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| Vintage post card - House of Seven Gables - Is listed on the National Register for Historic Places. Tours are available, daily. Absolutely a destination for my next trip! |
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| Mysterious doorway in Salem |
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| Harbor scene at Salem Willows |
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| Salem Willows |
"Salem Willows is an oceanfront neighborhood and amusement park. It is named for the European white willow trees planted there in 1801 to form a shaded walk for patients convalescing at a nearby smallpox hospital. The area became a public park in 1858, and in the twentieth century became a summer destination for residents of Boston's North Shore, many of whom escaped the heat of the city on newly popular streetcars. The beaches are also a common place to watch the 4th of July fireworks since you can see three sets of fireworks; Salem, Beverly, and Marblehead. The Willows also has a famous popcorn stand, Hobbs, which is known around the North Shore as one of the best places to get popcorn and ice cream." Source: wiki |
| Had to stop for a lobsta' roll! |
Inevitably, if you go downtown, you will cross paths with the famous Roger Conant statue. Conant was a Puritan, who is credited with founding Salem. He was the first Governor of the English Settlers, from 1626 to 1628. As powerful and unique as it is, this statue has always frightened me. I am not sure if it is the billowing cloak he is wearing or the Puritan-style hat, or the combination.
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| The "Grimshaw House" |
The Grimshaw House abutts "The Burying Point" grave yard, which is Salem's oldest cemetery dating back to 1637! It is our nation's 2nd old cemete
"The Grimshaw House... [the] historic significance of this building is its relationship to Nathaniel Hawthorne. This is where he courted his wife, Sophia Peabody. The house still stands and is bordered by one of the oldest graveyards in Salem , which sits on a raised expanse that abuts directly against the house midway up the first floor. It is known that Sophia's father was a dental surgeon ... dentist's had far reaching roles in the 1800's and often dealt with life threatening abscesses and other ailments much beyond what we attribute to today's modern dentistry. The parlor of the house (also the waiting room) conveniently overlooks the graveyard. Many was the patient who may have pondered their own future and the course of their treatments as they sat patiently looking out into the scene that would often include a funeral or two for their more morbid thoughts to ponder and reflect upon. Certainly the morose and macabre nature of the building and its surrounds helped to ferment and inspire some of Hawthorne 's marvelous creativity. Alas, the building still stands (behind the Essex Museum ) in most perfunctory dishevel reflecting most accurately the lost souls it has encountered over its lifetime."
Source: http://www.grimshaworigin.org/WebPages/DrGrimshawsSecret.htm who cited http://www.geocities.com/rremrich/grmshw.html as giving the original context.
If you are a taphophile, like me, or if you have any interest in history, this is a must see. Here are few that are buried here:
John Hathorne d. May 10, 1717 was the judge during the trials was William Stoughton, Lieutenant-Governor of the colony. and the Great-great-grandfather of writer Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Simon Bradstreet b. March 18, 1603 d. March 27, 1697 was a deputy Governor.
Samuel McIntire d. February 6, 1811 was a prominent architect from Salem. In Salem, the "McIntire District" shows his beautiful work, especially on Chestnut Street, and it was dubbed "The Most Beautiful Street (architecturally) in America."
Capt. Richard More d. 1692. He was a Mayflower Pilgrim. arriving at "the age of 9 (or 11) as an indentured servant, rose through the ranks and became a sea-captain who lived in Salem.:
(Above) Note the fantastic skeleton (left) and reaper (right) carvings on this old tombstone.
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| A skull with wings is thought to symbolize our ascension into heaven. |
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| Had it not been for the rain on the day I took this photo, i could have transcribed it for you. Unfortunately, there are words I can not make out. |
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| John Hathorne's grave stone. It is said that Nathanial Hawthorne added the "w" to his last name, as the result of the association to his Great-Great-Grandfather, whose role was a judge during the Salem Witch Trials. |
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| The Captain's wife |
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| It is wonderful to see the sunrise carving in this stone has survived over 3 centuries! |
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| "Behold thy servant dies, I give my body to the dust, And dose my peaceful eyes." |
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| Angel's often symbolize being guided to Heaven. |
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| Trees are a symbol of regenerating life. |
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| Here is Capt. More - one of the Mayflower Pilgrims. Died in 1692. |
Along side the Old Burying Point Cemetery, and easily missed if you have traveled through the cemetery is a small park which is lined with granite. From the granite walls are slab protrusions of granite, and this is the reason that you may miss it. Upon closer inspection of each slab, you will see the inscribed names of all of the 1692 accused "witches", the manner in which they died and their date of death, respectfully.
