Winter Island
February 12, 2015
By: Liz Myers
It occurred to me, as I stepped out of my CRV in the Winter Island parking lot on an early Saturday morning, that I was glad that I remembered gloves. The icy November wind took my breath away as it swept in off the water and bit at the exposed skin of my face. I could feel my lips chapping and my nose turning red as I grabbed my Jaho cup and locked the doors. The grass under my feet crunched with frost as I made my way up the hill from the parking lot. A large white house loomed in the distance and from this perspective, appeared to be long-abandoned. The rest of the property lay quiet which, coupled with the peeling façade of the creepiest building I have ever seen, was enough to send a chill up my spine. Though perhaps it was just the cold.
As it turns out, the large, white house was originally built as officer barracks for Fort Pickering, a military base that has existed in some form of another since the initial constructions in the 17th century. Though Winter Island today is mainly used as a marina and winter boat storage, it was in use by the military through World War II. Many of the structures remain. Aside from the large house, visitors can see concrete-coated dugouts that were once shelters for soldiers, the remains of a moat, and three large brick-and-mud mounds that were once used to store munitions. There is even a sign next to the white house cheerfully informing visitors that they are standing on the hanging hill, though it was only used a handful of times. The island has taken to its retirement and is utilized by Salem residents and tourists as a recreational facility. The large airplane hangar is now used to store boats. The docks are now sleek aluminum structures, home to fishing boats and research vessels. There is a stage set up in the valley between the munitions mounds. People camp in a field once used for military training drills.
Though many visitors to Winter Island come for the harbor access, it is worth the trip to see the remains of Fort Pickering. There is a self-guided tour of the older sites written on white
posts and placards. Some of the signs are missing but it is basically a loop around the perimeter of the island. I recommend taking a car if you are leaving from Salem State, as it is nearly three miles out from North Campus, just up the street from the Cat Cove Marine Laboratory. The Salem Trolley drives through it on its tour, though most other tours seem to ignore it. Winter Island and Fort Pickering are the epitome of Salem’s tourist sites, seamlessly blending naval history with macabre potential for ghost stories. Just remember to bring gloves to ward off the chill of the sea air.
Contributor's Note: Liz Myers is a senior Professional Writing student set to graduate in the spring of 2015. She spends a lot of her free time loitering in Salem tourist attractions but is much more interested in the creepy ones not discussed on the tours.