Salem
Salem was originally inhabited by a tribe referred to by Europeans as the Naumkeag, as they lived on a peninsula that was itself called this. The Naumkeag spoke Eastern Algonquian and lived in northeastern Massachusetts, controlling the territory from the Charles River to the Merrimack River until the Puritans colonized the area. While many of their number were lost in war with the Tarrantine, a neighboring tribe, they were further weakened by a smallpox epidemic brought over by European colonizers. Due to this, by the time the newcomers arrived in what is today Salem, it was difficult for the Naumkeag to repel them.
Colonists settled in Naumkeag in 1626. The name of the settlement was then changed to Salem, which is an ancient city named in the Bible and traditionally linked to Jerusalem. About ten years later, the first church was built, with Samuel Skelton as its first pastor, and it is considered the first Puritan church in the Americas.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, Salem was heavily involved in the Atlantic slave trade, though by 1701 there began to be a political and social effort in Massachusetts to end slavery, with the practice being virtually eliminated by 1770.
Salem is perhaps best known for its witchcraft trials. These trials began in February of 1692 and lasted until May of 1693. More than 200 people were accused, and as a result, 19 people were executed by hanging, and 1 by pressing, due to false accusations. Another 5, at least, died in jail.
During the American Revolutionary War, the town became a center of privateering, and about 1,700 letters of marque were granted during that time, though records are incomplete. This resulted in nearly 800 vessels being commissioned, and privateers are credited with capturing or destroying about 600 British ships.
By 1790, Salem had become the sixth-largest city in the country, and was heavily involved in the China trade with a world-famous seaport. Salem exported codfish to Europe and the West Indies, while importing sugar and molasses from the latter, as well as tea from China, and Sumatran pepper from the East Indies. Trade with China in particular left a strong imprint on Salem, with a number of American families, including the Forbes, amassing a great fortune due to illegal opium trading.
The city went into decline as Boston and New York surpassed it as a seaport in the 19th century, so that Salem turned to manufacturing. A fire originating in a factory, known now as the Great Salem Fire of 1914, destroyed over 400 homes and left over 3,000 families destitute.
In modern times, there is some conflict in the city between those who wish to lean into its current witchy reputation and those who would prefer to see it market itself more as a cultural center. Salem is home to a number of historical sites, such as the Pickman House, the Jonathan Corwin House (also known as The Witch House), the House of Seven Gables, and a memorial to the victims of the Salem Witch Trials.
The city also leans heavily into its nickname, “The Witch City,” with many shops and attractions having spooky and witchy themes, as well as a myriad of ghostly tours through cemeteries and other historical sites both in and near Salem. While I can’t speak for other months of the year, visiting during October felt like arriving at Halloween Town, with people donning witch hats and other costumes, happy to bask in the spooky spirit of the city. Have you been to Salem?
Gold Colored Fox 