Salem's Witch House: A Touchstone to Antiquity

by John Goff

A close-up look at this historic Massachusetts landmark, including photos and illustrations.

Though Salem is located on Massachusetts's scenic North Shore, its history has not always been picturesque. The "Witch City," as it is internationally known, is home to numerous landmarks dedicated to the notorious trials of 1692.

Of these, the Witch House is perhaps most significant--the former residence of Judge Jonathan Corwin, whose court ordered the execution of twenty men and women. It was here that Corwin examined the unfortunate accused. There is, however, more to this ancient building than its most famous occupant. From wars and death to prosperity and progress, this book searches beneath the beams and studs of the Witch House--to find the stories of those who called this place home.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

131 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t particularly like this house being called “the witch house” but that’s what it’s gone by for many years. It was built by Nathaniel Davenport starting by at least 1675 and sold that same year to Jonathan Corwin who lived there more than 40 years. It’s the only building remaining in Salem, Massachusetts that still has ties to the witch trials of 1692.

Corwin was one of the judges at the trials and some of the early interviews of the supposed witches took place inside the house. Nathaniel Hawthorne of the Scarlet Letter and a number of short stories relevant to witches and devilry that so frightened people in the late seventeenth century in Salem, was distantly related matrilineally to the Corwin family and was the great-great grandson of John Hathorne (notice the spelling change by Nathaniel Hawthorne) a judge at the trials. His Salem inheritance haunted him so Salem and area are frequent subjects in his work. By the time he was writing (1828-early 1860s), the era of torture, false accusations, hanging and pressing to death was shameful history for the town of Salem and something to be forgotten. Twenty innocent people were tried and killed. However, it wasn’t long before the town began to promote the witch history as a way to profit from tourism.

In any case the witch trials are not the focus of this book. If that is your interest look further. There is a bibliography included in this book with suggestions on that topic.

Goff’s book is primarily about the different architectural periods the town and particularly the witch house have gone through such as Georgian, Federal and Italianate. Changes to restore and save the house are a large part of the book. Goff is an architect as well as historian. He is obviously strong on architecture but barely touches on interior design or furnishings and I would like to have seen more on Nathaniel Hawthorne. Many people confuse the Turner-Ingersoll house (Hawthorne’s House of the Seven Gables) with the witch house. They are two neighboring but distinct houses.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an awesome snapshot of history surrounding the Salem Witch House! I have been fortunate enough to visit twice, but now, after having read this book, I need to go again! It will teach me so much more after learning the history it went through, and how against all odds, this house has survived so long. It's incredible, and I'm grateful to the people of Salem for caring so much to maintain and preserve its history!

[Erica Holcomb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was very interesting and informative. I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars because of an error that was not picked up in editing. While discussing the history for the Corwin family he mentioned in passing Mary Queen of Scots "who was executed by her sister Queen Elizabeth..." Mary Queen of Scots and Mary Tudor were not the same person. And the only reason I bring up this minor detail to the book is that in the back of my head I did wonder if there were other errors I wouldn't have noticed as I don't know a lot about the Salem's Witch House's history. However realistically I doubt there were; the book was well written and well researched going by his notes and bibliography.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An informative and well researched history of "the witch house" in Salem, MA. It's a very recognizable landmark and I just toured it. It was fun to find out the whole story behind this nearly 400 year old house.

[Madame Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting history about Salem's "Witch House". Glad that it was preserved.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting to learn about the history of the Witch House. The only thing I didn't like was how choppy the book itself was. It seemed as though the chapters were separate articles pieced together, mainly because the same information was repeated throughout as if it was never mentioned.

[LuAnn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of good information, but also a lot of redundancy. I got bored with this book after the first few chapters. It's written like a text book and didn't have much in the way of facts about the how itself, just mainly the architecture. So it really wasn't what I expected.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

His not to be lost

A side r hi history I rarely like in to but a sided that e important to look at. Great detail and history with the walls and building of a house and town.

[Kayla Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read with a lot of facts and history about the settlement of Salem, and the many renovations of the Salem Witch House. Interesting, but a bit dry.

[Christine Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Enjoyable until the chapter pertaining to the era of the trials which makes startling and unprecedented claims yet lo and behold is the only chapter completely devoid of citations.