Hi all, this post is one I wrote months ago and sort of forgot about. It’s not a thesis paper or anything THAT fleshed out, but I thought some of our readers may find it interesting and perhaps prompt others to do their own research on the subjects.
A fictional interpretation of the Witch Trials by Joseph E. Baker 200 years later in 1892.
The Salem Witch Trials took place between February of 1692, and May of 1693. In that time, twenty of the accused were killed under charges of witchcraft (this includes Giles Corey, who was tortured for not entering a plea), and at least five others died in jail after being arrested. There is no simple answer as to why the Witch Trials occurred—it was such a complex time in history—and because of the absence of simplicity, a sense of mystique has emerged about Salem’s past. Salem, Massachusetts has often been dubbed the unofficial Halloween capital, offering a host of spooks and thrills for the average tourist. Since the commercialization of Halloween, and especially over the past three decades, thousands of visitors have flocked to the city of Salem each year for the October season to experience the novelty of the city.
Scene along the Salem waterfront, circa 1770–80.
In the last three-hundred years, Salem has known many different identities. After the Witch Trials ended, Salem attempted to move on from its dark past, soon thereafter becoming one of the most influential maritime capitals of the world. During the American Revolution, Salem was essentially the privateering hub of the colonies, and its merchants thrived during the Great Age of Sail (1780-1810).
For approximately two-centuries, Salem was associated with all things maritime rather than the infamous Witch Trials. So, why is Salem so deeply associated with its macabre history today?
In order to examine this question accurately, it is important to look at one of Salem’s neighbors, and the origin-point of the tragic 1692 events: Danvers. In the seventeenth-century, Salem of today was known as “Salem Town,” while modern day Danvers was “Salem Village” or “Salem Farms.” While the Witch Trials were widespread throughout Massachusetts Bay Colony, many of its key events and accusations occurred in and around Salem Village. Although Danvers’ geographic location served as the zenith of the Witch Trials, it is not as closely associated with the 1692 events by mainstream culture as Salem is. While Salem is the “Witch City,” Danvers was pegged “Onion Town” in reference to the Danvers onion.
Salem Village was the eye of the storm, and rather than discuss and unearth its dark past, modern day Danvers chooses to guard its history from prying eyes. The town of Danvers has a Witch Trials Memorial, a few historical markers to show where important sites used to be, the Rebecca Nurse Homestead, and the Salem Village Parsonage archaeological site (where the Parris family lived)—but none of these sites are heavily publicized. This is a vastly different situation from what we see in Salem. While Danvers is much more low-key about its morbid history, some aspects of the city of Salem both suffer and benefit from the sensationalization and trivialization of the 1692 Witch Trials. The words “Salem” and “Halloween,” have become almost indistinguishably associated.
Danvers State Hospital, Danvers, Massachusetts, Kirkbride Complex, circa 1893.
Something obscurely connected to Salem’s ability to thrive is Danvers’ pattern of continuously ill-fated history following 1692. While, as I mentioned earlier, Salem managed to put the trials behind it and went on to become a thriving maritime city, Danvers did not experience the same sort of reparations. Instead, Danvers has gone through one grim period after another. Google “Creepiest town in America,” and one of the top result is always “Danvers, Massachusetts.” One of Danvers’ most haunting claims to fame after the Witch Trials is the infamous Danvers State Hospital. Built on land owned by notorious Witch Trials judge John Hathorne, the Danvers State Hospital opened its doors in 1878. It is important to note that the late-1800s also happened to be when Halloween started to take off as a mainstream holiday in the United States. (We may do a blog post about Danvers State Hospital in the future).
Halloween began its journey to popularity in America during the mid-1800s with an influx of Irish immigrants following the Potato Famine. At that time, it was more of a Celtic holiday—but later on, in the 1900s, Halloween became a more widespread communal celebration. Of course, this led to commercialization, and in many ways, the commercialization of Halloween was a key ingredient in Salem’s journey to becoming a “Halloween town.” Salem was looking for a new identity and monetary compensation after maritime trade had declined, but Danvers was preoccupied with a source of income with more discomfort and secrecy behind it; Danvers State Hospital. As the holiday of Halloween developed in America, its Pagan-derived traditions seemed to mesh well with Salem’s paranormal past, and many of Salem’s residents took advantage of that association in order to draw in visitors and profit for the city. In the 1980s, Salem’s first annual “Haunted Happenings” celebration emerged, and since then, Salem’s wacky Halloween charm has drawn many visitors year-after-year. Meanwhile, Danvers has been left in the dust.
If you are interested in learning more about the Witch Trials of 1692 or Salem and Danvers history in general, i’d be happy to make more posts in the future, and can direct you to books and documentaries that are credible!