The Witch House is currently situated on the corner of Summer and Essex Streets, and is also known as the Corwin House. There is much debate about when the structure was erected, but it is believed to be between 1630-1674 and is one of the oldest dwellings in the United States. Jonathan Corwin, a magistrate during the witchcraft hysteria of 1692, held many pre-trial examinations here of the accused witches. Corwin bought the house in 1675 from Capt. Nathaniel Davenport. The building underwent more changes when George P. Farrington owned in in the mid 1800's. The apothecary shop was added to the east side front in 1856. In 1944, when threatened with destruction, The Witch House became the catalyst that launched a wave of restoration in Salem. Historic Salem Inc. raised the $42,500 needed to move and restore the building. The new museum officially opened to the public in 1948 as a furnished historic site. It is owned by the city today and operates seasonally as a museum with guided tour. The building was moved in the winter of 1945 to allow widening of North Street. Also as part of that project, the Bowditch House was relocated on North Street next to the Witch House. The Corwin House was moved back 35 feet and a new pitched roof (a recreation of the original) was put on at this time. In 2008, grant money was received for repairs and to make the house wheelchair accessible. For a fascinating read and excelllent compilation of photos, check out the Streets of Salem blog. Additionally, John Goff's book Salem's Witch House : a touchstone to antiquity and Frank Cousins' book The Colonial Architecture of Salem, offer a great wealth of detail about this structure.
A postcard depicting a picture puzzle reproduced from an old woodcut. The viewer is urged to find the two heads in the picture - "an original Salem witch and one of her pretty victims."
Colorized print postcard of entrance to Salem Public Library. Verso description: "Situated at 570 Essex Street. The building was donated to the City by the heirs of Capt. John Bertram and it was opened as a free library July 8, 1889."
Colorized print postcard of entrance to Birthplace of Nathaniel Hawthorne with portrait of author. Description on back: "Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in the Northwest Chamber in the Second Story of this old Gambrel roofed house, now numbered 27 Union Street. The house was built prior to the time of witchcraft delusion by one of the Salem citizens."
Postcard, color photo of Ship Mount Vernon, oil painting by M.F. Cornè in Peabody Museum (Peabody Essex Museum) of Ship Mount Vernon, 355 tons, built in Salem 1798 for Elias H. Derby, an armed shipped during the Quasi-War with France. Photo courtesy Peabody Essex Museum.
Wide shot black and white photo of the exterior of the pillory, a wigwam, and the stocks with live model at Salem Pioneer Village, postcard printed in Sweden
Often mistaken for a male witch, this statue in front of the Salem Witch Museum is of the city founder Roger Conant.
This 9 foot tall bronze statue sits next to the Salem Common at the intersection of Brown St. and Washington Square and was erected in 1913. It was fashioned by sculptor Henry Kitson on behalf of the Conant Family Association. The 60 ton boulder he stands on was shipped from Page Farm near Floating Bridge in Lynn. As no image of Roger Conant has survived, Kitson fashioned a Puritan male figure, with broad-rimmed hat and a flowing cape who is grasping the trunk of an oak tree. Conant left a strong legacy in Salem and was known as the "Old Planter."
On the sculpture, the left side of bronze base: Copyrighted Henry H. Kitson 1911. On plaque, front of base: Roger Conant. Born 1592-died 1679.
The statue was restored in 2005 after a successful local campaign to raise money to clean the bronze statue of its stains from acid rain and pollution. The $30,000 restoration was done by Rika Smith McNally. The group involved with fund-raising was the Salem Common Neighborhood Association.
Arbella was the flagship of the Winthrop Fleet on which Governor John Winthrop, other members of the Company, and Puritan emigrants transported themselves and the Charter of the Massachusetts Bay Company from England to Salem between April 8 and June 12, 1630.
