Photos: Gazebo at the Duck Pond smashed by truck early this morning
Sometime after 8 a.m. this morning (Thursday, June 24), a parked white ranger pickup truck rolled into the gazebo at Lake Spring Park, dismantling the supports and resting the roof just down the hill at the gazebo’s floor level. We will have more information when the police and the city finish their report.
The structure is a staple photo facet for area weddings, homecomings, and proms. In fact, according to Salem Parks and Recreation, six weddings are booked at the gazebo this summer, including two upcoming in the month of June.
Here’s something we found on the Salem Museum’s website about the gazebo:
This gazebo, or bandstand, stood in the front yard of the original Roanoke County Courthouse that was built in 1841. When the old courthouse was razed to make way for a new one in 1909, the gazebo, at the request of the Salem Silver Cornet Band, was moved to Spring Lake. The Confederate monument replaced it in 1910. The oldest photos of the old courthouse, with horses and buggies and crowds around it on “court day,” show the old bandstand apparently in the 1870s period. After its move to Spring Lake, the gazebo was repaired and painted and has sheltered bands for innumerable summertime concerts over the years. At one point the gazebo was in the middle of a pond and people paddled to it in boats. The gazebo was made a Salem landmark in 1979.
What are your memories from the gazebo at the Duck Pond? Share them below or if you have photos, email them to news@sosalem.com
You can also check out the scene on the duck pond webcam.
June 24, 2010 - 12:18 PM
My brother was married under that gazebo. Sad!
I actually didn’t know its history. Hopefully Salem will restore it using as much of the original structure as possible.
Was it the same guy who ran into the Burger King?
This is so so sad!! The duck pond will not be the same, I hope the City can rebuild it the way it was. My niece got married there. I just cannot believe this has happened.
we are sad about this *
My sister was married under that Gazebo. We visit with family there and pic nic often. I hope they replicate it !
Nice. Real nice. Tisk, tisk, tisk.
Actually, I hope the company that destroyed it is forced to pay for a full restoration. At least according to the Roanoke Times article, the vehicle that hit it was left in gear with the parking break engaged. This indicates that their truck was either not well maintained, or suffered a catastrophic brake failure… in either case, they should be held financially responsible for the damage caused.
Jeff , my thoughts exactly .I don’t think the city should have to pay , or should I say our tax dollars , for something that a company was responsible for by being negligent .When they do rebuild it , I think it would be neat to build it back out in the pond with a walkway going to it from the bridge . Just an idea .
My sister’s bridal pictures were taken at Lake Spring Park and many of them were taken in the gazebo. I also have pictures of myself and best friend in the gazebo. I can’t believe that something that has stood for so long is now reduced to rubble. I hope that something can be done for the people who have their weddings booked, especially the ones this month, at the gazebo. I can’t imagine someone having to replan a wedding so close to their date.
Oh MY! We can rebuild it. I hear a Salem artist is working on a painting of it. Look out for it.
I was married there as well. I hope they fix it.
I need some more detail on this “accident”… Was the truck that crashed into the gazebo equipped with a manual or automatic transmission?
If it was an automatic transmission, then something smells… Most, not all, automatic transmissions will not allow you to remove the key from the ignition cylinder unless the transmission is in the “P”ark position. This insures that the parking pawl is actuated (the little doohickey inside an automatic transmission that keeps your vehicle from rolling whilst in “P”.) If automatic, this tells me the driver of the vehicle would have had to exit the vehicle with the keys still in the ignition and also in a “non-park” gear. I’m making a huge assumption here that the vehicle wasn’t exited with the engine on. If that was the case, there may be some culpability involved.
And what if truck in question had a manual transmission? If that was the case, then the vehicle should have been left in gear, ignition “off”, parking brake engaged and “keys in pocket” when the operator exited the vehicle.
Again: Just how did this vehicle come to be rolling around freely?
I had just finished post production on a music video for my songwriting effort. I always had in mind that the gazebo would stand in well for the subject matter of “Sweet Georgia Waltz.” My grandfather, Dr. Fred Barger, played fiddle in the town band. I love this gazebo, and I think the gas company should make full restitution. It might be a good idea to relocate in the middle of the pond.
See this link for memories of the Lake Spring gazebo, and other well known SW locations
http://bit.ly/ahkzb0
I was supposed to be getting married @ the gazebo in September of this year.