On Friday, April 28, renovations on the Salem Inn’s historic West House were completed, just in time for the grand re-opening. Members from the Salem Chamber of Commerce, local businesses, news outlets, and Mayor Kim Driscoll, joined together for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a tour of the West House, as well as the inn’s other two houses—the Curwen House and the Peabody House.
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Owned and operated by Dick and Diane Pabich, the 154-year-old inn is steeped in history (the inn was a men’s flophouse when the couple purchased the property in 1983), offering an authentic historical experience, now made even more comfortable with such renovations as European style walk-in showers. Renovations on the West House and Curwen House began last November (there are 33 rooms between the two houses) and wrapped up this past week, Dick says. Renovations on the Peabody House began in November 2015 and wrapped up in April 2016. Now, all 40 guest rooms, in addition to the inn’s 43 bathrooms and 20 kitchens, have been renovated, Dick adds.
Photo by Nancy Stanley
The historic West House, built in 1834 by sea captain Nathaniel West has come a long way since the Pabichs purchased the property in 1983. “Women used to cross the street,” Diane says, referring to the building’s past life as a flophouse. But slowly after Dick and Diane, who decided to turn the property into an inn (it came with a lodging house license), “the men gradually left,” says Diane, who had plans to attend graduate school in Boston until Dick brought home a paperback with a title that read something along the lines of “How to Make a Million Dollars in Real Estate.” So, the couple sold off their brownstone as condos and purchased the West House, converting it into a bed and breakfast.
Photo by Nancy Stanley
Today, the Salem Inn’s three locations reflects the fine craftsmanship of the Federal period, each room individually decorated with beautifully restored antiques. Additionally, the West House is the only pet-friendly hotel in Salem, perfect for those traveling with their furry friends. Breakfast is offered from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the cozy breakfast room, located in the original kitchen of the West House.