The Nancy Courtis house (the house on the right side of the duplex in this photo) was built for Nancy around 1846. The double house was built in the Greek Revival style. Nancy purchased the property on May 26, 1843 and later had the house built there.
In 1850, the property was worth $5,000 in todays dollars. Nancy had a brother, William Courtis, and a sister Hannah Courtis. She never married and no occupation was ever listed for her. Nancy died in 1875. Since she did not have children to leave her property to, he property was left to her nephew, Ambrose Saunders.
As I entered the Nancy Courtis House, I noticed this mistletoe. The tour guide told us 16 couples had already smooched under it! And that was only a few hours into the tour!
For some reason, this Christmas tree seemed more “full” than the other trees on the tour. The decorations. lights and ribbons gave some heft to the tree!
But, one tree was not enough for these folks. This “bird tree” has a variety of different birds in it. You may have to enlarge the photo to see them.
There were also wreaths and other Christmas decor in the home.
On the way out of the home, the tour guide explained how the paint used for the doorway was not a random choice or a fancy passing. The owners of the home, transplants from Louisiana, brought over their superstitions and beliefs with themselves. One of those beliefs is to paint your doorways, particularly the doorway to your porch, in Haint blue. The superstition holds that evil spirits won’t cross water and the blue color represents the barrier to these spirits. It seemed very appropriate for this superstition to be brought to a city known for its superstitions and beliefs in the paranormal.
I know. Christmas posts in April? But, I feel a certain feeling of nostalgia and cheer posting these photos and retelling these stories. I’m just glad I took copious notes during the tours! For those who may be sick of these posts, only one more home left on the tour!
This clapboard house , built as an early Federal style building, has three bays and a center chimney. The gable end faces the street. The doorway entrance on the south side has Doric-style pilasters on either side supporting a flat entablature ( superstructure of moldings and bands which lies horizontally above columns, resting on their capitals). A rear addition that was added circa 1860 features a one story porch with a railing, along the southside, facing a patio.
Born in 1767, Nathaniel Land was a master silversmith as well as the son and nephew of master silversmiths in Salem, MA. The house was built for Lang in 1783. However, Lang’s and his wife Priscilla’s homestead is believed to be in North Salem. Additionally, it is believed Lang may have bought the home as an investment and never actually lived in the house.
Like the Micah Wild House which I posted about earlier, the Nathaniel Lang house had a side facing front. THis, as I mentioned in the previous post, was often done for tax purposes as the more narrow side of the home would be taxed. Since I only photographed the side of the home I am adding this photo from Zillow to give a better perspective of the home.
Even before you entered the Nathaniel Lang home, you could feel the Christmas spirit.
Inside, the home had a very cheery feel to it with this Christmas tree taking up the corner of the living room area.
There were also Christmas decorations placed throughout home.
This spoon which was used in the home was framed and hung on the wall as a reminder of the history of the home.
There were other reminders of the historic nature of the home.
This flooring is the original wood flooring.
And this wood, which they found during renovations, is also original to the house.
It’s incredible to think this home still has these original features. They just don’t make things like they used to!
This glass of this door was very colorful. I also liked how the portrait of their dog seemed as though it was looking out at everyone. Nice touch!
As I was leaving the home, I noticed one of the more charming aspects of the home. The back porch gave the home a very relaxing and almost country feel despite being located near the busy downtown area. One can imagine sitting on the bench or chairs with some friends and a beverage,
As you can see, this home had so much to offer! It was one of the more interesting homes on the tour thus far!
A two story clapboard Federal style house with five bays, the John Dodge House features a pedimented front entrance with fluted pilasters on either side of the door and horizontal row of lights above the door. The house was said to have been built around 1794 by a John Dodge. However, there were several men living in Salem at that time with the name of John Dodge (I’m sure the name Dodge was like Smith is these days). It is believed by historians the original owner was the John Dodge who died in 1812, leaving behind a wife and 6 children.
