Doing something new every week in 2017 #16: Salem (MA) — hysteria and witch trials
Salem, Massachusetts (not to be confused with Salem, Oregon) is an infamously scary place. It is the inspiration for so many of my favourite childhood horror books from Salem’s Lot to the Fear Street Sagas.
It goes without saying then that Salem holds a certain level of mystique amongst the many horror fans like myself, because hey, there is nothing better than being completely creeped out!
Salem is located half way between Boston and Maine and was named after the city of Jerusalem. Although it is considered one of the most significant seaports in Puritan American history, its fame comes predominantly from the Salem Witch Trials of 1692.
Salem Witch Trials of 1692
Long story short, in 1692 two Salem Village teenage girls, bored with life in the countryside decided to act out in fits (like normal teenagers do) to pass the time. Their behaviour was quickly picked up by other teenage girls in the village and soon all the young women in the Salem Village started to exhibit this affliction. A doctor was called in to examine the girls, but he couldn’t find any evidence of physical ailment.
However in 1692's Puritan America, teenage girls throwing fits was deemed to be abnormal and since the girls “acted like they were possessed”, accusations of witchcraft soon started to spread and trials to execute the “witches” soon began. Twenty so-called “witches” (men and women) were put on trial and hung in the space of just over a year (between February 1692 and May 1693).
During this period, anyone could accuse and be accused of being a witch and subsequently hung, regardless of the lack of evidence. The act of simply pointing a finger at someone and calling them a witch was often enough to convict them of witchery. Wealthy families, eccentric elderlies, slaves, midwives, people who lived on the fringes of society and sympathisers were all popular targets of the witch trials.
Modern witchery
Modern day Salem is a sleepy town, that has fully capitalised on its reputation of being a “witch town”. Wiccan and witchery related shops line both sides of the main streets and witch-related tourism is the backbone of Salem’s economy today.
We took a night walking-tour with one of the local guides and walked for 2 hours in freezing conditions through some of the most historical locations from the Salem Witch Trials. It was well worth a visit but I wouldn’t recommend doing it in winter or spring! One of these sights was the only surviving house from the Salem Witch Trials — the Jonathan Corwin House. Jonathan Corwin was the doctor who had examined the accused “witches” back in 1692.
Other attractions
Surprisingly Salem punches above its weight in other areas as well. It is home to the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM), designed by famed architect Moshe Safdie.
It also boasts Turners Seafood, the best seafood restaurant in all of New England and possibly the East Coast. Their lobster pie is to die for, even though it’s not on the menu (it’s a local secret!). The seafood was so good that we went back again on our way back to Boston from Maine.
Would I visit again? You bet!
Coming up next: Maine — lobsters & lighthouses
#16 of 52 new ways to challenge yourself in 2017 | Last week: Boston