History, Education, Self-Guided Tours
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He never showed remorse for his actions of 1692 and died in 1718 at the age of 78, very rich and respected. The only structure still standing in Salem that has a direct connection to the witchcraft trials and is open to the public is the Witch House, on the corner of Essex and North Streets. This home, built circa 1675, was the residence of Judge Jonathan Corwin in 1692. While the result was an older appearance, the house today consists of "much twentieth-century material".[1] The residence now operates as a museum by the City of Salem and is open seasonally. Laid out in 1637 on what would come to be known as the “Burying Point,” Charter Street is one of the oldest cemeteries in the United States. It is the resting place of many famous Salem residents, ranging from two witch trials judges and Governor Simon Bradstreet to architect and carver Samuel McIntire.
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The most comprehensive and authoritative history site on the Internet. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. In 2011, the Ghost Adventures crew featured the Witch House during season 4.[7] The Witch House also appears in the opening scenes of the movie Hocus Pocus 2, which takes place in 1653. It's unknown if historical emphasis was placed on creating the opening scenes.
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For years, many believed examinations also took place in this home on Essex Street, but there is no evidence to support that theory. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions. At the start of each month, get a roundup of upcoming plant-related activities and events in Southern California, along with links to tips and articles you may have missed. Legend has it that the Devil lurks in Salem, Massachusetts and that his influence led to the murderous witch hunts and trials of 1692. Today, the Prince of Darkness retains a strong presence in the New England town, which is the headquarters of The Satanic Temple and Salem Art Gallery. The Salem Village Witchcraft Victims’ Memorial in nearby Danvers (the modern-day site of Salem Village).
Self-guided Tour of The Witch House
TST and Art Gallery are further north, at around a 20-minute walk or 5-minute drive from the main hub. If you’re only in Salem for the day, we recommend taking an Uber or taxi to save time. These days, Salem draws thousands of people to its more lighthearted Halloween events that go on the entire month of October. As with others involved in the pursuit of “witches,” Corwin didn’t escape a personal connection.
She is passionate about death care education, advocacy and removing the stigma around addressing this inevitable part of life. Crystal travels to dark history sites, dark tourism sites and historic places around the world. Living in Edinburgh for a few years while travelling around the country exploring Scotland. If you’re looking for more information on the subject, I highly recommend taking a local history tour. These tours will delve deeper into the insanity surrounding the Salem Witch Trials of 1692.
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If a guided tour is available the next time I’m in Salem, I’ll be sure to take it. The citizens of Salem were utterly ashamed of the harsh witch trial stains it left on the city’s history. Fortunately, the Essex National Heritage Commission was created, and members banded together to save the house. Luckily, the Great Salem Fire, which swallowed up most of the city in 1914, didn’t touch the McIntire District. This meant the Witch House and a handful of other beautiful historic houses survived the disaster unscathed and remained fully intact.
Exterior clapboards would have been treated with linseed oil, which darkened with age. And there would have been decorative wood pendants and the like hanging from house corners, once again the show of wealth. When Jonathan Corwin and the widow Elizabeth Gibbs wed in 1675, they needed a house to match their status as heirs to two prominent Puritan families who made their fortunes in the shipping trade. “It was quite grand by Salem standards, befitting the station of Corwin and his wife,” says Elizabeth Peterson, director of what has come to be known as the Witch House.
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Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. Corwin usually let Hathorne take the lead in the examinations, but the two together were unrelenting in seeking confessions of witchcraft. Both clearly thought all were guilty of the charges from the start. Corwin was a principle figure in the pursuit and questioning of former Salem Village minister, Reverend George Burroughs. For more information on the happenings in Salem visit Destination Salem for tourism information, Haunted Happenings for all things Halloween, and Creative Collective for Salem Arts and Culture and event information. Since 2003, she has covered home design, gardening, parenting, houseplants, even youth sports.
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HistoryNet.com is brought to you by HistoryNet LLC, the world’s largest publisher of history magazines. HistoryNet.com contains daily features, photo galleries and over 25,000 articles originally published in our nine magazines. Peterson says it is likely that in Corwin’s era the house interior would have included bright colors on the woodwork, tiling and the filling between the beams. The image of the stark Puritan grays and whites would be for plebeians, not for wealthy townfolk like the Corwins, who would have favored reds or blues or yellows.
The house is also quite haunted, second perhaps only to The Hawthorne Hotel. In fact, Ghost Adventures did an episode there and ToSalem favorite AmysCrypt has also covered the locale. Visitors have reported a variety paranormal phenomena over the years, including seeing the ghost of Corwin himself. Guests also experience apparitions’ touch, hear the untraceable laughter of children, and feel cold spots. This video is part of the Salem Spotlight series in which I tell you everything you need to know about attractions, restaurants, hotels, witch shops, tours, and a bunch of other locations in Salem, Massachusetts. The Witch House was restored to its 17th-century appearance in 1945 by Historic Salem, Inc., and opened to the public in 1947.
Although Jonathandidn’t pay for his role in the deaths of the innocent who perished in the witchtrials, tragedy still fell on his house and family. Ten out of his 12 childrendied within the first few years of their lives. After the witch trials ended, Corwin continued practicing law in the general courts, dealing with cases of piracy and disputes among the citizens of Salem. The only option for me that morning was to take a self-guided tour. I usually enjoy self-guided tours because I like roaming at my own pace, taking as many photos as I want and trying to imagine myself living alongside the place’s original residents.
Anyone is welcome to visit Salem’s lair of Satanists, and learn about their seven compassionate tenets and activism work. You’ll even see families with children wandering through the halls, and snapping selfies in front of occult paintings. Plan a “date with the devil” at the Salem Art Gallery and Satanic Temple, and you’ll undoubtedly have a hell of an inspiring time. No need to worry about being roasted by fire and brimstone when you walk into this Gothic, gray manor. The temple/gallery is a friendly, creative space where you can admire rotating art exhibits, peruse books on moral panics, and sit on the lap of a giant goat-headed statue.
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