During our three-day visit to Salem, MA, “Witch City”, we visited Sandy’s cousin, spent time with Bill’s sister and her husband, including dinner at the cozy Tavern at the Hawthorne Hotel. We also had lunch with them and with dear family friends at Finz Salem and dinner at Maddies Sail Loft in Marblehead with another friend. Lots of good food and talk with all of them!
We camped at Salem’s Winter Island Park. The park, which used to be a US Coast Guard seaplane base, now provides campsites, picnic areas and beach facilities.
Salem has lots of history and we had time to take in just a tiny bit of it, “The Witch House”. This house is one of the few remaining structures with direct ties to the infamous witch trials of 1692-1693. Jonathan Corwin, one of the richest Puritans in New England, purchased the house in 1675. Then, seventeen years later, he was one of the judges involved in the trials. In all, 200 individuals were accused and 20 were executed for witchcraft!
The house is a wonderful example of how the very wealthy lived at the time with high ceilings and huge fireplaces in every room except for the servants third floor rooms. Although none of the original furnishings remain, the place is filled with wonderful period pieces, not just furniture but things like a cheese press and fantastic andirons. There were knowledgeable docents in each room who were delighted to share information about the house, the period and the occupants.
