A change has occurred in the landscape of Salem. The Salem Herbfarm plant nursery that stood for 18 years closed in 2015, only to be reborn as an event venue that has become the scene of many elegant celebrations.

Herbfarm owners Joe and Anne Duncan performed an amazing transformation of the property, creating a self-described “unique venue of beautiful grounds and peaceful gardens for your enchanting ceremony,” or any special occasion.

But no sooner did the project get underway when a far greater personal challenge arose. Anne’s previous diagnosis for breast cancer in 2004 took a turn for the worse in 2015. Intensive treatments became a constant in the Duncans’ lives as Anne stoically fought the disease throughout the ongoing transformation of the Herbfarm.

The last year of her life required an increasingly aggressive treatment regime, but the cancer continued to advance. Sadly, Anne, the original heart and soul of both the nursery and the new venue, passed away in December 2020. 

“Anne had a huge influence on the story behind The Salem Herbfarm, which will continue well into the future,” Joe Duncan says.

The Duncans originally acquired the property at 320 Hartford Road (Route 85) in 1991, including the 1840 main house, a barn and a carriage house. It had been in Anne’s family since 1915.

“The first thing I did was completely gut the house,” Joe said recently. He is most definitely a “hands-on” guy, and has been improving the property ever since.

Duncan retired from the U.S. Coast Guard in 1995. Anne, with her innate talent for working with plants, had honed her horticultural skills working in nurseries across the country as they traveled to various duty assignments. She knew the business, and opened the Salem Herbfarm in 1997 as a retail plant nursery.

But 18 years later, a new dream emerged. They envisioned the property’s palpable New England ambience as an event venue and decided to completely renovate the landscape.

A nursery closeout sale was held in June 2015, and the Duncans spent the next year in project development, working with Salem officials for approval. By October 2016, permits were in place, and the Duncans spent the following three years bringing their dream to life.

Joe Duncan tore into the necessary renovations with his own hands.

The barn was enlarged and converted into a banquet hall, including two large handicap-accessible restrooms, a bride’s changing room, and a secluded catering setup area for warming, chilling and serving.

Duncan refurbished and reused some the building’s original materials. Exterior siding and flooring planks became finished interior walls, old strap hinges were polished for use on doors, and farm tools and curiosities help decorate the new structure. It now exudes a rustic elegance perfect for fine dining.

The barn can accommodated celebrations of up to 140 people. Outside, the old greenhouse was turned into a large, covered modern pavilion that can seat 200 guests, graced with an extended blue stone patio. Tables can spill out from under cover in good weather, where chairs surrounding a fire pit.

The grounds of the Salem Herbfarm carry the sophistication outdoors with spectacular gardens and landscaping.

The nursery's former checkout shack has been refurbished into a little outdoor bar, centrally located on the grounds.

After over three years of renovations, almost all of it the impressive handiwork of Joe Duncan, the first wedding event was hosted in October 2019. Anne saw their dream come true.

Cristine Donaruma and Dan Jones of Waterford discovered the Salem Herbfarm when they were searching online for local wedding venues. Cristine says, "We were planning during the pandemic and wanted a space that was outdoors. We loved the venue as soon as we saw it. Our guests raved about it, and even the caterers were asking how we got lucky enough to find this place. The Herbfarm met our desire for a beautiful outdoor wedding venue that didn't feel stuffy or pretentious."

She also noted how "the owners made us feel comfortable with their vision."

SUBHEAD: 'A unique reminder here at home'

As I walked the property recently with Duncan, we approached two rows of tall, stately Romanesque columns that had intrigued me years ago when I patronized the old nursery.

Made of Portland cement, perlite and peat moss, they once bordered a sunken herb garden. Now they frame a lawn and stone photography stage and arbor. How did such classic symbols of a past civilization appear on a New England farm? "I made them," Joe says. "Anne and I had been to Italy, and I wanted to create a unique reminder here at home. The eight columns are over six feet tall and they go down three feet into the ground."

Another attractive part of the outdoor ambience is its lighting. Duncan's daughter Elizabeth Muscarelli, now the Herbfarm manager, says, "We've learned that the best time of day for a ceremony is early evening, followed by a reception as night sets in. The change in atmosphere brought on by the lights at dusk is magical. Then we truly become a special place."

That vision comes from Anne Duncan's legacy and the close family ties within the Herbfarm management team. Granddaughter Hannah Anthony, representing the sixth generation, comes onboard next spring as a full partner to Elizabeth.

"They should make a good team," Joe Duncan says, as the business looks to the years ahead.

Weddings are once again surging, and the Herbfarm expects to soon reach its current goal of 50 events per year.

SUBHEAD: The details 

Celebrants are responsible for hiring their own catering, bartending and entertainment, though Herbfarm personnel can make recommendations based on their past successes. 

The cost of four-hour events vary from $2,500 (plus Connecticut sales tax) for a weekday, up to $4,000 for weekends and holidays. Extra hours can be added at an additional charge. The Herbfarm website, salemherbfarm.com, outlines more pricing options, contractual details and a photo gallery of the venue.

Herbfarm management is already looking beyond weddings.

“We definitely see ourselves hosting corporate events as well,” Elizabeth says. “Our barn and covered outdoor pavilion are perfect for larger meetings, while our many sequestered seating areas lend themselves very well to smaller networking sessions.”

John Steward writes a monthly column called Tossing Lines for The Day’s regional Times newspapers. He can be reached at tossinglines@gmail.com.