Parking: There are several parking lots and garages in the Salem area
Universally Accessible: No, many of the homes do not have ramps or universally accessible entry
The second home on the Christmas In Salem tour is the Thomas Whittredge House. Thomas Whittredge, a shipmaster from Salem, purchased the land for the home on November 30, 1799. The house was finally built in 1802. The boundaries of the from the original deed have not changed an inch.
Fittingly, this home on Federal Street is built in the original Federal style which was popular from 1780 to 1820. The front facade is most noticeable due to its Doric pilasters elliptical fanlight above the door. Originally, there was a two story stable and a shed and outhouses on the property.
Whittredge was a master mariner who traded in the mid-Atlantic states. He owned two vessels that served as privateers during the war of 1812. He and his wife Sarah, a native of Danvers, were married in 1793. They lived in the home with their 4 children until Thomas’ death in 1829. Sarah lived in the house until 1841 when she transferred the deed to her daughter and son-in-law. The house, which was originally a single family home, was divided into a two-family home around 1885.
During the 1990s, a fire damaged the home. It would not be fully rebuilt until 20 years later.
The home still has its original floors in the fireplace area.
The house was dressed up for the holidays with bow, ribbons and a variety of lights!
If you look closely up this stairwell, you might see a portrait of one of the family members!
And what holiday home would be complete without a poinsettia! The best part were the free treats in the bowl!
Some of the visitors got into the holiday spirit and wore their best headwear for the event!
Summary: The zombies took over Salem, MA, earlier this month!
Zombies of all shapes, sizes and ages gathered in Salem, MA, to feast upon some of the brains of the city folk. They originally planned to go to Washington, DC. But, they would have gone hungry.
All of the zombies, monsters and other ghouls met up at Salem Commons for some photo opportunities. From prom queens to fear leaders, the costumes were as creative as they were scary!
Some of the zombies got tired even before the walk began.
Eventually, the zombies lumbered their way through downtown Salem. Over the years, the walk has really grown in popularity. hundreds if not thousands of people lined the streets, many of them recording the walkers on their cellphones. And the zombies didn’t disappoint. They moaned, leaned into the cameras and shuffled their way through the streets. I love how they get into the spirit of the event!
In some of the photos, you may notice the participants were given buttons that state “I Survived the Zombie Walk!”…or did they? We may never know.
Despite all the moaning, shrieking and close calls with the zombies, the city survived the zombie walk just fine. This time.
The zombie in the video below usually brings his laboratory experiment with him each year!
It’s official! Spooky season has come to Salem, MA!
To usher in the Halloween season, Salem, MA, recently held their 42nd Haunted Happenings Grand Parade! But, even before the parade began, there was plenty to photograph. The sun set just as the parade was getting underway providing some beautiful photo opportunities.
It wasn’t just the parade marchers who got dressed up for the event! These spectators were also dressed up!
A variety of aliens, dinosaurs, pirates and an assortment of other ghoulish characters marched or drove in the festive event!
The theme of the parade this year was “Our Time On Earth.” and some parade floats had decoration reflecting this theme.
Parade participants spend a lot of time and effort preparing their floats for the parade. Some of these floats and vehicles were weeks or months in the making. These vehicles and floats of all kinds, some with interesting passengers, were decorated for the event.
But, not all of the participants were in vehicles or floats. Some of the characters walked or used other modes of transportation to get around.
You may have noticed some Halloween pails in some of the photos. During the parade, some of the people marching in the parade would pass out candy or just give high fives!
As if all that wasn’t enough below is some video from the parade!
Location: Salem Commons , North Washington Square, Salem, MA (35 minutes northeast of Boston, MA)
Cost: Free
Dog Friendly: Yes
Universally Accessible: Yes
Summary: Salem Commons transformed into the days of the 1920s for a very special event.
It was a swinging good time last weekend at Salem Commons.
For the past 6 years, the Salem community Neighborhood Association has hosted the Vintage Lawn Party. The party included dancing, antique cars, music and vendors selling all things vintage.
On my way to the event, I noticed this sky writer. Only in Salem!
