Massachusetts, Part 3

Still in Salem.  One of the other things we did is walk through the Old Burying Ground, more commonly known as the cemetery.  At certain times of the year you can get tours, but the area itself is open during the day, and visitors can stroll through at their own pace.  A list of graves and related information can be found here.  Another website, providing brief paragraphs on the people buried in the cemetery is here.

The cemetery was started in 1637.  Some of the better-known "inhabitants" include John Hathorne, the "Hanging Judge" who ordered the convicted witches' executions; Governor Simon Bradstreet, husband of poet Anne Bradstreet; and Samuel McIntire, an architect who designed many of the mansions.

There are a few of the convicted "witches" buried here, although many were placed in unmarked graves near where they were hanged.

Just to give you a sampling of the gravestones:

 This is for a husband and wife: the Hollinworths.

















This one is especially painful --two children who died at 16 months old.  The face of the stone was unique, however -- this was the only one I noticed with hearts on it.

Note the crack on the far right stone.  If you look at it from the back, you will see a metal plate bolted where those five dark marks are on the front.  There have been attempts to preserved the stones throughout the cemetery.  

 

Remember when I said we really didn't do anything relating to witches?  I kind of lied.  We did do one after all.  We had to find the "Bewitched" statue, because that's where the restaurant we wanted was located.  We ate at Cafe Polonia, a little Polish place tucked into the corner of a plaza at 118 Washington Street.  The food was good, and on Fridays and Saturdays they have live entertainment.

Massachusetts, Part 2

Salem, Massachusetts.  Witches.  Witch Trials.  All things Witch.


Unfortunately, my biggest interest in Salem was the sailing and maritime displays, and I managed to do almost nothing with witches.  I hope no one is too disappointed by that....

We arrived at the National Park Visitors' Center around 1 p.m. and caught the film on 300 years of Essex County history (the film lasted 1/2 an hour).  About three minutes of time were devoted to the Witch Trials.  We did learn a little about the local Native Americans, followed by the Puritans, then the colonists (most of whom were fishermen and sailors).  Later, manufacturing moved in.

This is one of the oldest National Historic Sites in the United States, chartered in 1937.  Its emphasis is on the sailing and fishing industries, which were two of the earliest national industries in the country.  The Visitors' Center holds displays, a gift shop, and park rangers who know the area.  Once done at the Center, you can leave the building and walk the six blocks or so to the Maritime Historic Area.

This area hosts the three docks, the ship Friendship of Salem, the Customs House, and other related locations.  Tours of some of the buildings are available.  The Friendship of Salem ship is open for exploring on your own, although there are park rangers on board to answer questions.  (My question: what is a leechline?  I know it's a rope, I'm just not sure what it's attached to....)

At left is a shot of Friendship. This is a replica of a trading ship that made 15 runs between 1797 and 1812, when she was captured by a British ship as a prize of war.  The Parks Service has some of her history here.  And you can find more here.

This ship actually sails local waters, as far away as New York City.  One of the rangers on board said the ship was seaworthy enough to go anywhere in the world, but the volunteers who maintain and sail it weren't likely to choose to go as far as, say, India...


There are 17 miles of line on this ship.  That's enough to stretch from the town of Salem to Boston, Massachusetts!  There are so many lines that the ship actually has a diagram (right) of what each line is called and where it is attached.  The small picture left shows the lines on one of the masts.
  

Visitors can also go below decks.  At left is an example of crew bunks.  Some are in rooms, others are in a common area which doubles as a storage area and carpentry workshop, part of which is shown at right.

Also part of the Maritime Historical Area, the Custom House (right) held the officers of port officials who levied taxes, impounded cargo if necessary, and otherwise represented the Federal Government's interest in the shipping industry of the area.  The current building was erected in 1819.  Inside are displays of tools of the trade, as well as the office of author Nathaniel Hawthorne, who worked as a Customs official for three years.  That time supposedly inspired his book The Scarlet Letter.

More from Salem tomorrow, including the cemetery!

Massachusetts, Part I

Yes, we've been to Massachusetts before.  Long, long ago.  But I'm not about to post anything from then, since I think it may have predated color film....

We are going to start with Salem, then move on to Lowell, then possibly to John Adams's house in Quincy.  We started last night by driving to Oneonta and staying at a Hampton Inn, then continuing on the rest of the way today.  "It's a five-hour drive," says Mom.  As of the five hour mark, we hadn't even made Springfield yet, and that was two hours from Salem.  (Well, actually, we're in Tewksbury.  But that's like telling people "I'm from Kirkwood" -- you might as well just tell them you're from Binghamton and have done with it.

I finally gave up and turned off the GPS early this afternoon, after Mom decided she didn't like the route it chose.  ("We should be on the Massachusetts Turnpike!"  It would have been helpful to know that 18 miles ago when we made the turn-off....)

We found the only Golden Corral buffet in the state (I think).  So did about 500 of our closest friends, including a bunch of folks from some sort of Christian revival church meeting, because we spent the dinner hour surrounded by people in black robes, hats, Sunday-best clothing, and clerical collars.  And their children.  The restaurant must have made a bundle.

At any rate, we have finally made it to our hotel, found the local church, and are prepping for tomorrow.  The only picture I have is from the rest stop in Guilderland, NY, right outside Albany.  This charming statue is from the food court seating area.