Our World Tuesday: Salem, Massachusetts

We visited Salem, Massachusetts, over the weekend. October is a big month for tourism in that city. Little did we know how big! The merchants and others told us we were lucky to be there early in the month, before the place is packed! Here stands town founder Roger Conant at the top of the Salem Common.

From Salem, MA

Though he stands outside the Witch House, he had not part in the witch trials. He was a political leader and a settler who did his share of good before he died in 1679. (Salem, by the way, is a variation of Shalom, or peace.) We had a look at Witch House, which was the home of Judge Corwin, who presided over the investigation of the 19 women accused of being witches. His court sent these women to their deaths. Every woman maintained her innocence until the very end.

From Salem, MA

Corwin lived pretty comfortably in his home for many years. This is the only surviving property with direct connections to the witch trials of 1692.

From Salem, MA

From Salem, MA

Have one of these in your house? It's a lararium, or spirit box. People kept them in their homes and made offerings to the spirits they felt resided within. To ward off evil spirits and bad events, people would put poppets and shoes and other personal effects inside the walls of their home. This practice came back to haunt some folks during the witch trials.

From Salem, MA

Here are some pictures from a window display at the Witches' Dungeon, which is two blocks away from the actual holding place of the accused women but close enough for a tourist trap.

From Salem, MA

From Salem, MA

From Salem, MA

Salem, Massachusetts, is a richly interesting, beautiful place. More later!

Our World Tuesday