Salem Postcards

The Witch House

The Witch House is currently situated on the corner of Summer and Essex Streets, and is also known as the Corwin House. There is much debate about when the structure was erected, but it is believed to be between 1630-1674 and is one of the oldest dwellings in the United States. Jonathan Corwin, a magistrate during the witchcraft hysteria of 1692, held many pre-trial examinations here of the accused witches. Corwin bought the house in 1675 from Capt. Nathaniel Davenport. The building underwent more changes when George P. Farrington owned in in the mid 1800's. The apothecary shop was added to the east side front in 1856. In 1944, when threatened with destruction, The Witch House became the catalyst that launched a wave of restoration in Salem. Historic Salem Inc. raised the $42,500 needed to move and restore the building. The new museum officially opened to the public in 1948 as a furnished historic site. It is owned by the city today and operates seasonally as a museum with guided tour. The building was moved in the winter of 1945 to allow widening of North Street. Also as part of that project, the Bowditch House was relocated on North Street next to the Witch House. The Corwin House was moved back 35 feet and a new pitched roof (a recreation of the original) was put on at this time. In 2008, grant money was received for repairs and to make the house wheelchair accessible. For a fascinating read and excelllent compilation of photos, check out the Streets of Salem blog. Additionally, John Goff's book Salem's Witch House : a touchstone to antiquity and Frank Cousins' book The Colonial Architecture of Salem, offer a great wealth of detail about this structure.

Nathaniel Hawthorne Postcard - "Salem's Great Romancer"

A postcard including a brief biographical sketch of Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Pilgrim Motel Postcard

A postcard depicting a picture puzzle reproduced from an old woodcut. The viewer is urged to find the two heads in the picture - "an original Salem witch and one of her pretty victims."

Public Library at Salem, MA

Black and white print of entrance to Salem Public Library with inscription

Public Library

Colorized print postcard of entrance to Salem Public Library. Verso description: "Situated at 570 Essex Street. The building was donated to the City by the heirs of Capt. John Bertram and it was opened as a free library July 8, 1889."

The South Church, built 1804, destroyed by fire December 1903

Photograph of the steeple of South Church of Salem, MA

Salem Harbor view

Early photograph of Salem Harbor

Custom House, Connected with Hawthorne's "Scarlet Letter"

Black and white street view photograph of the Custom House with inscription, postcard sent October, 13, 1906

Hawthorne's Birthplace, postcard sent in 1906

Black and white street view photograph of entrance to Nathaniel Hawthorne's birthplace with inscription, postcard sent in October, 1906

Hawthorne Birthplace

Colorized print postcard of view of entrance to Nathaniel Hawthorne's birthplace (now located at 27 Hardy Street)

Birthplace of Nathaniel Hawthorne

Colorized print postcard of entrance to Birthplace of Nathaniel Hawthorne with portrait of author. Description on back: "Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in the Northwest Chamber in the Second Story of this old Gambrel roofed house, now numbered 27 Union Street. The house was built prior to the time of witchcraft delusion by one of the Salem citizens."

Ship Mount Vernon

Postcard, color photo of Ship Mount Vernon, oil painting by M.F. Cornè in Peabody Museum (Peabody Essex Museum) of Ship Mount Vernon, 355 tons, built in Salem 1798 for Elias H. Derby, an armed shipped during the Quasi-War with France. Photo courtesy Peabody Essex Museum.

Salem Club House, formally Residence of George Peabody, Esq., Built 1818

Colorized print of Salem Club House, postcard printed in Germany

Roger Williams House or Old Witch House, built 1635

Black and white wide shot photograph of the Roger Williams House (Witch House) as it once stood, postcard with inscription.

Old Witch House

Colorized print of the Witch House as it once stood

Rear of Witch House

Colorized print of Witch House rear, postcard printed in Germany

First Meeting House, Built 1635

Black and white exterior print of First Meeting House with inscription, postcard printed in Germany

Reverend Sam Parris House, Salem Village, Danvers

Black and white exterior photo of the Sam Parris House of Salem Village (Danvers, MA) with inscription, postcard printed in Boston, MA

House of Seven Gables

Colorized print of the House of Seven Gables exterior, postcard printed in Frankfort (Frankfurt) Germany

Ropes Mansion

Wide shot exterior black and white photograph of the Ropes Mansion of Salem, MA,postcard printed in Boston, MA

Elizabeth Orne Room, Ropes Mansion

Black and white interior photo of the Elizabeth Orne Room at Ropes Mansion, postcard printed in Boston, MA

Garden, West, Ropes Mansion

High angle black and white photo of the westernmost garden behind the Ropes Mansion of Essex Street, Salem, MA, postcard printed in Boston, MA

North Church

Colorized print postcard of the North Church (now the First Church) on Essex Street in Salem, MA.

The Governor's Faire House and herb garden at the Pioneers' Village

Wide shot black and white photo of the exterior of the Governor's house and her garden at Salem Pioneer Village, postcard printed in Sweden

Pillory and stocks at the Pioneers' Village

Wide shot black and white photo of the exterior of the pillory, a wigwam, and the stocks with live model at Salem Pioneer Village, postcard printed in Sweden

English wigwams at the Pioneers' Village

Wide shot black and white photo of the exteriors of three English wigwams at Salem Pioneer Village, postcard printed in Sweden

Dug outs, saw pit, and English wigwams at the Pioneers' Village

Wide shot black and white photo of the dug outs, saw pit, and English wigwams at Salem Pioneer Village, postcard printed in Sweden

Interior of English Wigwam at Pioneers' Village

Black and white photo of English wigwam interior at Pioneers' Village (Salem Pioneer Village), postcard printed in Sweden

Chestnut St. Doorways

Two doorways on Chestnut St. in the Samuel McIntyre Historic District.

Salem Willows, "Kiddies Bathing Beach"

Drawing of a beach referred to as "Kiddies Bathing Beach" at the Salem Willows.

Salem Pioneer Village, 1630

Postcard of the reproduced dwellings of settlers in 1630, by Salem Pioneer Village.

House of the Seven Gables, Front

Postcard shows the front of House of the Seven Gables, built in 1668.

House of the Seven Gables, Garden View

Postcard shows a garden view of the House of Seven Gables, built in 1668.

Statue of Roger Conant

Often mistaken for a male witch, this statue in front of the Salem Witch Museum is of the city founder Roger Conant. This 9 foot tall bronze statue sits next to the Salem Common at the intersection of Brown St. and Washington Square and was erected in 1913. It was fashioned by sculptor Henry Kitson on behalf of the Conant Family Association. The 60 ton boulder he stands on was shipped from Page Farm near Floating Bridge in Lynn. As no image of Roger Conant has survived, Kitson fashioned a Puritan male figure, with broad-rimmed hat and a flowing cape who is grasping the trunk of an oak tree. Conant left a strong legacy in Salem and was known as the "Old Planter." On the sculpture, the left side of bronze base: Copyrighted Henry H. Kitson 1911. On plaque, front of base: Roger Conant. Born 1592-died 1679. The statue was restored in 2005 after a successful local campaign to raise money to clean the bronze statue of its stains from acid rain and pollution. The $30,000 restoration was done by Rika Smith McNally. The group involved with fund-raising was the Salem Common Neighborhood Association.

The Arbella, Gov. Winthrop's Flagship

Arbella was the flagship of the Winthrop Fleet on which Governor John Winthrop, other members of the Company, and Puritan emigrants transported themselves and the Charter of the Massachusetts Bay Company from England to Salem between April 8 and June 12, 1630.