The house was sold to Lucius Bolles in 1808. Bolles was the first minister of the First Baptist Church of Salem and Corresponding Secretary of the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions fourteen years. He was also one of the founders of Newton Technological Institution.
Bolles sold the property to Priscilla Dike, the wife of John Dike, a prominent lumber and coal dealer. Mrs. Dike was the aunt of the famed Salem author, Nathaniel Hawthorne, who most likely visited the home frequently.
The keen eye may notice the photo of the house posted above was not taken during the tour. I missed this one during the tour. So, I took this photo last weekend.
The home had so many wonderful decorations.
Each of these figures on the mantle represents or is doing one of the things in the 12 days of Christmas. For instance, there is a caroler drumming.
And of course Christmas trees! I think this tree needed a little taken off the top!
I especially enjoyed the old timey decor of the wooden decorations.
While doing work around the house and property, there were some unexpected discoveries.
These shoes were found by the chimney near the attic. Shoes had a special significance during the times of the 1700 and 1800s. They are the only item of clothing that takes the shape of the person who was wearing them. They were believed to hold something of the wearer’s essence or personality even when they were not being worn. It was believed that it was this association with the wearer that could fight off evil spirits should they try to enter a home.
The blue and white Chinese porcelain pieces were found while digging in the cellar of the house. The wrought iron nails, also found in the cellar, are believed to be original to the house.
Believe it or not, this piece of furniture traveled from England to Salem! At least that is the story behind it. What is known for sure is it was transported from Boston to Salem.in 1794 which must have been an arduous journey. Although it may have been cleaned up and polished over the years, it’s incredible to see it has stayed in such good condition over the years.
It feels weird posting about Christmas in March. Yet, I also feel a sense of warmth and joy looking back on these photos. Christmas decor and the Christmas spirit are always appropriate no matter the time of the year!
Located on 4 Federal, Court, the Mikah Wild House was built in 1804. The house is considered a classic example of the Federal style house with its gable end to the street. An interesting factoid as to why this house was built this way is that homes were built this way to avoid taxes. People were taxed by the street frontage of the house. And, since the side of the home was more narrow and smaller then the actual front of the home where the the front door is located, people paid less taxes. Duly noted. Although I’m sure that law has been updated by now.
Unfortunately, I did not take any photos of the side/front of the home. But, I was able to find this photo on redfin.com. as it will show the descriptions I will outline below.
The south facing facade of the home has five bays and a central entrance trimmed with flat pilasters and a semicircular fanlight above the door.
The builder of the house, Micah Wild, was a native of Braintree, MA, and a Revolutionary War veteran. He moved to Salem, MA, in 1790 and he acquired the land to build the house in 1802. In 1806, fellow Revolutionary veteran James Barr and he agreed to lay out a private way or court, 24 feet wide, extending from Federal Street to land belonging to James Ropes. Wild built the house on a parcel of land of that right-of-way. The Wild family did not live there very long. As they moved from Salem to Andover, MA, in 1810.
In 1815 Eben Dodge, a flour and grain merchant, and his wife Joanna acquired the house. Their son, Eben Dodge, Jr, was born in 1819. He would later go on to become a professor of religious studies and the fourth president of Madison College (now Colgate University).
The current owner acquired the house in 2022.
I was hesitant to go to this house because I didn’t want to go to Federal Court. But I took my chances.
While waiting to enter this home, I met this elf.
Brian is also know for dressing up as the witch “Borah” in Salem during Halloween.
A portrait of the home hung on the wall leading to the stairwell. Much like the rest of the house, the stairway was decorated for the holidays.
Stars, holly and even a Santa statue filled the home with holiday cheer!
Fun fact: the home was said to have been bought by Robert Parker of the “Parker Brothers” family.
There was also a Christmas tree and other assorted decorations.
I bet this closet could come in handy during the holidays!
My favorite part of the house was the free candy, of course. Mental note: Don’t put candy canes and chocolates in your pockets when you’re crouching down to take photographs.
The Witch House in Salem, MA, may be not only the most photographed housew in Salem, it may also be the most infamous.
