Travel To Danvers

The witchcraft Victims’ Memorial in a quiet corner of Danvers is one of those blink-and-you’ll-miss-it historic sites, but it bears witness to one of the darkest chapters in early American history. “Burn me or hang me,” reads a quotation attributed to George Jacobs, one of 25 people who died as a result of the 1692 Salem Village Witchcraft Hysteria, “but I will stand in the truth of Christ. I know nothing of witchcraft.”

Located at 176 Hobart Street, directly opposite the original site of the Meeting House, where most of the witchcraft examinations took place, the simple and poignant granite memorial provides an unbreakable link between the Danvers of today and the Salem Village of a bygone age. The “new” Salem may have secured the bragging rights to its infamous Witch Trials, but it’s the old Salem Village-which changed its name to Danvers in a district restructure in 1752-where the fear and hysteria first broke out and led to the deaths of 25 men and women, all of whom proclaimed their innocence to the end.

“It earned Salem Village a very bad reputation, which it carried for generations,” says Danvers Town Archivist Richard Trask. “So, when the District of Danvers was created in 1752, the people of Salem Village were very happy to lose that name.”

Time is also a great healer, and while the witchcraft spotlight is now set on Salem, Danvers has come to accept and commemorate its history in a quiet, respectful way.

“Danvers doesn’t yell about its witchcraft heritage,” says Trask. “Our sites are not big, flashy tourist attractions, and when people visit, they like the fact that we don’t make it into a money-making situation.”

Anyone with even a passing interest in history and architecture will love Danvers, a hard-working and steadfast town that has carefully preserved many significant houses and buildings dating back to the earliest settlement of Massachusetts. The historic district, stretching from Pine Street in the south to Maple Street in the north, contains eight important sites-including the beautiful Rebecca Nurse Homestead (circa 1678) and magnificent Glen Magna Farms estate (circa 1798)-all of which are open to the public seasonally or by appointment with the Danvers Historical Society. Another 125 notable private residences spanning four centuries can be viewed easily from the street.

Arguably the finest building in downtown is the

Peabody Institute Library

(see “Crown Jewel”), built in 1892 with money donated by native son George Peabody. Located next to Mill Pond in Sylvan Street, this outstanding Georgian Revival building bears a striking resemblance to the White House and has been used as its substitute in a number of films and documentaries.

While Danvers embraces its past-“We take our history very seriously,” says Town Manager Wayne Marquis-all eyes are on an increasingly bright future with a strong focus on education, employment, and family values. More than $250 million is being pumped into education projects alone, with renovations and additions to Danvers High School and North Shore Community College, not to mention the anticipated merger between the renowned Essex Agricultural and Technical High School and North Shore and Peabody Vocational Technical schools.

MGH has invested $100 million in a new outpatient care facility here, and several other major employers, including Osram Sylvania, are helping to fuel employment, growth, and confidence. With two industrial parks, three malls, a thousand hotel rooms, numerous car dealerships, dentists, cosmetic surgeons, restaurants, and small businesses, Danvers appears to be riding out today’s economic uncertainties.

“We have a diverse commercial and industrial base,” says Marquis. “We’re a fiscally conservative town, paying our way as we go and operating within budget. We don’t have all of our eggs in one basket.”

Community spirit also runs high. The town rallied after a chemical explosion in 2006, raising $500,000 in private donations for those who lost their homes, and a new summer program called Project Sunshine launched last year to assist homeless families in the community. It’s a far cry from the dark days of the Salem Village Witchcraft Hysteria, but like those defiant souls who went to their deaths defending their innocence, the people of Danvers don’t take anything lying down.

Salem may be the witch-kitsch capital of the world, but Danvers is the real deal-and not a broomstick or pointy hat in sight.

The Details - Date of Settlement: 1637. Date of Incorporation: 1757. Zip code: 01923. Population: 26,493. Total Area: 13.5 square miles. Median household income: $58,779. Schools: St. John’s Prep; Holten Richmond Middle School; Danvers High School; Essex Agricultural & Technical High School. Notable residents: John Endicott, first Governor of Massachusetts; Rebecca Nurse, hanged for witchcraft; John Greenleaf Whittier, poet; Mark Bavaro, former New York Giants tight end; Erin McLean, Jeopardy! winner.