While dressing up for the event is not required, it is encouraged and appreciated! Many people came dressed up in their best vintage wear! In fact, it seems like each year more guests decide to don their best attire. I used some special settings such as black and white and sepia to give some of the photos an old timey feel.
Annie and the Fur Traders kept the people dancing with their swinging sounds.
And, of course, there was dancing.
If dancing isn’t your thing, there were some cool cars to check out. In previous years, there was only one or two cars at the party. But, over time as word about the party spread, more and more cars began to show up. I love the curves, shape and sleekness of the cars.
This 1966 Excalibur has a special connection to Salem. It was the very same car used in the Bewitched episodes filmed in Salem, MA. The owner of the vehicle, “Sid” posed with his car.
Below is a photo of the very same car from the Bewitched episode filmed in 1970.
There were also lawn games for everyone to enjoy. Although it may seem like a new sensation, cornhole has existed since the 1880s in different forms.
Croquet, another game that has been around since the 1800s, was also a popular game played by both the young and old.
This 5 year old is quite the croquet prodigy.
There were a number of merchants selling everything from clothing, art ceramics and everything in between.
After a long day of partying and dancing, this pooch was all partied out!
Location: Salem Maritime National Historic Site, 160 Derby St, Salem, MA
It’s 1774 in Salem, MA. The British military governor of Massachusetts General Thomas Gage moved the state General Court and capital of Massachusetts from Boston to Salem. This was done for a variety of reasons but stemmed from something having to do with tea.
After the little dustup also known as the Boston Tea Party, the British Parliament, in an effort to punish Massachusetts colonists, passed the Coercive Acts (aka as the Intolerable Acts by the colonists). These acts were not just “coercive”. They were also divisive. While some Salem colonists supported them, others not so much. So, things were somewhat contentious. Sounds familiar.
To celebrate the 250th anniversary of this historic decision, the National Park Service at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site and a variety of historical actors held a 2 day event to educate and entertain guests.
The day started with a mass at St Peter’s Episcopal Church on St Peter’s St. Since this was 1774, the mass and messages were slightly different from things you might hear today at a religious ceremony.
The pastor railed against “speaking out against the government” and for loyalty to the crown.
From exclaiming “Huzzah” when the Governor was announced to dressing to the nines, the congregation was eager to show their respect to the crown. Respect for the crown was the common theme of the sermon and mass. In fact, when the donation plate was brought to each person the collector said the money would go to the government. Not to those in need but rather the government.
People at the ceremony were dressed in their Sunday Bests.
General Thomas Gage (on the right in the photo below) and a fellow officer sat in a pew specially designated for him.
Tributes to the king and the crown could be found inside the church.
After the mass, the event continued onto the Salem Maritime National Historic Site on Derby St. This particular flag included symbols for Scotland who were part of the British empire.
At the encampment, actors displayed what life was like in Salem, MA, during 1744. From knitting their own uniforms to cook and starting fires, life was certainly much different 250 years ago.
The British Encampment event was family friendly. In fact, they even had some rifles (wooden toy rifles) for people of all ages to enjoy.
And, some real rifles used by the historical actors.
There were also historical experts who showed off some of the foods, fashion and medicine that were common for that time.
The food in these photos were common for most meals during 1774.
And, after eating all that food. Tea was a common beverage.
Fashion was another big part of Salem in 1774. This hat was considered not only very fashionable but very expensive for its time.
Knitting was a big part of life in Salem in 1774.
Musicians kept the guests entertained with music from that era.
I don’t want to give it all away. But, the Coercive Acts didn’t go over very well and something happened a year later. But, that’s a topic for another day!
Date Of Event: February 10, 2024 (event is held annually the weekend of or before Valentine’s Day)
Location: Salem, MA (about 30 mins northeast from Boston, MA)
Cost: Free
Parking: There are 2 main parking garages and several other parking lots and metered parking available throughout the city. See below for parking information in Salem, MA.
Summary: 26 ice sculptures were placed throughout Salem, MA for the Salem’s So Sweet annual event.
Love and a little bit of ice was in the air in Salem, MA, last month. In celebration of the Salem’s So Sweet event, held each year around Valentine’s Day, 28 ice sculptures were unveiled for the Salem’s So Sweet annual event.
