's usually worth the cost savings and larger selection to drive to highland, vinnin sq, or the mall region for.

Opening the mall to drivers is an incredibly terrible idea, especially as one of the most snafued (and that's saying something) roads in the city is the stretch of Washington between Norman / Derby and Bridge - with the absolute worst area being where Essex meets Washington. We do NOT need more traffic flowing into or turning out of that area unless they can knock down all the building on either side and make each direction two lanes of traffic, with lights at Essex. We all know that's never going to happen.

The cobblestones have got to go!!! I don't think allowing cars is a good idea however.

Making the mall car accessible is no more helpful to those retailers than the Mayor's "internet tax". It appalls me that she has gone on record in favor of internet taxes under the guise of "supporting main street" - which is total B/S.

If Amazon is operating in Massachusetts & should be charging Mass sales tax, that's one thing & I don't have an issue with it. That said, I don't understand why she feels she should be championing it across the board when there are larger issues closer to home. It feels like grandstanding for higher office, which I don't approve of or appreciate.

Main Street shops will lose to larger, faster, better retailers with deeper pockets, no overhead & a longterm plan - who have buying power to dictate pricing that's passed on to consumer. I can buy from Amazon at a huge discount & have it delivered for free in 2 days or less. Why go to the local bookstore to find out it isn't in stock or find it & pay a 30-40% higher price?

The Joke is that Main Street retailers are making up for lost walk-in business by selling online. None of that internet tax money will benefit Main Street retailers any more than it will you or I. She may as well advocate bailing out Borders. If an idea's time has come, nothing will save it, that's evolution.

That said, the Burlington VT example is excellent. I'd rather see effort spent luring quality businesses to Salem than grabbing more money from ordinary consumers to fund an overspent/spending government.

I've just downloaded a few photos of Essex St an the square; Reality may help everyone decide what we really want.

The cobblestones don't bother me, although i could see that they may be difficult for the handicapped or someone in heels. Was just thinking that downtown Newburyport is a busy vibrant area and (if I recall correctly) has cobblestones or brick all over the place.

Ugh. Every time someone mentions fixing the Essex Street Mall people start screaming about the pros and cons of opening it up to traffic, even when that is NOT the issue in question. They're not talking about letting cars on the Mall, they're discussing removing the fountain to "open up the space and make it more visible from the main street". I attended the series of 4 public meetings where the future of the Mall was discussed. And while there was lots of suggestions on redesigning the large fountain by the PEM (or fixing it so it worked!), there was no talk of removing the smaller fountain at the other end. So I was pretty surprised (and dismayed) upon learning of the plan to do just that.
Making the Washington Street entrance of the Mall more visible was indeed discussed, and included ideas such as removing/moving the trees, light strings, and some kind of archway or banner to draw the eye. I don't recall one person saying "let's rip the darn thing out!"
We were repeatedly assured it was not a plan to open the Mall to through traffic, and this shot from left field seems sneaky and underhanded. I sincerely hope that is not the case.
Let's get the treacherous walking surface redone asap before someone breaks their neck and leave the fountain alone.

we need better businesses and shops in that area that cater to the 11 months of the year that AREN'T Halloween/Witch related... They need to attract more business that fills a need and not all these kitschy useless stores. How many T-shirt stores do we need in one quarter of a square mile...

I like the cobblestones.Put more of them in and get rid of the brick. The cobblestones add charm to the area. Some simulated gas lightposts and you could create something really nice for the city. Just upgrade the fountains, don't tear them down! Foolish thing to do

I'm not a fan of the big fountain by the museum. I think it's quite ugly. It's suffered enough. Put it out of our misery. In its place i would put in an updated fountain, maybe something like a leap frog fountain. That can be easily covered and converted for entertainment space during peak season and still be of use and enjoyed by kids and families etc. during summertime. That rickety stage set up they build during Halloween is a disaster waiting to happen. I agree that the mall should stay pedestrian friendly. But yes the cobblestones need to go. I feel so bad for the elderly folks , disabled folks and babies who get a bumpy ride whenever I see them stumbling along. Pull up the stones and re-purpose them in another area for beautification. Surely there are some planters or borders that will be needed for the new parking garage by the train station. oh but there I go saving money.. oops

Regardless of the condition of these fountains,they can be dangerous for people and children to be walking around and playing in the water. In this day and age it's an open invitation for a law suit. If they do decide to keep them they should have barriers around them for legal reasons and to eliminate many of the past problems and I don't mean jersy barriers but something the looks good.

the fountains of salem buble baths of the homless and intoxicated.

put the fountains on the common that way you could charge to waterboard some tourists. i for one hate going to malls an as this city stands right now i have no choice for xmas shopping or other shopping ( clothes, shoes, etc.) the shops downdown stink and usaly go belly up after a year when their lease expires. so you tell me if this is a vibrant buisness enviroment. i think not. even upper crust pizza moved out. agreat sushi takeout place on front street closed because they kept getting broken into. the downtown pedestrian mall is a ghosttown after dark. is this good for buisiness. the cons are endless on this subject. given the track record of city hall i imagine that that stupid dangerous buisiness killer is here to stay for at least another milenium. its too bad these people cant see past next week.

Remove the big fountain and replace it with a children's playground like the one in the Common. Or fill it up with soil and turn it into a beautiful flower garden.

I agree the fountains should be turned into beautiful flower gardens but keep the fountain parts with plants draping down them and also for watering them. "tearing them down is just another waste of taxpayers money."

She runs unopposed because no one else wants to take the blame for her mess! Salem, over the years has turned from a quaint, pretty, old, nostalgic, town to a mini city of Boston and Roxbury crime district and soon to come cruise ships to over shadow the antiquity of our wharf. Next she will want a "City of Salem casino boat." "She did stand at the side of Governor Patrick on that issue, that has raised a lot of eye brows at what our Mayor was doing in Boston "in the news, pushing for a "yes" on that issue?? People come to see Salem because of its history. The Mayor seems to be destroying its historical value with her new futuristic idea's!

you're comparing Salem to Roxbury with a straight face?

More like an angry face! We have gangs like the worst part of Roxbuy and knife fights in the streets. Salem looks very bad and its reputation is getting worse every day. Its sad. "OK so I put Aliens all over my house on Halloween But they are "Ancient aliens" older than the city of Salem lol but Down town should be filled with fun "witches and phony ghosts" not gangs and street fights and people stabbing each other trying to create a real ghost! Its very sad for Salem.