There are 20 of these markers at this site. It is not uncommon to see flowers, coins, rosaries and other small tokens left on each memorial by travelers or perhaps ancestors.
Below, I have listed all 20 of the unfortunate souls who met their demise in 1692. They are listed chronologically and then, alphabetically:
Bridget Bishop - Hanged - June 10, 1692
Birth: 1632, England
"Victim of the Salem Witch Trials. Born sometime between 1632 and 1637. Bishop married three times. Her third and final marriage, after the deaths of her first two husbands, was to Edward Bishop, who was employed as a lumber worker. She had one daughter with her second husband Thomas Oliver. Bridget often kept the gossip mill busy with stories of her publicly fighting with her various husbands, entertaining guests in home until late in the night, drinking and playing the forbidden game of shovel board, and being the mistress of two thriving taverns in town. Some even went so far as to say that Bishop's "dubious moral character" and shameful conduct caused, "discord to arise in other families, and young people were in danger of corruption." Bishop's blatant disregard for the respected standards of puritan society made her a prime target for accusations of witchcraft. In April, 1692, a warrant was issued for Bridget's arrest on charges of performing witchcraft and consorting with the devil himself. When she entered the courthouse, a number of the "afflicted" girls, including Mercy Lewis and Ann Putnam, howled that she was causing them pain. Bridget denied any wrongdoing, swearing that she was "innocent as the child unborn," according to Mary Norton's In the Devil's Snare. With a whole town against her, Bridget was charged, tried, and executed within eight days. On June 10, as crowds gathered to watch, she was taken to Gallows Hill and executed by the sheriff, George Corwin. She displayed no remorse and professed her innocence at her execution. After her hanging, eighteen others were executed for the crime of witchcraft, and one man was pressed to death. Several others died in prison. Within months of Bridget Bishop's death, her husband remarried. Bridget's descendants through Christian Oliver still live in New England today, and her tavern, the Bishop House, still stands. (bio by: Shock)" Source: findagrave.com
George Burroughs - Hanged - August 19, 1692
Birth: 1652
Suffolk, England
"Victim of the Salem Witch Trials. George was raised by his mother in the town of Roxbury. George Burroughs was the only Puritan minister indicted and executed in Salem in 1692. He served as minister of Salem Village from 1680 until he left in 1683. As one of the succession of three ministers who left the Village in the years leading up to the trials, he became involved in the Village's social conflicts. Twelve years later, he was charged, arrested and brought back to Salem from Wells, Maine. Many members of the Salem Village and Andover testified against him and called him the "ring leader" of the witches, a virtual priest of the devil. Cotton Mather also took particular interest in the trial because of George's unorthodox religious beliefs and practices. He was found guilty and executed. While standing on a ladder before the crowd, waiting to be hanged, he successfully recited the Lord's Prayer, something that was generally considered by the Court of Oyer and Terminer to be impossible for a witch to do. His hanging was the only one attended by Cotton Mather. (bio by: Shock)" Source: findagrave.com
Sarah Good - Hanged - July 19, 1692
Birth: Jul. 11, 1653
Wenham, MA USA
"After her first marriage to an indentured servant left her deep in debt, Good married a laborer who worked in exchange for food and lodging, and the two eked out a meager existence in Salem Village. She was among the first suspects identified by the female children when they were questioned by magistrates in February 1692. Good protested her innocence, but officials insisted upon questioning her young daughter, and the child’s timid answers were construed as proof of Good’s guilt. Good was pregnant at the time of her conviction, and officials stayed her execution until she could give birth. The infant died in prison, and in July 1692, Good herself was hanged. Defiant to the end, Good’s final words were a warning to her tormentors: “If you take my life away, God will give you blood to drink!” -Source: nationalgeographic.com
Elizabeth Howe - Hanged - July 19, 1692
Birth: May, 1637
Rowley: East Riding of Yorkshire, England
"Convicted of practicing witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. There are twenty benches in the memorial, one for each of the victims actively put to death (not counting those who died in prison). Cause of death: Hanged."