Due to the mild temperatures and some clumsy pedestrians, some of the ice sculptures did not fare well . But, of the 28 ice sculptures only only two sculptures were completely demolished.
I am listing the sculptures numerically as they are listed on the map for the event (which is attached in the link at the top). I stayed the entire day so I could photograph the ice sculptures before and after they were lighted. Looking through the photos, I am glad I photographed the ice sculptures before they were lighted because they did melt considerably throughout the day.
Each time I post photos of these events, a feeling of nostalgia sweeps over me and it makes me miss and want to visit Salem. So, posting these photos, although at times time consuming, can actually be fun.
1 Blackcraft Coffee – this ice sculpture was not available
2 One Piece Flag
3 Crystal Snowflake
4 Viking. A lot of people came by to take their photo in the opening of the Viking sculpture. Fun fact: the name of the sports teams for Salem State College is The Vikings.
5 Moon
6 Salem Loves Architecture.
7 Dog (only one of those dogs is a sculpture). Banks, a 3 year old Cream Golden Retriever, was nice enough to pose for the photo on the left.
8 Gummy Bear
9 Keith Haring, Untitled with Heart and Two Figures
10 Coraline
11 Witch. One of the things I appreciate about the Salem’s So Sweet event, and really any event in Salem, is they always keep a Halloween or historical element to their sculptures or other art. Because, as I and other notables have said, “it’s always Halloween in Salem.”
12 Camera
13 Candy Picture Frame. The sculpture has “It’s not the chocolate that matters, it’s the people you share it with” written on the banner. I agree wholeheartedly! As an added treat, Charlie stopped by the sculpture for a few photos!
14 Dragon. It’s the year of the Dragon (technically the Wood Dragon) and the Peabody Essex Museum, which is where this sculpture was located, held a Lunar New Year Festival earlier that day (which I attended). So, this was a particularly appropriate sculpture.
The Lunar New Year Festival at PEM (Peabody Essex Museum – isn’t weird I wrote it out anyway – why didn’t I just type Peabody Essex Museum in the first place?) was wonderful. But I didn’t get too many great photos (except for the back of the person’s head in front of me). I did, however, get this photo from the event.
15 Cat – The Witch House (aka the Jonathan Corwin House). They always have a cat sculpture here. But, it’s shape, type and posture of the cat does change. But, like some of the other places on the list, they have always placed a similar sculpture at their location ever since I’ve been photographing the event.
16 Crystal Ball. This crystal ball had melted quite a bit by the time I got to photograph it. But, I think I saw an eye in the sculpture if you look close and enlarge the photo.
17 World. This sculpture, sponsored by the Journeymasters, is much like the sculpture outside the Witch Bouse in that it is usually in the shape of a globe and only varies slightly over the years I have been lucky enough to photograph it. Like some of the other sculptures on this list, the lights for this sculpture changed colors
18 Lobster, This sculpture located outside of Turner’s Seafood is another sculpture that keeps a certain theme each year. It usually bears a resemblance to a lobster or some other seafood fare.
19 Skull.
20 Curly Girl. This sculpture always makes me smile. Located outside of Curly Girl Candy Shop, the Curly Girl sculpture changed some funky colors!
21 Fairy. It may be hard to see since this sculpture did melt quite a bit. But it looks like a fairy may be playing a harp.
22 Gayle The Snail. I think I was driving behind this sculpture on the way to the event.
23 Whale Tail
24 Cauldron
25 Anchor – this sculpture was not available.
26 Rocking Horse
27 Fall In Love With Salem
28 Bakery
There was also this bonus ice sculpture located outside Re-find which wasn’t part of the official Salem So Sweet ice sculpture event.
I also enjoyed the tasteful decor of the windows at Re-find and some of the other stores in Salem.
At the visitor center, guests could write their own valentine’s and post them for all to see. It was good to see people getting into the spirit of the event!
I now know whenever I go to Salem I’m not just photographing the event or display that is my main purpose of going there. There are always interesting things to photograph in Salem. Besides the ice sculptures, there were also light displays, decorations and even an interesting guest at the event.