Built in circa 1675, the building was built by Captain Nathaniel Davenport of Boston. The wood-frame and clapboard home was sold to Salem merchant Jonathan Corwin. After purchasing the home, Corwin hired mason Daniel Andrew to complete the structure.
In 1692, during the Salem witch trials, Corwin, who served as a magistrate and justice, would question and examine some of the accused witches in this very house. None of the accused ever lived in the house. And, of course, none of the accused witches were actual witches.
The house was built in a center chimney style. The clustered brick chimney served as an anchor for the house. A two-story projecting projecting porch is flanked by peaked gables on the facade, a rear lean-to extends the space on the back. The entire second story overhangs the first story in the front with decorative drop pendants at the ends of the overhangs of the porch.
Through the year, multiple changes and alterations were made to the structure. In the second-half of the 19th century, owner George P. Farrington, attached a drugstore to the east front of the structure.
In the 1940s, the city wanted to enlarge North St (the original location of the Witch House). But, the citizens of Salem raised $42,000 to save the home and to have it moved to its current location on Essex St. The Witch House was eventually opened as a museum in 1948.
I have mixed feelings about this house. Innumerable people line up to take photos in front of this infamous home. While it’s important to keep reminders of the past and it’s also good that places where tragic things have taken place have transformed into places of historic value (and business), it still doesn’t sit well with me.
The Witch House had a self-guided tour that had print outs with information about the house. While the house is generally known for the tragic events of the Salem witch trials, this tour dealt more with the Christmas traditions and some of the rituals and remedies of the day.
According to the handouts, the colonists brought over many of their Christmas traditions from England. Some of these traditions include eating and singing religious hymns. Did I mention eating?
I got hungry just posting these photos! And, of course, one would need implements to eat these foods.
These utensils were found through archeological digs and excavations.
The Christmas festivities from that time lasted from December 25 until the Twelfth Day, January 6. During this time period very little work was done. What a bunch of party animals.
The Witch House was festively decorated for the tours.
During the times of the witch trials, people used holly remedies as cures. Archeologists found ritual shell-cups in North America with residue dating back to 1,200 BC. The leaves can be used to make tea and alleviate digestive disorders, water retention, jaundice, rheumatism, periodic fevers, measles and respiratory illnesses such as cold, coughs, flu and pneumonia. Somedays I feel like I may have every single one of those. Holly leaves can also be used to treat symptoms of dizziness and high blood pressure. They also can be used topically for sores and itching.
There were some documents from the witch trials. These actual documents from the trials are kept in a sealed container.
The Witch House also displays an assortment of wares and other tools of the era.
Hours: Open all day Saturday, special Sunday hours 1-4 pm
I am still planning on posting all of the summaries of my tours of the homes and buildings on the Christmas In Salem tour, albeit a little late. I did get side tracked with some other events I attended. But, I will now focus on these last remaining homes of the tour. I am also adding a bonus surprise to this post which will be revealed at the end of the description of this church.
From the 4 leaf clover-like design at the top of the building to the unique design, the First Church of Salem is one of the more recognized structures in the city of Salem, MA., that doesn’t have “witch: in it’s name. In fact, as I took the photo above a lady mentioned how it was one of the most photographed buildings in Salem. But, the interior of the building and the building’s history are lesser known points of interest.
Built in 1836, the The First Church of Salem is not only considered the continuous Protestant Congregation, it is also considered one of the best examples of stone masonry Gothic Revival ecclesiastical structures in the United States.
Constructed of cut and regularly coursed Quincy granite covered by a low-hipped slate roof, the First Church of Salem has symmetrical front facade on which is centered a square, crenelated attached bell tower with a Tudor-arch front doorway. Just like my home. Above the doorway is a large traceried (ornamental stone openwork) pointed-arch window. There are additional pointed-arch windows with basic tracery and diamond-shaped panes on either side of the tower and along the side walls. The church also houses stained glass windows by such names as Tiffany, LaFarge and Reynolds. Grace Park, widow of George Swinnerton Parker of Parker Brothers fame, dedicated one of the stained glass windows in memory of her husband and 2 sons.