"At age 65 Elizabeth was accused of witchcraft. Elizabeth always proclaimed her innocence. Elizabeth was one of five women arraigned in the first Salem witch trial and was brought to court on the 30th of June 1692. Despite strong support from family and friends, she was found guilty and hanged three weeks later on the 19th of July 1692,along with the other four accused. She was buried in a crevice on Gallows Hill in Salem, Massachusetts. A further fourteen alleged witches and warlocks were subsequently hung or pressed to death in Salem during the months of August and September 1692; by November more than 150 people had been accused. All those accused were freed. Many years later, in 1710, legal proceedings were instituted to verify Elizabeth's innocence. The conviction was reversed." Source: findagrave.com
Susannah Martin - Hanged - July 19, 1692
Birth: c. Sep. 30, 1621
Olney: Buckinghamshire, England
"Victim of the Salem Witch Trials. The youngest of four daughters of Richard North and Joan Bartram, her baptism is reported as September 30, 1621 at Olney, Buckinghamshire, England. Her mother died when she was a child and her father married Ursula Scott. In 1639, Richard North immigrated to New England and settled his family at Salisbury, Massachusetts. Susannah married the widower George Martin in 1646 at Salisbury. George and Susannah Martin moved to Amesbury, Massachusetts in 1654. George Martin is shown as one of the first settlers of Amesbury on a commemorative plaque in the Amesbury-Golgotha Burying Ground. Susannah and George were the parents of eight children. Through her daughter, Jane, Susannah is the 5th great grandmother of U. S. President Chester A. Arthur. In 1669, William Sargent accused Susannah of witchcraft. George Martin sued Sargent for slander against Susannah and a higher court dismissed the witchcraft charges. George Martin died in 1686 and Susannah remained in Amesbury. In 1692, at the age of 71, she was accused of being a witch by several residents of Salem Village (now the Town of Danvers), which is located about 25 miles south of Amesbury. Susannah was arrested and tried for witchcraft. None of the accused were represented by council and during her trial, she defended herself defiantly. She was found guilty and hanged on July 19, 1692, along with four other women. All were placed in a shallow unmarked grave. Over 400 people were accused during the Salem witchcraft hysteria. Of those convicted, twenty were executed and four died in prison. In May, 1693, all of the remaining accused that had been arrested were released, but only after their families had paid jail and court costs. In 1709, a petition was submitted requesting reversal of the convictions of 22 indiviuals. In October, 1711, this petition was approved by the General Court and in December, the Governor authorized monetary compensation to these individuals or their heirs. Susannah Martin's family did not sign this petition and she, along with others, were not included in this resolution. In 1957, an Act was passed pronouncing the innocence of "One Ann Pudeator and certain other persons." It was not until 2001 that an Act was passed amending the 1957 wording to include the names, "Ann Pudeator, Bridget Bishop, Susannah Martin, Alice Parker, Margaret Scott and Wilmot Redd.." (bio by: Eric)" Source: findagrave.com
Rebecca Nurse - Hanged - July 19, 1692
Birth: c. Feb. 21, 1622
Great Yarmouth, England
"Convicted of practicing witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. In most cases, the bodies of those hanged or pressed were cast off into a shallow ditch, not deserving of a Christian burial due to the charge of witchcraft. However, the family of Rebecca Nurse, according to legend, got to her body, removed it from the ditch in Salem and buried it in secret on the family farm in Salem Village (now Danvers, MA). Where, exactly, is lost to history. Several years after her execution, it was agreed that she had been innocent of being a witch. She was the daughter of Joanna (Blessing) and William Towne." Source: findagrave.com
Sarah Wildes - Hanged - July 19, 1692
Birth: 1627
Chipping Norton, England
