When Salem’s Nativity scene returns to the town common for this year’s holiday season, there will be a new manger at the site – thanks to the efforts of a local Boy Scout.

Jim Southwick, 16, organized the construction of the new manger – finished in time for the Christmas season – for his Eagle Scout project.

“This has been a tradition in the town of Salem … that we’ve had a manger,” said Southwick, a member of Boy Scout Troop 159. “It’s something I remember as a kid, going down to the tree lighting ceremony, seeing the manger there. I want other kids to have that same memory. I want other kids to say, ‘This town has a manger. How nice is that?’”

Southwick got the idea for building the new structure from Selectman Patrick Hargreaves, one of his former Scout leaders. The old manger was in disrepair – its roof damaged, its wood cracked and rotted and its metal fixtures rusted.

Southwick began planning his project nearly a year ago. He held a spaghetti supper fundraiser and plans to raise more money for the project, which cost about $2,000.

“This will be something nice,” said his mother, Christine Southwick. “A lot of people are proud of the whole project.”

The new manger, made of wood, is 12 feet wide, 11 feet deep and 10 feet tall. There’s a pair of steel channels underneath it so the town’s public works department can easily move it with a forklift.

“It’s really sturdy,” said Southwick.

The entire project required nearly 389 man hours. Southwick received the help of Scouts from his own troop and Troop 409. The boys measured and marked wood and hammered nails. Adult volunteers handled the power tools.

“I think it’s awesome,” said Daniel Appleton, a member of the building team and Southwick’s adviser for the project. “I’ve known Jim for a couple of years. Taking on something as big as this is not a surprise.”

Southwick has been active in Scouting for 11 years. In addition, the Salem High School sophomore is active in Junior ROTC at the school and is a Fire Explorer.

The new manger, according to Southwick, is a little larger than the current one, so all the Nativity scene figurines can easily be placed inside of it. An electrician will install a pair of floodlights, which will be activated by a sensor, so the manger will be illuminated at night. Southwick still needs to sand and stain the new structure.

“I could have repaired it,” Southwick said of the old manger. “But I wanted this project to be mine. I want, when I’m older, to drive by with my kids, my grandchildren, (and say) ‘I built this.’ I want to be proud.”

On Saturday, Nov. 15, the manger was transported as part of a motorcade from Southwick’s Wheeler Avenue home to the Salem Historical Museum, where it’s being kept.

Salem firefighters in Engine 1 led the way. Jim Southwick’s uncle, Scott Southwick, transported the manger with a Lull forklift as Southwick and a group of fellow Scouts walked along. Patrolman Sean Marino followed in a squad car with its blue lights flashing.

“We had a nice easy trip,” said Southwick of the 45- minute delivery. “Everything went smoothly.”

And his group received a warm reception from onlookers along the way. People clapped, greeted Southwick with a “thumbs up” and rolled down their car windows – to tell him he had done a good job.