Crown Jewel - The

Peabody Institute Library

 is guardian to some of the rarest books in America

Peabody Institute Library

Danvers may not shout about its witchcraft heritage, but it does everything in its power to preserve and protect it. For the past 40 years, town archivist Richard Trask has been acquiring, documenting, and safeguarding the Brehaut Witchcraft Collection-the world’s largest compendium of imprints relating to the 1692 Salem Village Witchcraft Hysteria-keeping it under lock and key in downtown’s imposing

Peabody Institute Library

.

“The witchcraft is our crown jewel,” he says, with more than a hint of pride. “It’s what gives us notoriety around the country, and we have a complete collection here being preserved for future generations.”

Stored in a humidity-controlled vault in the library’s Archival Center, the collection includes rare books, manuscripts, and imprints documenting the witchcraft era and dating back to the 17th century, as well as other precious items, including two original copies of the Declaration of Independence. While the collection isn’t on public display, Trask has shared its contents with many documentary makers, writers, and scholars. He is currently working with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Stacy Schiff, who is researching a new book on Salem witchcraft.

 

On the Town –There’s a lot to discover in Danvers

Glen Magna Farms This beautiful estate was first occupied in the 1790s. It was  bought in 1814 by wealthy Salem shipping merchant Capt. Joseph Peabody and later embellished by his granddaughter, Ellen Peabody Endicott. The mansion and gardens recall the golden age of American architecture. Ingersoll Street, 978-774-9165. Derby Summer House Tucked away in the grounds of Glen Magna, Derby Summer House is a delightful Federal-style garden house built in 1794 for wealthy Salem merchant Elias Hasket Derby and moved here in 1901. The house has a walled rose garden designed by Herbert Browne. 978-777-1666. Rebecca

Treats at Cakes for Occasions

Nurse Homestead Little has changed here since Rebecca Nurse was hanged on charges of witchcraft in 1692. The estate, now owned by the Danvers Alarm List Company, an 18th-century reenactment group, consists of her original home, the cemetery where she is believed to be buried, and a recreation of the Salem Village Meeting House. 149 Pine Street, 978-774-8799. Putnam House Twelve generations of Putnams lived in this elegant house (circa 1648), including Joseph, who famously spoke out against the Witchcraft Hysteria in 1692. Its best-known resident was General Israel Putnam, who commanded the troops at the Battle of Bunker Hill. 431 Maple Street, 978-777-1666. 

 

Cakes for Occasions Nationally acclaimed pastry chef Kelly Delaney is best known for her custom-made wedding and special occasion cakes, but her store also offers an array of scrumptious buttercream-frosted cupcakes, European-style tarts and pastries, and other lip-smacking treats. 57 Maple Street, 978-774-4545, cakes4occasions.com. 9 Elm American Bistro Chef Matt Sanidas continues to wow diners at his beloved bistro. Enjoy a specialty martini or local craft beer before tucking into a succulent filet mignon or pan-seared scallops with truffle-whipped potato. 9 Elm Street, 978-774-9436. Cherry Farm Creamery A Danvers institution since 1976, this fun creamery serves 30 flavors of ice creams, as well as low-fat soft serve, frozen yogurts, ice cream cakes, sorbets, and other family favorites. 210 Conant Street, 978-774-0519. Danversport Yacht Club The lively yacht club is a great spot for a relaxed lunch or dinner during summer months. The welcoming Grille and Bistro serves good food, and the breezy outdoor patio overlooks manicured gardens, the harbor, and marina. 161 Elliott Street, 978-774-8621. 7 Grill The new kid on the Danvers dining scene has lucky number 7 as its signature theme, but it doesn’t need any luck serving up premium-quality meats and seafood that are deliciously seasoned and fresh from the grill. 194 Endicott Street, 978-646-9911.