Since 1897, four generations of the Hobbs family have served popcorn, homemade ice cream, and salt water taffy at the nostalgic Salem Willows Park on Fort Avenue. It is rumored that, in 1906, founders Everett Hobbs and William Eaton offered the first ice-cream cone in New England.  Located at the end of the park nearest to the ocean, E.W. Hobbs opens its popcorn and ice-cream stand on the first Sunday in April.  Salt water taffy is not available until Mother's Day weekend. The grill opens Memorial Day weekend, selling hot dogs, hamburgers, grilled cheese and chicken sandwiches, lobster rolls, clam chowder, ice-cream sodas, floats, freezes, frappés, milkshakes, canned soda and juices.  Priscilla Hobbs, who owns the business with her brother Charlie, says the Willows is "one of the last places you can come with your family without spending an arm and a leg."