This house on Derby St is always decorated for the various holidays and other special days throughout the year and I always make sure to stop by to see the new decorations. However, this photography session was different than my usual shoots. While taking photographs behind the fence at the residence, the owner and decorator of the display invited me on to the property to get a closer look and take some photos. So, I was able to get some photos of things most people don’t get to see, at least not up close. Again, like some of the ice sculptures, I appreciate the nods to Halloween and the darker side of things, especially during this romantic time of the year.
The pumpkins at Stardust kept with the Halloween theme seen throughout the city.
There was also some new art at The Point section of Salem.
And, of course it is Salem, so people don’t wait until October to dress up for Halloween.
Lastly, there was one special visitor at the event. Lucifer, the official cat of Salem, took in the sculptures.
Home can mean different things to different people, especially to people who may have immigrated to this country. The A Dream Called Home mural exhibit in Salem’s The Point district gives a voice to those who are striving to have a stable home. The murals were inspired by the award winning memoir by Mexican-American Reyna Grande. Reyna’s book is about daring to dream about having a stable home. The Punto Art Museum, who sponsored these 20 murals, provides a platform for creative individuals to share stories that reflect the culture of its residents.
It’s interesting to see what each artist drew to symbolize their dream home or what would make for a happy home life. From Teenage Migrant Dominicans to people cooking and picking fruits and vegetables, there are many different ways of expressing your home or path to a happy home.
I took these photos while I waited for the Salem Merry Time Festival to begin. It was a good precursor to the maritime event.
I took these photos with my Canon 5D Mark IV camera with 50 mm lens. I’ve been trying to use prime lenses more often when I take photos of murals, art and other things that don’t move. Generally, prime lenses produce sharper images than zoom lenses because they don’t have extra glass or mechanics inside that moves in order to zoom. This results in better quality photographs due to less diffraction, which increases with higher number of lens elements inside a lens as in the case of zoom lenses. Plus they can be more fun to use and more lightweight. But, the highest quality photo is always paramount. And that is what prime lenses can help deliver.
Some of the murals may have the names of the artists on the mural. However, I could not find more information about these murals.
The murals on this street do change periodically. So, I’m confident there will be new murals with a new theme later this year.
Date Of Event: December 2, 2023 (event is held annually the first weekend of Dec)
Location: 13 Washington Square West, Salem, MA
Cost: Tickets for Christmas in Salem are available online at www.historicsalem.org at a cost of $40 for non-Historic Salem, Inc. members and $35 for HSI members. Tickets purchased the day of the tour are $45. Tour tickets including the Friday night candle-lit preview are $120 for non-HSI members and $100 for members of Historic Salem, Inc. Christmas in Salem proceeds support the preservation mission of Historic Salem, Inc.
Hours: Sat & Sun 10-4
Parking: there are several parking lots and metered street parking throughout the city.
Summary: The Christmas In Salem event consists of a tour of historic homes and buildings in Salem, MA. Each year, home owners and building management open their doors to visitors to get a glimpse into what these historic homes look like and what stories they may have.
Well, we made it ot the 10th and final house in the Christmas In Salem tour. This house was decorated a little different than the other houses on the tour as you will see later in this post. But, the house does have a rich history, just like the other homes in this tour.
The Andrew Safford House was commissioned in 1818 by John Andrew. Andrew made his fortune trading with Russia. He was also a partner with Samuel Archer in the merchant firm Archer and Andrew. For many years it was unclear who designed the house until The Peabody Essex Museum (who we will discuss later in thsi post) confirmed it was designed by Joseph True. True was a master carver and protege of famed Salem architect Samuel McIntire. The home features 4 large pine columns on the southern side of the house. The front parlor has a marble mantlepiece, a plaster -work ceiling and woodwork by Joseph True. One of the most prominent features of the house is the early nineteenth-century French wallpaper which depicts scenes of Cupid and Pysche (I had to Google that too).
After Andrew died in 1829, the house was divided between his widow Catherine and his son John Forrester Andrew. After John Forrester Andrew died in 1845 his widow, Louisa, owned the house until 1860. Over the next decade, the house was owned first by Edmund Smith, treasurer of the Naumkeag Steam Cotton Company, and a merchant named Frederic M. Creamer. In 1871 the house was purchased by James O. Safford, a leather manufacturer. The house then passed through several generations of the Safford family before being acquired by the Essex Institute in 1947. The Andrew-Safford House is still maintained by its current organization, the Peabody Essex Museum.
