Salem, MA

We did a day trip on our vacation up to Salem, MA. We've gone there before, in October, when the crowds were thick and full of unusually dressed people, making you think they are on their way to Diagon Alley. It seems Salem is a bit of a witch mecca, which is really ironic considering how fervently the residents in 1692 sought to eradicate any presence of witchcraft out of their town.

It seems some young girls started accusing women of practicing witchcraft, snowballing a flurry of accusations and trials. Hundreds of people were investigated, 19 were sent to the gallows, and one man was pressed to death for failing to make a plea. It didn't end until the girls went too far and accused the govenor's wife. There is a memorial next to the cemetary with each of the names of the sentenced. Some of their statements are engraved in stone and are really sad, "I am wholly innocent of this wickedness", "I will speak the truth as long as I live", "God knows I am innocent." Very sad. Moving on now...



I really liked visiting Salem when it wasn't so crowded, mostly because my favorite part of Salem is the Architecture. We first toured The Witch House, which dates back to at least 1675 and is a great example of 17th century architecture with its overhanging top story, narrow unpainted clapboards, and small diamond windows. I find this style very dark and dreary. The home belonged to Judge Jonathan Corwin, one of the judges responsible for trying the witch cases.



It has a typical enormous hearth from that time, where the women would have several cooking fires going at once, not unlike our using several stove top burners. With their long skirts moving amongst the fires, they were at high risk of catching themselves aflame. To prevent it, they often would dampen the bottoms of their dresses. Even so, infected burns were a common cause of death at that time. To keep the little ones out of the fire, they would tie them to themselves with strings. Thus the source of "tied to his mother's apron strings". Another reason to be glad we live when we do!

Enough of the depressing, and time for the pretty stuff! My favorite Architecture styles are Georgian and Federal. The McIntyre district of Salem, named after architect Samuel McIntyre, is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods to see these old houses, especially along Chestnut Street:

Federal Style
Georgian Style
Lovely fence.

Aren't they the most beautiful houses you've ever seen?

Cape Cod: Penniman House

Captain Penniman's House

Edward Penniman was a wealthy whaling captain who built a house on Fort Hill in the town of Eastham. It has been under restoration for awhile, and this last visit we finally got a chance to tour it. It was built in the French Second Empire style with a mansard style roof and elaborate millwork and design on both the interior and exterior. It even has a cupola on top where the Captain would sit and watch the children playing below, and the sea beyond. It is remarkably preserved. Most of the interior woodwork and wallcoverings are the originals.

Curving central hall and stairs.

The Cape Cod National Seashore purchased the house in 1963 for $28,000 from the Captain's grandaughter. Today it is worth millions.

Furnished bedroom.



















At the time, the grandaughter offered to sell the home's furnishings for a small additional sum, but was told the park service wasn't in the business of antique collecting. Talk about a mistake! Later they spent far more money in trying to locate and acquire some of the items from that original collection.

Millwork above back door.

The rectangular block design in the millwork is called dentil molding. Can you guess why?

As an avid lover of historical architecture, I loved visiting this house!