The state of Massachusetts is widely regarded as a place of supernatural and haunted phenomenon perhaps for no other reason than the infamous Salem Witch Trials that took place there more than 300 years ago. 

The legendary Salem Witch Trials began when a group of young girls in the town of Salem began to exhibit unusual behavior – contorting into grotesque positions, complaining about pinching and biting sensations, and falling down into frozen positions.  At a time when everyone believed the devil was real and close at hand, the belief that witchcraft was the source of the girls’ affliction spread like wildfire through the town. 

From June through September of 1692, nineteen men and women convicted of witchcraft were carted to Gallows Hill and hung.  Another man, Giles Corey, who refused to submit to a trial based on witchcraft charges was pressed to death under heavy stones while one to two hundred others faced accusations of witchcraft and dozens suffered in jail for months without trials (four of the accused died while in prison). 

The sheriff of Salem at the time, Sheriff George Corwin was the son of the Witch Trials magistrate Jonathan Corwin, was said to profit greatly from the trials; Sheriff Corwin was in charge of confiscating the property of those charged and dividing it among the town leaders.  

Today, Olde Burial Hill located in Marblehead is said to be haunted by Wilmott Redd, one of the convicted who has hung during the trials.  According to Salem tradition, right before she died Redd put a curse on the town and some residents claim to have heard a woman saying “this town shall burn!” at Olde Burial Hill when it’s dark.

The Joshua Ward House is also said to be haunted with strange occurrences happening frequently.  Located across from a cemetery said to be the site of the first hanging, the house is also built over the burial site of Sheriff Corwin.  Visitors have reported hearing faint cries from a child and erratic singing coming from the attic.  There are also several “hot spots” in the house where the temperature is unexplainably several degrees higher than normal and candles have mysteriously been taken out of their holders and melted.

Saint Mary’s Cemetery is another supposedly haunted site in Salem.  Visitors report hearing strange, unexplainable noises, a faint white light moving in the distance, and the enigmatic but genuine feeling of evil – a feeling of being watched, rushed out, and an almost tangible negative energy that seems to dissipate as soon as you leave the cemetery.  Looking for a truly scary, haunted place?  Salem, Massachusetts is sure to not disappoint!