The seaside site all Scituate townies know as “Pier 44” may have been used for 44 different purposes since its construction in 1960. Originally a successful family-owned restaurant, the Pier 44 building was transformed from a restaurant to a recreation facility, to a library, to office space, to Scituate Community Center, and now will be holding a junior senior dance for Scituate High School.

Recently used as a temporary library during the two-year construction of Scituate’s new library, Pier 44 is now serving as office space, FACTS space, a town employed social worker’s office, and the Board of Health also uses it for some space. The main building of Pier 44 is utilized for recreation activities, rental space, and Counsel On Aging activities. The decision for the usage of this space and what goes into it is up to the Town Board of Selectmen. Town Administrator James Boudreau stated that the future of Pier 44 “has to have a community use” in whatever is done with it. Boudreau described the “fantastic spot” as a place with some “real challenges,” but he said it is impossible to “replicate that site.” The usage of the oceanside location is in the process of being determined, as it is being used in a limited capacity at this time.

Scituate High School Student Council has already planned a junior-senior winter formal at Pier 44, now known as The Scituate Community Center. The dance will take place on Friday, March 2nd from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., with tickets going for $10 sold at lunches, and $15 at the door.

Corey Kelleher and Caroline Quinn, president and vice president of student council, believed that there was a lot of “buzz from people who wanted a homecoming style dance.” Since Scituate High School didn’t have a homecoming this year, Kelleher and Quinn thought a dance during the winter would add excitement to an uneventful month of March.

The student council had to reach out to the new Scituate Community Center who approved their potential idea of holding a dance in the building. Kelleher stated that being off campus “definitely makes the event more interesting to students,” leading student council to put a lot of effort into decorations.

Vice President of Student Council, Caroline Quinn, believes this dance will be very popular and hopes it will become a tradition. President of Student Council, Corey Kelleher, thinks the dance will be successful as it’s “something new for everyone at SHS” because the upperclassmen don’t have a semi-formal event. Students won’t have to dress up, bring a date, or spend too much money so attendance will hopefully peak.

With an oceanside view and ever changing atmosphere, the Pier 44 location has a bright future of community comfort. SHS hosting a dance at Pier 44 is just the beginning of a new start for Pier 44.