The Andrew-Safford House showcased both Christmas and Moby Dick decor. While that may seem like an unusual combination, it makes perfect sense.
Since the Peabody Essex Museum maintains the house, they decided to include elements of their upcoming exhibit Draw Me Ishmael: The Book Arts of Moby Dick which will feature artistic depictions of the novel. According to the museum, Moby Dick is the most continuously, frequently and diversely depicted American work of literature. So, take that 50 Shades of Grey.
This was by far the most uniquely decorated home on the tour. The decor didn’t just include whale decorations (although there were some). There were also a penguin, jellyfish and whatever that pink thing is.
However, the main decor of the house was still Christmas and, of course, whale decor.
If you look closely at the Christmas trees (I know you must be thinking “my eyes” when you look at that blue tree) but you may see some marine life in the decorations such as sea horses and whales.
Another thing that I’ve mentioned in previous posts is how much I love the design, architecture and lighting fixtures of these historic homes.
The Call Me Ishmael exhibit will be on display at the Peabody Essex Museum from June 1, 2024 to January 4, 2026. You can find out more about the exhibit here
Thank you all for checking out my posts from this tour! I learned a lot about both these homes and how to photograph these beautiful homes in low light environments which can be challenging. I hope you join me later this year when I photograph this event again! And, of course, follow me here throughout the year on my many travels!
Don’t forget to check out my Facebook page for more content
You can follow me on Instagram at new.england.nomad_
Date Of Event: December 2, 2023 (event is held annually the first weekend of Dec)
Location: 1 Daniels St, Salem, MA
Cost: Tickets for Christmas in Salem are available online at www.historicsalem.org at a cost of $40 for non-Historic Salem, Inc. members and $35 for HSI members. Tickets purchased the day of the tour are $45. Tour tickets including the Friday night candle-lit preview are $120 for non-HSI members and $100 for members of Historic Salem, Inc. Christmas in Salem proceeds support the preservation mission of Historic Salem, Inc.
Hours: Sat & Sun 10-4
Parking: there are several parking lots and metered street parking throughout the city.
Summary: The Christmas In Salem event consists of a tour of historic homes and buildings in Salem, MA. Each year, home owners and building management open their doors to visitors to get a glimpse into what these historic homes look like and what stories they may have.
The ninth house, and really the *last* historic home on the tour (more on this later) is the Daniels House.
One of the oldest homes in Salem, MA, the Daniels House was constructed by Stephen Daniels I or Stephen Daniels II between 1667 and 1693. The home was occupied by mariners and shipbuilders until the mid 1800s. In the mid 1700s Stephen Daniel’s daughter Mary married into the Silsbee family and lived in the house until 1803. Mary’s son, Samuel Silsbee (who was a carpenter), remodeled and enlarged the house around the time of his marriage to Martha Prince in 1756
Silsbee’s heirs divided the house into two properties listed as numbers 1 and 3 Daniels Street in the mid 1800s. When Samuel’s daughters died in the 1860s, the properties were sold to other families. For about a century after the sale, the house went through what Samuel Chamberlain, a photographer who spent some of his life in Massachusetts, said was a period of “many vicissitudes. The house was subdivided into a double house of at least 4 apartments, served as a day nursery and boarding house. There was an ever rotating group of laborers, widows, railroad and shoe workers living in the house for the better part of 50 years. The house then went into foreclosure after the Great Depression and was vacant for almost 20 years. Eventually, the house was owned by Theodore Perry and Winifred Halter. They operated a historic tea room in the first floor. In 1962, the Halters sold the house to Thomas and Catherine Gill. Catherine “Kay” Gill operated the house first as a bed and breakfast and then an inn for 55 years until her death in 2018.
The house is a three story clapboard and wood frame home. It has a closed in front entrance that is covered by a half hipped roof. Over the years, the home has gone through a constant growth and changing architectural styles.