As a young woman, Wildes was considered glamorous and forward, and rumor had it that she had once engaged in illicit sex. The accusations of witchcraft against her actually began decades before the Salem witch trials, when she married a widower, John Wildes, which raised the ire of his first wife’s family. The sister of Wildes’ first wife, Mary Reddington, accused Sarah Wildes of bewitching her, prompting John Wildes to threaten a slander suit unless she stopped. When one of Sarah Wildes’ new stepchildren, Jonathan Wildes, began to behave strangely, some took it for demonic possession, and the suspicions against Sarah Wildes continued to simmer. In 1692, things finally boiled over. Wildes’ son Ephraim was a local constable in Topsfield, and protested her innocence when she was arrested by his superior, Marshal George Herrick. One witness fingered her as being part of a coven of specters who whispered at the foot of a dying child’s bed, while others accused her of telekinetically sabotaging their ox cart after they borrowed her plow without her permission. Yet another testified that after quarreling with Wildes, she felt an apparently spectral cat walk across her in the middle of the night. Bizarre as the case against her was, Wildes was convicted and executed." Source: nationalgeographic.com
Martha Carrier - Hanged - August 19, 1692
Birth: 1643
Andover, MA USA
"Salem Witch Trial Victim. Convicted of practicing witchcraft and hanged during the Salem Witch Trials. Twenty benches stand in a Memorial for the victims, one for each who were actively put to death (not counting those who died in prison). She was born between 1643 & 1650 to Andrew & Faith (Ingalls) Allen of Andover MA. She married Thomas Carrier, aka Morgan, a recently arrived bond-servant, 7 May 1664, when she was 7 months pregnant with her eldest child. She unsuccessfully nursed her father & brothers in the 1690 smallpox epidemic, and thereby became a land owner in her own right. Some believe that she was accused of witchcraft in Salem in 1692 because she was a niece of the Rev. Francis Dane of Andover. (Over one third of the Salem accused were related to him or his wife in some way.) Martha's trial was fully transcribed at the direction of Cotton Mather, who believed this case to represent the strongest case for the use of spectral evidence. The evidence he found persuasive was the testimony of Martha's 16-year old-son, Richard, and her 12-year-old daughter, Sarah, that she made them become witches to "haunt" others at her direction. However, John Proctor (who was hung the same day as Martha) wrote the governor that he witnessed these children's torture in the jail where he was also imprisoned: they were reportedly tied neck to ankles (with a rope down their backs) and left that way until said what their interrogators wanted to hear. Salem erected a memorial in a downtown park for her and each other person hung (or, in one case, pressed to death) during the hysteria. The "witches" hung at Salem were dumped in a nearby ravine. (bio by: Linda Mac)" Source: findagrave.com
George Jacobs - Hanged - August 19, 1692
Birth: circa: 1649
Salem, MA USA
"George Jacobs was born about 1617, probably in England, and was farming near Salem, Massachusetts, by the 1640s. He and his wife attended church infrequently, and he was known for his "salty tongue" and quick temper. He was in court in 1677 for striking a man while in a rage. George was accused by his own granddaughter of practicing witchcraft, and arrested on May 10, 1692. He went on trial August 5, and after failing to properly recite the Lord's Prayer (George was illiterate), he was found guilty. On conviction he stated, "Well burn me or hang me. I'll stand in the truth of Christ." George and four others met their ends on Gallows Hill two weeks later. His last words were, "I am falsely accused. I never did it." In 1693 George's widow Mary married a man who had been widowed by the witch trials, and in 1711 the General Court of MA made reparations of 79 pounds to the heirs of George Jacobs. George's family buried his body on his farm, and some of his descendants, still living on the site, unearthed his remains in 1864, and found a tall arthritic toothless skeleton. His remains were taken to Salem in 1992, and reburied as part of the ceremony marking the 300th anniversary of the trials. Cause of death: Hanged." -Source: findagrave.com
John Proctor - Hanged - August 19, 1692
Birth: 1632
Ipswich, MA USA
"After inheriting a substantial fortune from his father, Proctor went on to become a successful farmer, entrepreneur, and tavern keeper. Unfortunately for him, he made the mistake of criticizing the young girls who were accusing witches, saying that if they were to be believed, “we should all be devils and witches quickly,” and recommended that they be whipped or even hung for their lies. After being falsely accused by their servant Mary Warren, Proctor and his wife were arrested in 1692. The sheriff went to their house and seized their goods and provisions, and sold off his cattle, leaving the Proctors’ children without a means of support. Proctor petitioned the court to move his trial to Boston, or at the very least, to change the magistrates, because the locals “have already undone us in our estates, and that will not serve their turns without our innocent blood.” It was to no avail. Proctor was convicted and executed in August 1692. His wife was spared because she was pregnant." -Source: nationalgeographic.com
