In 1950, Salem resident John Beresford Hatch began a crusade to convince the British government to clear the names of the convicted Salem Witch Trials victims. Hatch first became interested in the Salem Witch Trials when he met Alfred Putnam Goodell, historian and owner of the Old Witch Jail and…| History of Massachusetts Blog
The Great Salem Fire of 1914 was a large fire that took place in Salem, Massachusetts on June 25, 1914. The fire killed three people and injured 60 people. In addition, the fire left 18,000 people homeless and 10,000 people without jobs after it burned 253 acres and destroyed 1,376…| History of Massachusetts Blog
The historic Witch House in Salem, Massachusetts, has actually caught fire and nearly burned down at least twice in its long history. The first time was on March 27, 1924, when a fire started in a building next door to the historic house and it spread to the Witch House.…| History of Massachusetts Blog
The Salem Witch Trials Memorial is a memorial in Salem, Massachusetts, dedicated to the victims of the Salem Witch Trials. The memorial consists of 20 granite benches surrounded by a low stone wall. The stone slabs in the entryway to the memorial are inscribed with the victim's protests, which were taken…| History of Massachusetts Blog
The old Salem jail, also known as the Essex County Jail, is a historic jail in Salem, Massachusetts located next to the Howard Street Cemetery. The jail was built between 1811 – 1813 on St. Peter Street after the old wooden jail on Federal Street, known as the Salem Witch…| History of Massachusetts Blog
Captain Joseph White was an East India merchant who lived in the Gardner-Pingree House in Salem, Massachusetts. On April 6, 1830, Captain White was brutally murdered in his bed at the age of 83. The murder was orchestrated by White's nephews-in-law, Francis Knapp and Captain Joseph Knapp Jr., in an…| History of Massachusetts Blog
The Witch House, also known as the Jonathan Corwin House, is a historic First-Period house on Essex Street in Salem, Massachusetts. It was the home of Salem Witch Judge Jonathan Corwin and is the only structure open to the public in Salem with direct ties to the Salem Witch Trials.…| History of Massachusetts Blog
The Gardiner-Pingree House is a historic house on Essex Street in Salem, Massachusetts. Built in 1804 for local merchant John Gardner, the house is a three-story, brick Federal-style townhouse designed by notable architect Samuel McIntire. The Gardiner-Pingree House and the Peirce-Nichols house are both considered to be two of the…| History of Massachusetts Blog
Established in 1637, the Old Burying Point Cemetery, also known as the Charter Street Cemetery, is the oldest cemetery in Salem, Massachusetts. It is one of eight historic cemeteries in Salem and is a stop on the Salem Heritage Trail. The cemetery is 1.47 acres in size and contains 700…| History of Massachusetts Blog
Jonathan Corwin was a judge in the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. He was also Judge John Hathorne's brother-in-law and Sheriff George Corwin's uncle. The Corwin Family: Jonathan Corwin was born on November 14, 1640, in Salem, Massachusetts, to Captain George Corwin and Elizabeth Herbert. The Corwins (or Curwen, as…| History of Massachusetts Blog
Beverly is a historic town located in Essex County in Massachusetts. Beverly was once a part of Salem but later separated from it in the mid 17th-century when it was incorporated as its own town in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The following is a timeline of the history of Beverly:…| History of Massachusetts Blog
Salem, Mass is a historic town with many historic sites. The city's history spans centuries and visiting these historic sites is a great way to experience Salem's history first hand. The majority of these sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and their history is well documented…| History of Massachusetts Blog
The Peirce-Nichols House is a historic house on Federal Street in Salem, Massachusetts. Built in 1782 for local merchant Jerathmiel Peirce, the house is a Georgian-style, wood clapboard, three-story house with a low-hipped roof. The roof is encircled by a balustrade above the cornice and a second balustrade around a…| History of Massachusetts Blog
Built sometime between 1665 and 1683, the Pickman House, also known as the Goult-Pickman House, is a historic First Period house in Salem, Massachusetts. According to an article by Sidney Perley in the Essex Antiquarian Magazine, Samuel Pickman, a local mariner, purchased part of the land that the house sits…| History of Massachusetts Blog
Built in 1684, the John Ward House is a First Period house in Salem, Massachusetts. The house, located on Brown Street, is a two-and-a-half-story wood clapboard house with a side gable roof. The house was originally built for local currier John Ward on Prison Lane (now modern-day St. Peter Street),…| History of Massachusetts Blog
The William Murray House is a First Period house in Salem, Massachusetts. Built in 1688, the house was constructed for William Murray, who was a cooper and a court clerk in the Salem Witch Trials, and he also provided testimony against Alice Parker. The makes the house one of only…| History of Massachusetts Blog
Salem Village was a farming community on the northern edge of Salem Town during the 17th century. It is famous for being the place where the Salem Witch Trials first began in 1692. The village is now a historic district within the town of Danvers, Massachusetts. The area was originally…| History of Massachusetts Blog
Danvers is a historic town in Massachusetts. Located in Essex county, Danvers was originally a part of Salem when it was settled in the 17th century. Known as Salem Village, it was a rural farming village with a relatively small population. Danvers eventually separated from Salem in the 18th century…| History of Massachusetts Blog
The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 were a dark time in American history. More than 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft and 20 were killed during the hysteria. Ever since those dark days ended, the trials have become synonymous with mass hysteria and scapegoating. The following are some facts…| History of Massachusetts Blog
The Witch House is an iconic First-Period house in Salem, Massachusetts, with direct ties to the Salem Witch Trials. It was the home of Jonathan Corwin who was a judge in the Salem Witch Trials. Despite the fact that I go to Salem often and have walked past the Witch…| History of Massachusetts Blog
The Gedney House and Cox House are historic houses on High Street in Salem, Massachusetts. They are located on the same plot of land, which was originally owned by the Gedney family. Built in 1665 for Salem shipwright Eleazor Gedney, the Gedney House is a 2-story Federal-style clapboard house with…| History of Massachusetts Blog
Marblehead is a historic town in Massachusetts. It was first inhabited by the Naumkeag tribe before being settled as a fishing village by the Massachusetts Bay colonists in the 17th century. The following is a timeline of the history of Marblehead: 1629: The area is settled as a part of…| History of Massachusetts Blog