Festive decor was abundant in the church.
In the back of the church, there was a room for functions and receiving people.
A pianist played some holiday music.
One of the interesting tidbits the guides for the church discussed was the church’s role in Leslie’s Retreat. To make a long story short, starting in 1718, the First Church of Salem broke into five different churches, with all but one rejoining the original First Church in later years. Today, the congregation worships at the meetinghouse of the North Church, built in 1836. The one congregation that remains independent is the Tabernacle Church in Salem, which separated from the First Church in 1734 over a row about a minister at the time.
On February 26, 1775 at North Church, which is the current location of the First Church, Reverend Thomas Barnard Jr left his pulpit to join a group of Salem men to convince the British Colonel Leslie to not attack a munitions depot alleged to be stored in North Salem. After some cajoling (and perhaps some bending of the truth), Col. Leslie agreed to not attack. It is said that if not for the reverend’s efforts, the Revolutionary War would not have started in February, 1775 instead of April, 1775. A portrait of the reverend still hangs at the church.
Drum roll please for the bonus to this post…
Every so often, I am planning on adding book reviews from authors from New England or books about New England. I’ve read many books from authors based in New England or about the area. But, to refresh my memory, I will have to re-read some. If you do have any New England themed books or books written by people from New England, feel free to leave a comment or suggestion!
This was not my first go at a book by this author some of you may have heard of. And, although I’ve given this author many tries, I’ve never been overly impressed. But, that may be because it’s just not my personal taste of genre. However, this book was different. I am copying and pasting text from my goodreads review. Click on the link if you want to read the entire review. And, send a friend request if you’re a goodreads user!
The Shining – Stephen KIng
It may be surprising to some. But I am not a huge Stephen King fan. However, he definitely delivered in this effort.
Of course, I had seen the movie several times before reading the book. However, not everyone prefers the film over the book. In fact, Stephen King has been a sharp critic of the film version. While each production stands on their own, here’s what I appreciated about the book.
Jack Torrance. What a character. Unlike the film, Jack is a much more nuanced and layered character in King’s book. Sometimes he seems dangerous, indeed evil. Other times he seems almost relatable, particularly his struggles with his vices.
I also appreciated the Wendy character in the book. She was both sincere and, frankly, bad ass.
King transitioned smoothly to various side stories…
Summary: 29 ice sculptures were scattered throughout the downtown area of Salem, MA.
Turtles, shrimp and even Snoopy were just a few of the things on display earlier this month in Salem MA! Those are just a few of the ice sculptures included in the 23rd annual Salem’s So Sweet event.
The weekend event, which kicked off with a fundraiser Friday, February 7, included 29 ice sculptures, many decorated storefronts and a few surprise guests!
The ice sculptures arrived by Saturday morning. But, they only light them up around 5 o’clock on Saturday evening. Over the years, when I have photographed this event, I like to photograph the ice sculptures before and after they are lighted so you can see how they look both ways. Also, the weather was fairly mild. So, some of the features of the sculptures look better before they were lighted. But, for the sculptures that kept their structural integrity, they look much better when they are lighted.
I am posting the sculptures in the order they were listed on the map for the sculptures from the event.
Crystal Snowflake
2. Viking (Salem State’s sports team’s name)
3 Dog – Buddy, a 4 year old mixed breed, posed the same way as the sculpture!
4 Candy Conversation Hearts
5 Salem Trolley
6 Smile
7 Catacombs
8 Cauldron
9 Piggy Bank
10 Love Letter Picture Frame – Written in French in the center of the sculpture, the translation, which you may not be able to read, is located on the right corner of the sculpture. According to Google Translate, the translation is different than the translation on the ice sculpture. According to Google Translate, it translates to: “You are beautiful. But you are empty. We can’t die for you. Of course, my soft rose, an ordinary passerby would think that it resembles you. But, she alone is more important than all of you since she’s the one I’ve watered.” How romantic.