John Willard - Hanged - August 19, 1692
Birth: Jan. 15, 1657
"Willard, a sheriff’s officer who lived in Salem, was ordered to bring in several of the accused. He declined, apparently out of a belief that they were innocent. As a result, he was himself accused. After initially escaping arrest in Salem by fleeing to Nashawag, about 40 miles away, he was taken into custody and put on trial in August 1692. The girls who claimed to have been afflicted by witchcraft testified that a spectral being that they called “the shining man” had materialized and prevented Willard’s specter from cutting one of their throats. Willard was found guilty and hanged shortly afterward." -Source: nationalgeographic.com
Giles Corey - Pressed To Death - Sept. 19, 1692
Birth: 1621
Northamptonshire, England
"Accused of practicing witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. Giles Corey was never convicted of witchcraft. He was being pressed by the court because he refused to plead to the charge (at that time, if he refused to plead, he had, in essence, not submitted to or recognized the authority or jurisdiction of the court). He was being pressed to force him to plead guilty or not guilty. He refused and died after about 3 days of pressing. Corey's only statement during this time was to demand more weight be placed upon him." -Source: findagrave.com
Martha Corey - Hanged - Sept. 22, 1692
Birth: 1619-20
England
"Victim of the Salem Witch Trials. Martha and her husband were both accused of witchcraft. Martha being first accused before her husband. The community was surprised to see Martha accused, as she was known for her piety and dedicated church attendance. She had never shown support for the witch trials, since she did not believe witches existed. Also known as Goodwife Corey, Martha was a new but upstanding member of the congregation. Her trial was the scene of much agitation. In the courtroom Martha's accusers writhed in agony as they were forced by an unseen power to mimic the witch's every movement. When Martha shifted her feet the girls did also, when Martha bit her lip the girls were compelled to bit their own lips, crying out in pain. This was evidence enough to persuade the jury of her guilt. She was 72 years old when they hung her. (bio by: Shock)" -Source: findagrave.com
Mary Easty - Hanged - Sept. 22, 1692
Birth: Aug. 24, 1634
Great Yarmouth: Norfolk, England
"Some historians’ accounts alternately spell her name as Easty or Eastey. The sister of fellow defendant Rebecca Nurse, Esty insisted in court that “I am clear of this sin” and that she had prayed against the devil “all my days.” Her demeanor was so convincing that even her questioner, magistrate John Hawthorne, was moved to turn to Esty’s accusers and ask, “Are you certain this is the woman?” They responded by writhing and screaming in feigned demonic possession, but nevertheless, Esty was released from jail. In the days that followed, however, one of her accusers appeared to fall ill, and two of the others claimed that they had seen Esty’s specter tormenting her. Esty was arrested once again, and this time she was convicted and hanged." -Source: nationalgeographic.com
Alice Parker - Hanged - Sept. 22, 1692
Birth: circa 1643
Watertown, MA USA
"The wife of John Parker of Salem, she was arrested in May 1692 after being accused by the same servant who fingered John Proctor and his wife. Accused of “sundry acts of witchcraft, she was tried in September 1692, and convicted and hanged shortly afterward." -Source: findagrave.com
Mary Parker - Hanged - Sept. 22, 1692
Birth: 1634
England
"A wealthy widow from Andover, she apparently was unrelated to Alice Parker but was related to one of the other suspects, Frances Hutchins. Parker and her daughter Sarah were arrested and accused of witchcraft as well. When she entered the courtroom at her trial in September 1692, several of the young female accusers fell into writhing spells, even before her name was announced. Once witness testified that she had seen Mary Parker’s spirit, perched high on a beam above the court, at one of the hearings in Salem. Parker was convicted and hanged shortly afterward." Source: findagrave.com
Ann Pudeator - Hanged - Sept. 22, 1692
Birth: circa 1622
[probably] England
