There are many great destinations for Halloween, but one of the most famous and historic is Salem, Massachusetts. Salem is about 16 miles north of Boston and is a town of 40,000. It is most famous for the Salem Witch Trials in 1692, where 20 people were innocently murdered in hysteria of accusations centered on witchcraft. If one is a historian, this provides an interesting glimpse into the pattern of "witch hunting" that happens in society from time to time. As a tourist, this provides a spooky backdrop to a spooky town during October and all year round.
Interestingly, the speculations of witchcraft are not what cause the eeriness of the town, but the actual murders of people who were accused are what give it that Halloween feel (that, along with movies such as the 1993 classic Hocus Pocus which is filmed and based there). A great place to explore the historical context of the trials is the Salem Witch Museum. “We have a self-guided tour with life-size stage sets that give the drama and detail to the trials,” a representative from the museum says. “We also have an exhibit on Witches, which talks about the way witches are perceived throughout the years, as well as the way witchcraft is actually practiced.”
The witch trials started when several young girls started complaining of being ill, like they were being pricked with needles, and being possessed by the devil. What happened is a frenzy that caused over 200 people to be accused of witchcraft and 20 of them to be murdered, some in brutal ways. Most of these people were outcasts or simply different from the norm during 1692 Salem. “They were easily found guilty in trial, due to the introduction of spectral evidence in the court,” the museum explains. Spectral evidence is where an accuser can simply say that they saw the person's ghost or apparition do evil things, even if they were clearly somewhere else. This ensured that the person was guilty. [It is important to note, we now know there was no evidence to back up these accusations].
The Witch House is a haunted house that was home to Andrew Malo Corwin, the man responsible for sentencing during trials [Photo/Jen-CC]
Giles Corey was one of these people accused. He and his wife, Martha, were accused of witchcraft, and consequently he was tortured by being pressed to death for three days. Interestingly, he himself was swept up in the hysteria and believed that perhaps his wife was a witch, until he was accused, too. He was told to plead guilty, which he wouldn't. So he was tortured. He was placed on a table and a board was put on top. Rocks were put on top of the board slowly until it got to the point of crushing him to death after 3 days. Every time the sheriff told him to plead guilty for the torture would stop, he would say to put more weight. After he was killed, his wife was also hanged. His final words were said to put a curse on Salem and the Sheriff who killed him.
It is said his ghost haunts Howard Cemetery and appears before disasters strike the city. People say that night before the Great Salem Fire of 1914, where half the city lost their homes, he was seen walking the street where the fire started. It is also said he put a curse on the sheriff's office where every sheriff since that time died of heart ailments, including the sheriff who tortured him. The curse was broken in 1991 when the sheriff office moved to a different town.
The Witch House, on 310 Essex Street, is the former home of Andrew Malo Corwin, the judge who presided over 19 of the accused and sentenced them to death. There are tours of the house and supernatural-minded folks say they feel cold breaths, touches, and generally eerie feelings in the house. They offer tours of the house and can be visited every day 10am-5pm.
Another haunted house is the Joshua Ward House, which was built on the homestead of the sheriff who pressed Corey to death. The sheriff seemed perfectly comfortable with torture, as beyond crushing a man to death, he used hot pokers on accused witches in an effort to get them to plead guilty. The sheriff, Giles Corey, and an angry, raven-haired woman are said to haunt the Joshua Ward House. It is now an upscale boutique hotel called "The Merchant."
Going to these places and getting a feel for Salem in many of the restaurants and shops is a fitting way to enjoy Halloween considering the traditional sense of the holiday. There are plenty of events put on by the city that are available at Salem Haunted Happenings. There are also ghost tours, such as SalemGhostTours.com and at Spellbound Tours, that provide insights and interesting in-depth history of the area.
Where to stay? Check out Winter Island Park, about 2 miles away from downtown. It is a city owned park on the water that has RV hookups and good reviews. As one reviewer says, “This campground is all about location! You will not find a campground with more unique surroundings. This place is not your run of the mill commercial type campground. It was a former coast guard station with remnants of a colonial Era Fort. It is within city limits and very close to all the historic sites that Salem has to offer. If you are a history buff you will love it here.” When it comes to the fall holidays, there is not a better location to visit than the Northeast. And Halloween is best spent in the spooky town of Salem, Massachusetts.
Entertainment, Features, History, Massachusetts, Museum, Open Road