11 Whale Tail
12 Pumpkin
13 Cat – Some of the ice sculptures, like this one at the Witch House, were lighted by lights that changed colors. I took photos of the sculpture with the different colors of light
14 Gargoyle
15 World
16 Snoopy
17 Moon & Stars
18 Shrimp
19 Skull And Boots
20 Turtles
21 Mice
22 Honey And Hearts
23 Heart T-Rex
24 Sailboat
25 Halloween Cat
26 Black Flame Candle
27 Teapot
28 Glinda The Good Witch – The Salem Witch Museum, where this ice sculpture was located, always seems to have a Wizard Of Oz themed sculpture every time I have photographed this event! There are many connections one could make between the Salem Witch Trials (and witches in general) and the Wizard Of Oz. One connection between the two is that Frank Baum, the writer of the Wizard Of Oz books, was inspired by his mother-in-law and suffragist Matilda Gage. And Gage was very much inspired by Rebecca Nurse, one of the accused witches.
29 Bakery
There were some other ice sculptures not included in the official event.
Re-Find has been putting their own mini sculptures in front of their store for the event the past few years. I always look forward to seeing their version!
This ice sculpture was not included in the list of ice sculptures. But, it was a great sculpture for people to sit on and get their photo taken!
If you’re wondering how they get the sculptures to light up, I had the good fortune of seeing the workers install the lights. They have teams of workers who work on different installations throughout the evening. It only takes them a few mintes to install the lighting fixtures.
The city of Salem and the shop keepers really got into the spirit of the event. There were several shops and buildings that had Valentine’s Day decorations.
This house always has such festive decorations for all of the major holidays and special occassions.
There were also some special guests in Salem for the big event!
Borah may be familiar to some of you who visit Salem regularly.
And Mother Nature of Salem was there with Father Time!
Lastly, I am posting videos of some of the ice sculptures that change colors so you can see it in real time!
It’s easy to see why the Grey-Balch residency is considered “the most ambitious and outstanding residence of its era in Salem.”
The Greymoor-Balch House boasts rusticated wooden sheathing, paired pilasters with fluted tops at the corners of the facade and an elaborate arched dormer window above the second floor which is enhanced by a heavily bracketed cornice. The front entrance porch is supported by eight square molded columns capped by a balustrade with corner posts supporting urns.
The house’s decor is modeled after the Second Empire and Italianate styles.
Greymoor was built by James S. Putnam in 1872 after he demolished a house on that site which was owned by Benjamin Marston, a former Essex County high sheriff and colonel in the state militia. In 1881 the property was by Frank Balch. Balch worked at the Naumkeag Steam Co. Balch’s son is said to have improved x-ray technology by inventing the Balch Roentgen Scopic screen in 1916 which reduced the time required for taking an x-ray picture from 20 seconds to 1/5 of a second. Balch’s company, Balch Roentgenoscopic Screen Co, was located in Salem, MA.
The house served as Salem’s American Legion headquarters between 1921 and 1979. Between 1971 and 1981, Donald Costin restored the house as a private home. More recently, the current owners have restored the house to its original decor. The 6,352 square foot included 3 floors with 2.5 bathrooms, 5 bedrooms and 8 fireplaces. When the house was listed for sale in June, 2019, the house was listed for just under a paltry $1.4 million.
Upon entering the home, it was clear there was a lot of Christmas decor in the house.
I thought this arched door was very elegant.
Of course, my favorite of any home is the kitchen. I always like to look at the kitchens of these old homes! This very old looking cast iron coal stove had 6 burners. I especially enjoyed the artwork and decor above the stove.
In the hallway, there was this painted window that could be opened.
The home was tastefully decorated. I especially liked the lighting fixtures.
Fitz Blarney provided some holiday cheer.
I have a pet peeve about taking photos in general. But, especially with photos of homes. If there is a vehicle or some other obstruction, I won’t take head on photos of the building. So, I will often take photos from an angle or the side. However, this home is so pretty, I decided to include a front facing photo of the building from the real estate website when it was on the market (photo courtesy of priceypads.com).