"The twice-widowed mother of six, who worked as a midwife and nurse, inherited property from her second husband. In male-dominated colonial New England society, a self-sufficient professional woman was contrary to what was perceived as the rightful order of things, and that may have made her a target for witchcraft allegations. The testimony of witnesses—including a girl who claimed Pudeator had tortured her by impaling a voodoo doll, and another who accused her of shape-shifting into a bird—was augmented by a constable’s discovery of “curious containers of various ointments” in her home. (The latter, apparently, were either foot oil or grease that Pudeator used to make soap.) Despite her protestations of innocence, she was condemned to death and hanged." -Source: nationalgeographic.com
Wilmott Redd - Hanged - Sept. 22, 1692
Birth: 1638
Marblehead, MA USA
"Also known as Wilmet Reed, she was the only Marblehead resident to be condemned for witchcraft. Known locally as “Mammy,” Redd was an eccentric with a volatile temper, and liked to argue with her neighbors. Among other crimes, she was accused of sending her spectral doppelganger to Salem to torment one of the young girls who instigated the witch hunt. She was arrested, brought to Salem for trial, and then hanged in September 1692, in the final wave of executions." -Source: nationalgeographic.com
"Salem Witchcraft Trial Victim. The wife of Samuel Redd, a fisherman in their village, she was accused by several village girls were supposedly "afflicted" by her witchcraft and in turn had become hysterical. An elderly woman supposedly not well liked by the womenfolk of the town, she was apprehended May 28, 1692 by James Smith. She was taken to the Salem Village for a preliminary examination on May 31, 1692, where following she was indicted and put in jail. At her trial held a few months later she was denied defense counsel and on September 17, 1692 she was condemned to be hung. A few days afterwards she was among seven people executed on Gallows Hill in Salem. She was the only Marblehead resident to be executed. She is likely buried in an unmarked grave on the North Shore with other victims, because at the time the authorities forbade their burial in consecrated ground. Her stone lies next to her husband's grave. Her stone has been placed in their family plots. Her home rested on the corner of the pond next to the Old Burial Hill Graveyard. A stone erected for her was placed looking out over the pond, which also honors her name which is located in Old Burial Hill. On October 31, 2001 Massachusetts Governor Jane Swift signed a bill pardoning Wilmot Redd along with four other victims of the witch trials". (bio by: The Guardian) -Source: findagrave.com
Margaret Scott - Hanged - Sept. 22, 1692
Birth: 1616
Suffolk, England
"Born in England in 1615, Scott moved to New England with her parents at a young age and married a struggling tenant farmer, Benjamin Scott. The couple had seven children, only three of whom lived to adulthood. After her husband died in 1670, Scott lived off his meager savings until they were exhausted. In her old age, she was forced to beg for support from her neighbors and passersby to survive, which made her a target of resentment and probably led to her arrest. At Scott’s trial, witnesses testified that she had visited them in spectral form and choked and pinched them. She was found guilty and hanged in September 1692, in the final wave of executions." -Source: nationalgeographic.com
Samuel Wardwell - Hanged - Sept. 22, 1692
Birth: May 16, 1643
Boston, MA USA
"Born in Boston, Wardell was a carpenter who followed his brother Benjamin to Salem to build houses. He was one of the few, and perhaps the only, defendant who actually had dabbled in magic, when he occasionally amused his neighbors by playing at telling their fortunes, a practice that was outlawed as black magic by the Puritans. Nevertheless, Wardell’s bigger crime may have been marrying a younger widow, Sarah Hawkes, in 1673. Her sizable inheritance—combined with his carpentry work—made the couple conspicuously affluent in a society where petty resentments and envy often blossomed into suspicions that someone had satanic assistance. After his arrest in 1692, Wardell—perhaps in an effort to save himself—conceded that he had agreed to a contract with the devil, who had promised to make him wealthy, and even confessed to evil deeds that he hadn’t been accused of. He later tried to recant, but it was too late. In September 1692, he was hanged." Source: nationalgeographic.com
There was much happening in Salem on the weekend that I arrived, so we headed out on Saturday to explore a Vintage Flea Market, downtown. I bought a pair of tall, solid brass candlesticks for $3.00! Vintage Market at Derby Square
Unfortunately we did not make it to the Spice Fesitval, in Pioneer Village... maybe next year?
After that, we went to the U-U Church-yard to investigate a Steampunk Social. There were some fantastic vendors here, selling their Steampunk wares, jewelry, baubles, clothing and other cool stuff. Unfortunately, I had left my wallet back at Anita's....
