Massachusetts

Execution Site Memorial for the Salem Witch Trials

Execution Site Memorial for the Salem Witch Trials

During the hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials, 19 people were wrongfully convicted and hanged by order of the court. Given the lasting impact that the trials have had on the city, one would assume that the execution site would have remained well known. However, this was not the case. In the prevailing centuries, the location was generally forgotten by the public on multiple occasions. Thanks to scholarly research, the lost site was rediscovered and confidently confirmed in 2016. A year later, a memorial was dedicated there, ensuring that the area will not fade back into obscurity.

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Posted by AP Sylvia in Massachusetts, Witchcraft, 0 comments
Visit 17th Century Salem at Pioneer Village

Visit 17th Century Salem at Pioneer Village

Nestled in a park in Salem, MA, is Pioneer Village, a living history museum designed to portray life in the city as it would have been in 1630. This places it 62 years before the infamous Salem Witch Trials. Thus, it generally depicts a world that the older participants of the trial would have been familiar with. Beyond its relevance for history enthusiasts, the site was also a filming location for a beloved Halloween classic.

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Posted by AP Sylvia in Massachusetts, Witchcraft, 0 comments
The Exorcism of the Packeen Ghost

The Exorcism of the Packeen Ghost

In 1770, residents of Canton, MA, were terrorized by a ghostly wailing that emanated from deep within the forest of an area then known as Packeen. Many townsfolk heard the otherworldly voice and were at a loss as to what to do. They eventually turned to the local deacon in hopes that he could banish the terrifying Packeen ghost.

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Posted by AP Sylvia in Ghosts, Massachusetts, 0 comments
Remembering the Salem Witch Trials

Remembering the Salem Witch Trials

Dedicated on August 5, 1992, the Salem Witch Trials Memorial in Salem, MA, serves as a solemn reminder of a dark piece of colonial history. Its most prominent feature is a low stone wall with 20 granite benches projecting from it. Each bench is inscribed with the name of a person whose life was taken due to the witchcraft hysteria that gripped the community in 1692. The memorial’s dignified and unassuming design allows for quiet reflection. With this in mind, let’s explore the infamous events that motivated the building of this public monument 300 years later.

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Posted by AP Sylvia in Massachusetts, Witchcraft, 0 comments
On the Trail of the Dover Demon

On the Trail of the Dover Demon

In the 1970s, the small town of Dover, Massachusetts entered the annals of cryptozoology when multiple sightings of a mysterious creature were reported. The Dover Demon, as it came to be known, had a humanoid form with strange, otherworldly characteristics. Even decades later, a satisfactory explanation has not been reached. Continue reading →

Posted by AP Sylvia in Cryptids, Massachusetts, 0 comments
The Spirits’ Machine at High Rock

The Spirits’ Machine at High Rock

There’s a hilltop park in Lynn, Massachusetts that offers beautiful views of land and sea. Though there’s no indication of it now, it was once the site of a singular occurrence relating to the spiritualist movement of the 19th century. A former minister attempted to build a machine that would be imbued with life and serve as a savior for humanity. Continue reading →

Posted by AP Sylvia in Massachusetts, Spiritual, 0 comments
Ritual Dagger in Worcester

Ritual Dagger in Worcester

Some time ago, as I was wandering through the Worcester Art Museum (WAM) in Worcester, MA, I came upon a gallery containing various antique weapons and armor. Clearly, these were some of the items from the museum’s Higgins Armory Collection. Towards the back of the room was a large display case with some drawers in its lower section. As I was examining their contents, I came across something unexpected. As I opened one of the drawers, I saw a small, carved face staring out. It was part of a rather elaborate bladed weapon. It turns out this collection contains a Tibetan ritual dagger. Continue reading →

Posted by AP Sylvia in Massachusetts, Spiritual, 0 comments
A Ghost at Castle Hill

A Ghost at Castle Hill

In the town of Ipswich, MA, a grand mansion sits perched upon a high hill overlooking the ocean. The house, along with its striking grounds, provides a window into an opulent past. Though the house was donated for historic preservation in 1949, some feel that the last resident still has a ghostly presence there. Continue reading →

Posted by AP Sylvia in Ghosts, Massachusetts, 0 comments
The Westford Knight

The Westford Knight

While a medieval stone etching of a knight is certainly not something out of the ordinary in Europe, finding one in New England is much more surprising. However, that is exactly what has been asserted about a mysterious carving in the town of Westford, MA. Could it be evidence of a Templar expedition to the New World? Continue reading →

Posted by AP Sylvia in Hidden History, Massachusetts, 0 comments
Krampus in Witch City

Krampus in Witch City

On the longest night of the year, the start of Yule, I enjoyed a unique tour of historic downtown Salem, Massachusetts. My guide had horns upon his head and carried a menacing bundle of sticks. Yes, I followed behind none other than Krampus, the devilish December visitor of Germanic folklore known for terrorizing naughty children. Continue reading →

Posted by AP Sylvia in Massachusetts, Mysterious, 0 comments