While it’s unofficial history can be dated back to 1760 when members of two institutions started combining the latest scientific works into a joint collection, it wasn’t until 1810 when they decided to merge together to form the Salem Athenaeum.
There was no permanent location for the athenaeum for many decades. Then, in 1850, at the bequest of Caroline Plummer, a philanthropist and founder of Plummer Professorship of Christian Morals, a brick building was constructed in the Italianate style at 132 Essex St. The Athenaeum stayed at this location for 50 years. Then, in 1905, the Athenaeum sold the building to the Essex Institute. It would later become what is now the Peabody Essex Museum.
With the proceeds from the sale of the building at 132 Essex St, the Salem Athenaeum was built at at its current location of 337 Essex St. Dedicated in 1907, the current red brick building was modeled after the Homewood Estate in Maryland which was built by Charles Carroll one of the signers (and longest living survivor) of the Declaration of Independence.
Over the years, many people of note have been members of the Salem Athenaeum. Nathaniel Hawthorne, mathematician Nathaniel Bowditch, former Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story, Impressionist painter Frank W. Benson and Charles Grafton Page, an early inventor of the electric motor, have all been members of the Athenaeum.
The name “Athenaeum” is derived from the Greek goddess of wisdom, “Athena.” And, according the tour guide, the translation for “Athenaeum” is loosely “private library.”
From time to time, the athenaeum will feature speakers, presenters and other people of note to speak. This book tree consists of books written by people who have spoken at the athenaeum.
Because of a certain famous theatrical release from last year, there were a few exhibits dedicated to The Wizard Of Oz and other related works.
The Athenaeum has many interesting pieces of decor.
This may look familiar to some. It is a drawing taken from the Chronicles of Narnia (The Last Battle). I got the feels when I saw that as it was one of my favorite books I read as a younger person. This is one of the treasures of going to a library like this. It can not only open doors of learning. It can also revive old dormant feelings.
The athenaeum also has a special vault where books, pamphlets and other publications with high appraisal values are kept. But, the small climate-controlled storage area can only hold a fraction of the highly prized documents.
While the library is open and free to everyone during their normal hours of operation, members get perks such as borrowing books or magazines without overdue fines, advanced notice and reduced fee or free admission to programs and events and other bonuses.
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
After a short break from posting about the Christmas In Salem tours, I am resuming these posts.
The Christmas In Salem event reinforces how you can’t judge a book, or in this case house, by it’s cover or exterior. At first glance, the Captain Emery Johnson House looks like any garden variety historic home. Yet, as you will soon see, it’s interior is far from it.
Built in 1853, the Captain Emery S. Johnson house is an Italian Revival style residence. Decor of the Italian Revival style can be seen in the bay window frames and the scored corner boarding. Captain Johnson inherited the land for the house in 1845 when his father passed away.
After a successful career in maritime, Captain Johnson retied at the ripe old age of 22. Johnson’s travels included traveling to Brazil, Zanzibar and Madagascar. Shortly after his retirement, Johnson met Ann Elizabeth Creamer. They wed in June, 1850. After the death of both of Johnson’s brothers at sea, he became the sole heir of his father’s fortune. With his new found riches, he decided to have the house built.
The lighting fixtures at the home were very pretty and unique.
A piano player provided some comforting Christmas music.
Christmas decor and other types of decor were abundant in the home.
There were small Christmas trees and a rather big one! You may notice something different about the background of this photo. More on this later.
This dinner table is not any normal dinner table. This dinner table used to be a billiards table! That’s right. People used to play pool on this table. It appears to have been modified for
Getting back to the background in the photo of the tree decoration posted above, this may look like some decorative wallpaper or painted decor. But, it’s not.
This wall decor was done by stencil! Incredible, yet true.
Another odd part of this home was the dining area. Specifically this table.
At some point during the ownership of the home, a Dr Friedman owned the house. And, yes, were that table is was possibly where he did his “research.” Of course, it’s not the exact same table. But, it’s still a little creepy.
Outside the home there was more cool decor.
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New England Nomad 