Darq Salem
Thank you, Beautiful people, for allowing me to take your photo... I was silly not to have asked your names!
Salem is fascinating, as there is so much history here, and as they say, history is stranger than fiction. It was only natural that Anita pointed this out, to me:
(Above) This is 224 LaFayette Street. It is often thought to be the residence of one of the 11th victim of the "Boston Strangler". The victim's name was Evelyn Corbin, who was 58 years old, on September 8, 1963.
Though there is some fairly strong evidence that the man who confessed to these 13 murders, was not actually the murderer. Could it be that it was actually the grisly work of a copy cat killer...who liked donuts? You can read more, and make up your own mind, here.
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| Dinner at Sea Level / Oyster Bar. This is a wonderful restaurant located right on the wharf, with full views of the harbor and The Friendship of Salem. The service was fantastic and so was the food. Very fresh and decent portions. The price was very reasonable for waterfront dining. |
The Friendship "is a 171-foot replica of a 1797 East Indiaman, built in the Scarano Brothers Shipyard in Albany, New York, in 2000. The ship usually functions as a stationary museum during most of the year, however the ship is a fully functioning United States Coast Guard certified vessel capable of passenger and crew voyages, and will set sail during various times of the year. The Friendship of Salem is docked at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site, which is the first American National Historic Site; it is operated by the National Park Service." Source: wiki
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Anita and I had dessert here, at JAHO Coffee and Tea Shop. She wisely chose a light Greek cookie, and I indulged on decadent chocolate mousse cake. Delicious! Great service and a nice place for the younger set to hang out as they have WIFI access.
 
We stopped at Pyramid Books, where I bought my beautiful Boss a purple candle, which is supposed to inspire spirituality. Pyramid Books is one of those bookstores where I wish I had won the lottery before walking into it. Check out the link above, for more information.
Winding up a busy day, Anita had planned one more stop for me. We jumped in the car, and headed toward the Salem Ferry. Our destination (unknown to me) was Mackey's Metal Sculpture Park, and is considered one of the underground stops in Salem. It is located at 10 Blaney Street, right before you head to the dock to catch the Ferry. Unfortunately, it was dark, but I snapped a bunch of pictures, anyway. I do hope to return in the daylight, as I think it would be well worth another trip. From what I could see, Herb Mackey certainly made art out of a variety of items and it appears he had fun doing it.
              
Some where around here (photo above) is a dunking mechanism that fills with water and makes an eerie sound as it empties itself, before filling up again. Just when you have forgotten that the "thing" exists, it makes another dive. The sound is almost like an echo with a rusted "clunking" attached to it. It made us jump each time we heard it!
    So ends a long and busy day and this was but a tiny chunk of the bite that you can take out of this place. I recommend visiting anytime the month of October (unless you are a fan of crowds). On my way home, I deviated from my route and drove Route 127 to Gloucester to visit Richard, who owns Banana's on Main Street.  If your destination is to attend for the Halloween season, be prepared for very heavy traffic - both auto and pedestrian, long lines and wait times for whatever place you want to visit because the City is at its peak during that month. But, then again, the benefit will be seeing the most amazing costumes and get-ups that you could ever imagine! In general, during the height of the Halloween season, I would also recommend a walking tour, instead of attempting to drive around. Find a parking spot, feed the meter and covet it! Great destinations and information, in Salem: Bewitched After Dark - Year Round The Burying Point The Corwin Witch House Derby Square Walking Tours The New England Pirate Museum The Salem Pioneer Village The Salem Trolley Salem Witch Museum Salem Witch Dungeon Chestnut Street (McIntire Historic District) Count Orlok's Nightmare "Cry Innocent" Performance Forest River Park House of 7 Gables The Nathaniel Bowditch House Old Town Hall The Essex Peabody Museum - THE most recommended destination. This fall, they are introducing the kinetic sculptures entitled, STRANDBEEST - by artist, Theo Jansen. Watch it in action! So cool!!!! The Phillips House The Pickering House (America's oldest home) Pioneer Village 3 and 4 Dimensional Time Machine! The Salem Museum (Excellent Choice) Wiki List of Places listed on the National Historic Register Shopping More.... |
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