Casting Spells in Salem, MA

I've not read Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel "The House of the Seven Gables" nor watched the movie nor score the chance to tour Salem's premiere historic site by the same name. But the place no less made a huge impact as I roamed Salem in search of ghosts and goblins.

Built in 1668 the address is on The National Register of Historic places as the oldest surviving 17th century wooden mansion in New England. Hawthorne was so inspired by the "secret staircase" he penned a literary classic around it. It's not far from the Capital Region, only a few miles north of Boston and the ideal vacation haunt this Halloween.

It's not hard to spot and once you see it you too will be spellbound. There are 'seven acutely peaked gables' (a line from Hawthorne's book), one giant clustered chimney and a centuries old elm still bearing leaves. A sturdy brown fence wraps around the front facing an ocean bay dotted with shiny new sailboats and yachts, a gratuitous window on the present. The narrow broken streets surrounding The House of Seven Gables invites visitors into a Colonial past with well preserved Federal brick mansions that the likes of Alexander Graham Bell and John Tierney might have lived in. The gardens should be at their peak in a few weeks as will lobster-eating season.

Salem is known for the tragic Witchcraft Trials of 1692 and tourism caters to that image with witch-themed museums, kitchy wax shows and cemetery tours. Even police cars have witch logos and the high school football team is called The Witches. I caught sight of a purple-robed witch sporting a broomstick and crooked nose handing out pamphlets for the official Witch Museum. Tempting but wait for a full moon for the full effect.

A true story - my buddy Doane called my cell while I was videotaping the Gables. Sure enough, the signal splintered and choked into a dozen sordid fragments until, less than 10 feet away, he called back and the clarity improved greatly. Could I have been standing directly in the path of a lingering spirit from spookier days? Quite possibly. Visit and let Salem cast a spell over you too.