Salem Community Rallies to Keep Public Restrooms Open Amid Shutdown

In Salem, Massachusetts, community members have banded together during the town's busiest time of year for visitation to keep public restrooms open amid Salem's Haunted Happenings festivities.

The federal government shutdown would have shuttered the public restrooms at the National Park Service Armory Visitor Center had it not been for the quick actions of Anne Harris, CEO of the nonprofit Essex Heritage. This organization supports tourism in Salem and helps to staff the visitor center.

According to an NPR report, Harris contacted Salem's National Park Service superintendent, who told her that the Washington park headquarters might allow Salem to reopen the visitor center if the community could cover the operating expenses. The $18,000 cost includes personnel to clean the bathrooms, a park ranger to staff the building, and utilities to keep the building operational.

Harris reached out to Salem's mayor, Dominick Pangallo, for help. According to NPR reporter Andrea Shea, the mayor contacted community partners, including Ashley Judge, executive director of the city's marketing organization, Destination Salem. Likewise, Judge mobilized her own efforts, reaching out to her contacts. The Salem Witch Museum was the first on board.

In only 48 hours, nonprofits and businesses rallied with the $18,000 needed to reopen the National Park Service Armory Visitor Center.

"This is an amazing community. It's very diverse. It's very inclusive. It's a no-place-for-hate community, and everybody rallies together when push comes to shove," said Tina Jordan, executive director of the Salem Witch Museum, in a statement shared with NPR.

Unfortunately, the funding is set to expire on Sunday, Nov. 2. If the government remains in a shutdown past Nov. 2, the visitor center's doors and restrooms will close again.

"People's jobs are at stake. There are so many people who live in Salem who work for the National Park Service. So please, please, let's get them back to work," Jordan said. "Let's open everything up. Let's do it the right way."