From the decorated Christmas tree to the tasteful decorations of the fruit bowls (no pun intended), the Daniels House was an especially fun home to photograph.
There was also an assortment of dolls, figurines and other holiday decor throughout the home.
This home had not one but two cozy fireplaces. I really wanted to sit by the fireplace and take in the warmth and history of this home.
As much as I wanted to stay there for a longer visit, I had to hurry off to the next and last home on the tour. Luckily, they did allow people to visit slightly after 4 pm which was the time the tours were supposed to end. In fact, I was one of the last people admitted to the last home on the tour. The tour lasts 2 days (Saturday and Sunday). But, I had plans for the following day. So, it all worked out! But, as I mentioned earlier, the last house on the tour was very…different. Hopefully, you’ll be able to see for yourself in the 10th and final installment of this series of posts!
Date Of Event: December 2, 2023 (event is held annually the first weekend of Dec)
Location: 1 Forrester St, Salem, MA
Cost: Tickets for Christmas in Salem are available online at www.historicsalem.org at a cost of $40 for non-Historic Salem, Inc. members and $35 for HSI members. Tickets purchased the day of the tour are $45. Tour tickets including the Friday night candle-lit preview are $120 for non-HSI members and $100 for members of Historic Salem, Inc. Christmas in Salem proceeds support the preservation mission of Historic Salem, Inc.
Hours: Sat & Sun 10-4
Parking: there are several parking lots and metered street parking throughout the city.
Summary: The Christmas In Salem event consists of a tour of historic homes and buildings in Salem, MA. Each year, home owners and building management open their doors to visitors to get a glimpse into what these historic homes look like and what stories they may have.
The eighth house (yes we made it to house number 8) on the Christmas in Salem tour is the the John Ives house. Before I even entered the home, I was struck by the old fashioned style (it is a clapboard style capped by a low hip roof in the “Pre-Federal” style). The John Ives house was constructed circa 1760. A brick walkway leads to a pedimented portico and is flanked by cabled, fluted pilasters. A 3 story-wing is stepped back slightly from the main house on the east side. A barberry hedge runs along the west and south sidewalks.
A tanner by trade, John Ives built the house somewhere between 1750 and 1760. A tan yard was established by the Ives family on land between their house and Collins Cove. Originally, Forrester St began as an access route through the Ives property. Forrester Street would become the official designation after 1860.
Apparently, Ives didn’t want to live there very long, though. By 1764, Ives had sold the “mansion house” and additional land to Captain Samuel Webb who occupied the house with his family until his death in 1808. The house would remain in the Webb family until 1879 when the house was purchased by Stephen Whipple, the owner of a gum copal works (gum copal is a resin used in making varnishes). The home remained in the Whipple family until the 1930s and was often referred to as the “Whipple House.” This is one thing that amazes me. Despite being hundreds of years old, many of these homes only have a few owners.
Not all of the homes on the tour allowed access to all of the floors. This was the case with the John Ives home. However there was plenty to see on just the one floor of this home,
In the kitchen area by the entrance, there were dried up flowers hanging from the ceiling.
These are flowers the wife and husband have bought for each other. They are hung as tokens of their love for each other.
As you may notice from each house on the tour, some homes are decorated more than others (just wait for the last house on the tour). And, even though the more decor can make for better photos, I personally like the less decorated homes. It can feel overwhelming when there are too many decorations. But, that’s just me.
There were cute little figurines and dolls places on the shelves and window sills as well as a beautiful wreath.
This home had some cool and perhaps familiar looking models of some famous Salem homes and attractions. In the first photo (from left to right) is The House of the Seven Gables, not sure what the yellow house is). In the second photo from left to right is the Ropes Mansion, Salem Town Hall (both featured in the movie Hocus Pocus), the bandstand at Salem Commons and the Hawthorne Hotel.
This light fixture located in the dining area caught my attention. Even though it was an electric light fixture, one could easily see a candle in place of that light bulb.
Something I noticed during these tours is that each house really is different. As likely as it may seem that each house would be decorated similarly or the same (unintentionally or otherwise), each house really does have a different feel. Please join me on this tour for the 9th house on the tour!
New England Nomad 