St. Joseph Hall
St. Joseph Hall was built in 1909 by the Society of Saint Joseph, an organization that helped Polish immigrants adjust to life in America. By this time the maritime trade and shipbuilding industries had vanished, and textile manufacturing had become the dominant industry in Essex County. It was these new immigrants who filled most of the jobs in the mills, and in this part of Salem, the Poles were the dominant ethnic group from the early part of the 20th Century all the way into the 1980s.
The bottom floor of St. Joseph Hall was occupied by retail shops to help pay for the upkeep of the building, while the middle floor was a large meeting hall used for weddings, parties, celebrations, and other social events. Apartments for new immigrants were located on the top floor.
When Polish people began leaving Salem in the 1980s, the building was no longer needed. It was sold to the National Park Service in 1988 and restored in 2005. Today it is part of Salem Maritime National Historic Site and houses park offices. It is not open to the public. There is, however, an exhibit about the Polish community on display in the bottom floor window.
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Last updated on June 15, 2020
