Carefully held in my memory is an afternoon TV show I watched with wide eyed wonder. Walter Cronkite, with his kindly, but booming news reader voice, narrated "You Are There". Taught me about the Hindenburg, Pompeii, and a place called Salem, that in early days of our country, made a name for itself in the Puritan ethic of the time, the Pilgrims and Puritans being the very part of American History we were studying in school. At that age I was not sure how I felt about witches, but I knew I couldn't wait for Halloween, because in my kiddo mind it was more fun than Christmas.
Now decades later My "kiddo" mind still sometimes lumps it all together, even though the "Witches" accused and hanged or pressed to death in Salem, were the victims of hysteria. And a bloody stain on our history. When I went to Salem, I wept at the Salem Witch Trial Memorial, but was also disturbed to see people walking across the graves of the so called judges who presided over the trials of their townsmen. And if you are wondering, nope, couldn't bring myself to go through the museum...nope couldn't do it. The candy shop, a very tiny building, claiming the title of the first candy store in America was a totally different, I was eager to see that.
Touring the reconstruction of early Salem village, is still firmly in my mind, first because it harkened back to my "kiddo" mind's idea that the sun didn't shine very often in the in those days, which of course isn't true. Also I found a stick, which looked very much like driftwood, and a cool pebble near where I parked my vehicle. Needless to say I learned a great deal more than that, and I enjoyed my tour immensely. On the way back to Salem, I decided that after all the education of the past couple days it was time to get more candy, watch the Costumed street performers and hope to see Laurie Cabot {which didn't happen}.
It was only a few weeks until Halloween, and I had a new perspective, and I again walked through the Witch Trial Memorial Memorial, overcome by what had happened to these innocent people, who 'crimes' appeared to me to be nonconformity. Somewhere in that there is a big connection with how Halloween is celebrated in towns and suburbs now. There are of course candy, and witches and cemetery's, also costumes , often the themes of which are predictable and act of nonconformity.
Touring the reconstruction of early Salem village, is still firmly in my mind, first because it harkened back to my "kiddo" mind's idea that the sun didn't shine very often in the in those days, which of course isn't true. Also I found a stick, which looked very much like driftwood, and a cool pebble near where I parked my vehicle. Needless to say I learned a great deal more than that, and I enjoyed my tour immensely. On the way back to Salem, I decided that after all the education of the past couple days it was time to get more candy, watch the Costumed street performers and hope to see Laurie Cabot {which didn't happen}.
It was only a few weeks until Halloween, and I had a new perspective, and I again walked through the Witch Trial Memorial Memorial, overcome by what had happened to these innocent people, who 'crimes' appeared to me to be nonconformity. Somewhere in that there is a big connection with how Halloween is celebrated in towns and suburbs now. There are of course candy, and witches and cemetery's, also costumes , often the themes of which are predictable and act of nonconformity.
Actual Site Of Salem Witch Hangings Discovered
January 13, 2016 7:20 PM CBS Boston
“We are happy to be able to bring years of debate to an end,” Salem State University Professor Emerson Baker told the city of Salem. “Our analysis
draws upon multiple lines of research to confirm the location of the executions.”
City reps confirm to WBZ that a team of researchers used sonar technology combined with eyewitness testimonies from centuries-old documents dating back to the Salem Witch Trials.
The city of Salem acquired the strip of land near the base of Gallows Hill in 1936 “to be held forever as a public park” and called it “Witch Memorial Land.” As it was never marked, most people erroneously assumed the executions took place on the hill’s summit.
A group of researchers on the Salem witch trials called The Gallows Hill Project team, now identifies the site as a rocky ledge much closer to Boston Street, at the base of the hill, basing its conclusions on the early 20th century research of historian Sidney Perley, an eye-witness reference to an execution from the trial papers, maps from different periods, and newer technology not available previously.
“It’s a mix of emotions, confirmation and knowing the history is important but it definitely feels like something we make sure it’s something we honor. I think we are continually wanting to see ourselves as wanting to make up for what happened there,” said Salem Mayor Kimberley Driscoll. “It’s a pivotal part of American history. It’s informed our modern day judicial undertakings.”
Thomas Brophy grew up and lives next to the witch trial hangings site. “The family always said that they figured that this was the area but there was never a concrete proof until now,” said Brophy. “It was a very sad time for the city of Salem and it’s a shame that this happened but it did happen, it is history and I think we’re dealing with it in the right way with trying to memorialize those that passed away,” he added.
Members of the Gallows Hill Project Team include Salem State University Professor of History Emerson Baker, Salem Award Foundation Chair Shelby Hypes, Director, the city of Salem’s Corwin House (The Witch House) Elizabeth Peterson, Salem Witch Trials: Examine the Evidence Producer and Director Tom Phillips, University of Virginia Professor of Religion Benjamin Ray, Salem Witch Trials Historian and Author Marilynne Roach, and Salem State University Emeritus Professor of Geology Peter Sablock.
“It would be nice now to be able to show them the site with a plaque and with something to be able to take a picture of,” explained Brophy.
“It’s definitely a dark part of our history, an infamous time in Salem when people turned onto each other. I think we learned a lot of lessons and we’ve worked hard to overcome what happened in 1692,” said Mayor Driscol
draws upon multiple lines of research to confirm the location of the executions.”City reps confirm to WBZ that a team of researchers used sonar technology
combined with eyewitness testimonies from centuries-old documents dating back to the Salem Witch Trials. The city of Salem acquired the strip of land near the base of Gallows Hill in 1936 “to be held forever as a public park” and called it “Witch Memorial Land.” As it was never marked, most people erroneously assumed the executions took place on the hill’s summit.
A group of researchers on the Salem witch trials called The Gallows Hill Project team, now identifies the site as a rocky ledge much closer to Boston Street, at the base of the hill, basing its conclusions on the early 20th century research
of historian Sidney Perley, an eye-witness reference to an execution from the trial papers, maps from different periods, and newer technology not available previously. 
Proctor’s Ledge in Salem (WBZ-TV)
Thomas Brophy grew up and lives next to the witch trial hangings site. “The family always said that they figured that this was the area but there was never a concrete proof until now,” said Brophy. “It was a very sad time for the city of Salem and it’s a shame that this happened but it did happen, it is history and I think we’re dealing with it in the right way with trying to memorialize those that passed away,” he added.
Members of the Gallows Hill Project Team include Salem State University
Professor of History Emerson Baker, Salem Award Foundation Chair Shelby Hypes, Director, the city of Salem’s Corwin House (The Witch House) Elizabeth Peterson, Salem Witch Trials: Examine the Evidence Producer and Director Tom Phillips, University of Virginia Professor of Religion Benjamin Ray, Salem Witch Trials Historian and Author Marilynne Roach, and Salem State University Emeritus Professor of Geology Peter Sablock. “It would be nice now to be able to show them the site with a plaque and with something to be able to take a picture of,” explained Brophy.
“It’s definitely a dark part of our history, an infamous time in Salem when people turned onto each other. I think we learned a lot of lessons and we’ve worked hard to overcome what happened in 1692,” said Mayor Driscol
