[Transcript]
So, are you standing in front of the witch house? It's the dark house right on the corner of Essex and North. It looks pretty good for being over 400 years old, right? The old black-timbered witch house, which has a foundation dating all the way back to 1620, holds a special connection to the Salem witch trials. Let me tell you about it on the other side of the house, which has a short stone wall you can sit on.
So, go ahead and walk around the corner to the back of the house and have a seat. So, what's the connection here? Why is it called the witch house? Well, the witch house is the only remaining home in Salem with direct ties to the witch trials. At the time, it was the home of Jonathan Corwin.
Corwin was one of the magistrates who presided over the preliminary examinations at the first meeting house. And Corwin later served on the court of Oyer and Terminer. He got that position because another judge resigned after the first conviction and then execution of Bridget Bishop.
To at least that one judge named Nathaniel Saltinstall, the trials had escalated into something sinister. But apparently, everything seemed on the up and up to Corwin. Oh, and the witch house is surprisingly ghost free.
Nah, just kidding. Of course, this place is super haunted. Why wouldn't it be? No one can say for sure why this house is haunted, but some believe it has to do with Corwin finding so many witch trial suspects guilty.
Others say the ghosts that haunt this house are those who suffered from the Corwin curse. You see, all five of Corwin's children died in this house, as did he and his wife, all prematurely, at different ages, and from various illnesses. Hmm, anyone believe in karma? If you have extra time on your hands and want to see inside, you can purchase a ticket for a self-guided tour of this home.
It contains furnishings from the 1600s, along with items related to Jonathan Corwin and the witch trials. But you can also just go in the back door and visit the gift shop to get a feel for the house and its slanted floors. Okay, in a moment, we'll start heading toward the spot where the court of Oyer and Terminer took place.
While we walk over there, I'll talk more about the second round of witch trials, after Corwin became one of the judges. But while we're on the subject of Corwin, there's one other thing I want to clear up, in case some of your prior witch trial knowledge is rolling around in your brain. Jonathan Corwin is not to be confused with his nephew, George Corwin.
Although both men played crucial roles during the witch trials, they were very different people. I'll tell you more about George Corwin later on in the tour. So do me a favor and walk back to the street corner.
You're gonna cross North Street and remain on Essex. Again, cross North Street at the crosswalk. Then you're gonna stay on Essex Street and walk one block to Sewell Street.
Once you're there, turn left and walk on the right-hand sidewalk to the end of the street to the Witch Dungeon Museum. Just follow the blue line in the app. While you walk, I'll talk.
So press play on marker number 15 titled, Walk to the Witch Dungeon Museum.
