SALEM, MA – Mayor Dominick Pangallo and the City of Salem are excited to announce the next phase of exterior restoration at the Dickson Memorial Chapel in Greenlawn Cemetery. The Chapel, constructed in 1892, is Salem’s only example of the High Victorian Gothic style of architecture with its distinctive multi-colored stonework, arched doors and windows, decorative stained glass, roof finials and elaborate carved ornament. The building was donated to the City of Salem by resident Walter Scott Dickson to honor his late wife. The Chapel and the Cemetery are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The City of Salem Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Public Services are working together with the Friends of Greenlawn to undertake this restoration project, which will include reconstruction of the building’s buttresses, extensive masonry repairs and repointing, restoration of the arched entry doors, and repairs to the slate roof and gutters. Previous phases of restoration work at the Chapel focused on structural repairs, restoration of the building’s floral motif stained glass and replacement of deteriorated side entry doors.
The project is funded in part with Community Preservation Act funds. In addition, the property, which is listed in the State Register of Historic Places, has received a matching grant from the Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund through the Massachusetts Historical Commission, Secretary of the Commonwealth, William Francis Galvin, Chairman.
“The Dickson Chapel is a remarkable architectural landmark at the entrance to the historic landscape of Greenlawn Cemetery,” noted Mayor Pangallo, “Completing this phase of exterior restoration work will return the building to its original grandeur and enable the City to focus on interior work that will allow us to reopen the building to the public on a more regular basis. Special thanks to the Massachusetts Historical Commission for their continued support of this project, to the Friends of Greenlawn for their tireless advocacy for both the Chapel and the cemetery, and to City of Salem staff who are bringing this important work to fruition.”
Full project design and contractor selection will occur in fall 2025 with construction expected to begin in early 2026. More information about the Chapel and its restoration can be found at www.preservingsalem.com/dickson-chapel-restoration. The Chapel will be open to the public on Saturday, September 13th from 9am to 12pm during the Friends of Greenlawn’s For the Love of Trees – History & Nature in Greenlawn event. All are welcome to attend and the event is free.
