Show vote government ky k Y funds F u m nd S to ad Iv estore historic H i salem sal e in commemorate great epoch in maritime history washington allotment of of pt lic works funds for the restoration of the derby wharf national historic site salem mass has been announced by harold L ickes secretary of the interior and administrator of public works this is the first national historic site to be desi designated 0 bated by secretary ickes under authority vested in him under the act of congress known as the historic sites legislation the area embraced within the site includes derby wharf central wharf the old salem courthouse the richard derby house and other assoni associated properties of important historical significance no federal federal moneys were expended in purchase of the property the enabling legislation specifically declaring against such expenditures the allotment will be used for restoration to purposes providing employment for skilled and unskilled delphia which ports successively earned their way into the roster of great ports of the eighteenth century were heard of in the orient salem had become a recognized word when the colonies revolted from british rule salem turned her fast sailing fleets to the service of the colonies they played so conspicuous a role in the naval warfare of the period that they are credited with the capture of more prizes than all the rest of the american ports combined again in the war of 1812 salem provided 40 out of a total of armed vessels contributed by the country as a whole A large lar ge proportion of these craft set sail from derby wharf and anchored there between their forays the wharf took its name from richard derby a merchant prince of the period whose imposing house richly paneled and furnished with the treasures of the indies overlooks the harbor in the stately old custom house at the head of the wharf nathaniel hawthorne spent long hours while serving as surveyor of customs and dreamed away many more in weaving the plots of his immortal stories of colonial new england tradition claims that it was here while poring over the dusty tomes that the theme of the scarlet letter was conceived then its star waned star as a maritime power which had begun to w wane ane with the pronouncement of the jefferson embargo went into final eclipse with the industrial changes that accompanied the perfecting of the steam engine an and d the building of the railroads no longer were the high seas the chief roadways of commerce no longer were the waters of her harbor adequate for the ships of larger draft that came into being with railroad competition these memories linger on however in her quaint tree shaded streets with their stately private homes when the restoration of derby wharf is completed the old landmark will fittingly embody these traditions and vitalize the salem of the past |