Salem residents suggest uses for house at park

By D.a. Wilkinson

Council argued about which committee would debate the issue.

SALEM — Two city residents suggested a house in Waterworth Memorial Park be used for any number of projects that could benefit the city.

Diane DeFazio and David Duff, both of North Ellsworth Avenue, on Wednesday asked council to consider using the structure and grounds for offices for the city parks department, meetings by Boy or Girl Scouts or other charitable groups, a nature center, a museum, a skate park for children, a rental home or rental center for weddings or reunions.

DeFazio said a young man working on his Eagle Scout Award wanted to prepare markers giving the common and Latin names of trees and plants in the park.

The couple told council that the parks department, which has had control of the land and house for many years, was considering burning the house at 712 Sunset Boulevard to the ground.

Duff said the idea was to have the city fire department burn the structure.

He said the house is valued at $98,000.

Steve Faber, the city parks commissioner, was not at the meeting.

Councilman Clyde Brown has been pushing the parks department for information.

Brown said after the council meeting, said the house issue was, “The best kept secret since the Underground Railroad” that ran through the city during the Civil War.

Brown added, “It’s really quite a cover-up.”

In Salem, the parks are overseen by a board separate from council.

Faber signed an agreement with a city worker in another city department to live in the house for $100 a month, according to Brown.

In return, the worker made improvements to the house for 11 years. The worker recently moved out.

Brown said the issue is a matter of accountability.

But at-large Councilman Earl A. Schory II introduced legislation during the meeting to formally give the property to the park board.

The issue passed the first of three readings to go into effect, but not until council voted 4-2 to keep the issue in the parks committee instead of going to council’s committee of the whole, as Brown wanted.

Schory, an attorney, said the city really did not really need to have an ordinance to move the property to the parks board.

wilkinson@vindy.com