More History in Danvers to Visit

Danvers Historical Society
Tapley Memorial Hall, 13 Page Street
The Danvers Historical Society was formed in 1889 "to discover, collect, preserve and exhibit objects which illustrate local history, but particularly the history and development of the Town of Danvers." Historic properties owned and managed by the Society are Putnam House (1648); Page House (1754); and Glen Magna Farms (1812/1893). The Society's collection is housed at Tapley Memorial Hall and represents a large variety of cultural and decorative arts objects. In 1987 the Society became stewards of the Endicott Burying Ground.

Danvers State Hospital also known as State Lunatic Hospital at Danvers
450 Maple St.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. More pictures. Soon to be converted into condos.

Derby Summer House 1794
On Glen Magna Farms Grounds
Samuel McIntire designed this ornate Federal style garden house for Elias Hasket Derby. It was moved here in 1901. The two-and-a-half story structure is decorated with pilasters, swags, and Grecian urns, and is topped with carvings of a farmer and a milkmaid. The arched door leads to a delightful walled rose garden designed by Herbert Browne.

First Church of Salem Village
corner of Hobart and Centre Streets
This is the present site of the First Church. In 1701, the old meetinghouse in which the witchcraft examinations took place was abandoned and a new meetinghouse erected on this spot. It was in this second meetinghouse that Ann Putnam, Jr. rose in her pew to ask forgiveness of those she had maligned in 1692. The present church building is modern.

Fox Hill School
81 Water St.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Gen. Israel Putnam House
431 Maple St.
Private residence. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Glen Magna Farms
Ingersoll Street.
Glen Magna Farms is owned by the Danvers Historical Society a private not-for-profit, founded in 1889 “to discover, collect and preserve objects which illustrate local history, but particularly the history and development of the Town of Danvers.” A guided tour of the house and gardens is offered May - July and includes a boxed lunch. Reservations required, please call 978-777-1666. Cost $15 pp. Group tours available upon request.

James Putnam Jr. House
42 Summer St.,
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Judge Samuel Holten House 1670
177 Holten Street
A wonderful example of chronological house development, this was the 1692 home of Sarah Holten, who gave damaging testimony against Rebecca Nurse during the witch hysteria. Here, during the revolutionary period, lived Judge Samuel Holten - physician and statesman. A member and President of the Continental Congress, he helped frame the Articles of Confederation and was a member of the early U.S. Congress. The home is now owned by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Open by appointment. (978) 777-6084.

Nathaniel Ingersoll's Ordinary
199 Hobart Street
One of the most important landmarks in the Salem Witchcraft Hysteria of 1692 was Deacon Ingersoll's ordinary, a place of lodging and refreshment. Built around 1670, the ordinary was used by visitors to Salem Village and by the magistrates and marshals of Essex County during the examinations. John Indian, Tituba's husband, worked here, and most of the accused "witches" and afflicted girls were brought to the ordinary during 1692. The earliest portion of house dates to the 17th century.

Page House 1754
11 Page Street
(978) 777-1666
This Georgian style gambrel roof structure was built by Jeremiah Page, early Danvers brickmaker. Between June and September 1774, Gen. Thomas Gage, Commander of British forces in North America and Royal Governor of the colony, used the left, front room as his Royal Office. Jeremiah Page was a captain of the town's militia, and in April 1775 led his men in violent conflict with the retreating British. The house is owned by the Danvers Historical Society. Open by appointment. (978) 777-1666.

Peabody Institute Library 1892
15 Sylvan Street
The Danvers Library was the result of funds given by native son George Peabody, internationally acclaimed banker and philanthropist. The original building burned and was replaced in 1892 by the present classic Georgian Revival structure. This building, with its fine collection and facilities, is the cultural center of Danvers. Open Monday to Thursday 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m., Friday 1:00-5:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., and Sunday 1:00-5:00 p.m. October to May. (978) 774-0554.

Prince Osborne House
273 Maple St.
Private residence. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Putnam House ca 1648
431 Maple Street
Joseph Putnam, uncle of one of the "bewitched girls," lived here in 1692. One of the few to decry witch trials, he kept pistols loaded and horses ready should he be accused. Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam, American commander Bunker Hill was born here in 1718. "Old Put" was famous for his command, "Don't fire 'til you see the whites of their eyes." The house, now owned by the Danvers Historical Society, includes a prominent 18th century gambrel roofed addition.

Rea-Proctor Homestead
180 Conant Farm
Private residence. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Rea Putnam Fowler House
4 Elerton Pl.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Rebecca Nurse Homestead ca 1678
149 Pine Street
This property was once owned by Francis Nurse, whose wife, Rebecca, was accused of witchcraft in April of 1692 and was executed the following July. The homestead is today owned by the Danvers Alarm List Company, and is a superb example of a Colonial farmstead. Close by is the family burial ground including the grave of witchcraft victim George Jacobs, as well as the monument to Rebecca bearing a poetic epitaph written by John Greenleaf Whittier. On the homestead grounds is a replica of the 1672 Village Meeting House. This homestead is today a visible link to many of the famous and infamous events of Salem Village and Danvers, and visitors to the property will acquire a good representation of New England life during the colonial period.    The property has been utilized extensively in film and video documentaries and dramas, including; Alistair Cooke's America ; Three Sovereigns for Sarah ; and Young Goodman Brown . It has been featured in many network and cable news and feature documentaries including ; The Today Show; Good Morning America; Rediscovering America with David Hartman; and History's Lost and Found. Open June 15 through Labor Day All week 12:00 PM-4:30 PM; September through October Saturday and Sunday 12:00 PM-4:30 PM or by appointment . (978) 774-8799.

Salem Village Historic District
Irregular pattern along Centre, Hobart, Ingersoll, and Collins Sts., as far N as Brentwood Circle, and S to Mello Pkwy.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Salem Village Parsonage
Rear 67 Centre Street
The foundations of the Salem Village parsonage once the home of the Reverend Samuel Parris, his wife, Elizabeth, daughter Elizabeth, Abigail Williams and Tituba. It was here that the Tituba told her stories of magic to the group of girls that would later accuse many of the local residents of witchcraft. The parsonage was built by the parish in I681 for use by its ministers. Reverend George Burroughs (1681-83) who was hanged as a witch in 1692 also once lived here. The parsonage was torn down in 1784. Its foundations were excavated in 1970.

Salem Village Witchcraft Site Victim's Memorial
176 Hobart Street
This memorial is in memory of the 25 people who died as a result of the 1692 Salem Village witchcraft hysteria. It sits on town land directly opposite from the site of the Salem Village Meeting House where many of the witchcraft examinations took place. Of local design and featuring puritan symbols, the monument was dedicated in 1992 and includes the names of those who died, as well as heroic statements of eight who were executed.

Sarah Osborne House
272 Maple Street opposite Gorman Road
This house, constructed c. 1660, was the home of Sarah Osborne in 1692. Sarah Osborne, Sarah Good, and Tituba Indian were the first persons accused of witchcraft by the circle of girls. Osborne was examined on March 1 by John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin at the Salem Village meetinghouse.

Site of the Salem Village Meetinghouse
located at the intersection of Forest and Hobart Streets The meetinghouse of the First Church in Salem Village stood here in 1692. The meetinghouse was the site of most of the 1692 examinations, although some examinations were held in the Salem meetinghouse, in Beadle's Tavern in Salem, and in Ingersoll's ordinary. Nathaniel Cary, whose wife, Elizabeth, was arrested on May 24, described the meetinghouse in Salem Village as "the place appointed for that Work [i.e., the examinations]." Here the magistrates interrogated, among others, the notorious "witches" Sarah Good, Tituba Indian, Martha Corey, and Rebecca Nurse. In 17Ol, a new meetinghouse was erected on the site of the current First Church and this meetinghouse abandoned. The Darling Prince House (circa 168I), which now stands on the site, was moved here in the nineteenth century. It is privately owned.

Sprague House
59 Endicott St.
Private residence. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Town Hall 1855
Sylvan & Holten Streets
The seat of local government, the original central portion of this building was built in the Greek Revival style. It was originally both Town House and High School. On the foyer wall are three WPA murals depicting Danvers' pioneering spirit, civic involvement, and economic growth. In 1930 Danvers adopted the representative form of Town Meeting and in 1949 the Town Manager Act. On the front lawn of Town Hall are memorials to those Danversites who sacrificed their lives during the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War. Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (978) 777-0001.

Village Training Field
Centre Street at Ingersoll Street
Beginning in 1671, the men of Salem Village performed military drills here. In 1709 Nathaniel Ingersoll willed the field as a "training place forever." On April 19, 1775, many of the Danvers Minutemen traveled from here to the Lexington Alarm, suffering heavy casualties. A memorial off Ingersoll Street dedicated in 1976 lists the names of 19 Danversites who gave their lives during the War for Independence. Several other markers are also located on this town park.

Watch House Hill
41 Centre Street
On this site was erected a fortified house to keep watch for possible Indian attack. In 1700 the village church was erected here, as were subsequent churches, and here Ann Putnam, chief witch accuser, made a plea for forgiveness.

White-Preston House
592 Maple St.
Private residence. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Historical Sites of Danvers

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If you know of an historic place to visit in Danvers, please submit it to jenn@gravematter.com