Yesterday, I promised to add photos to my BLOG Post and tell you stories about what I did, but I got back to the trailer today at about 9:30 PM. I did stay at the house of the friend of a friend in Saco, Maine, but when I left this morning I decided to go back to a place I had missed --- Salem, Massachusetts!!! So, after spending the day in the company of witches and paranoid puritans, I made it back to the trailer quite late!!! I will be filling you in later on what I found in Salem, but I can't do it tonight. Nor, can I finish the post for yesterday!!!
As for tomorrow, I will be driving to the northern tip of Maine, following the eastern boarder with Canada down to where US Highway 2 starts and following it back to my trailer. This will take all day, so I don't expect to post a big blog tomorrow either. I may have to take Sunday or Monday to catch all you and myself up before I start my trip back home following US Highway 2.
Right now, I am going to take a shower and go to bed --- tomorrow will be a lot of driving and, I hope, a lot of very pretty countryside!!! I hope to take a lot of interesting photos!!!
So, with that, good night to you all,
Jon
Hello Fellow Wayward
Travelers!!!!
I am back to fill in what I did on July 5th that kept me so busy!!! As I said before, I went south to Massachusetts to catch the museums in Salem that I had missed. My house sitter, Shey, had found out that I was driving near Salem, Massachusetts and convinced me that I should check it out. The first time I went, there was no parking for me and my trailer, so I left!!! But, what I saw looked interesting!! So, today, I went back!!!
I am back to fill in what I did on July 5th that kept me so busy!!! As I said before, I went south to Massachusetts to catch the museums in Salem that I had missed. My house sitter, Shey, had found out that I was driving near Salem, Massachusetts and convinced me that I should check it out. The first time I went, there was no parking for me and my trailer, so I left!!! But, what I saw looked interesting!! So, today, I went back!!!
It turns out, there are at least four museums dealing with
the Salem Witch Trials. They were The Salem Witch Museum, The Witch History
Museum, The Witch House, and The Witch Dungeon Museum. They were all similar
since there was only one story, but each had its own way of telling the story.
The Witch Museum was first. Here is a photo of the outside
only because I could not take photos inside ---
They told the story
with a recorded narrative and spot lights shining on scene of wax figures
representing the people and what was going on. It was very dramatic and a good
way to start my tour. If you don’t know the story, it a group of puritan girls
who were playing in the woods and made up a story about people being witches to
keep from getting into trouble. From there it grew until many others were
accusing people they didn’t like of being witches. It finally stopped when
someone accused the governor’s wife of being a witch. The Governor then got to
the bottom of the whole thing and put a stop to it by bringing the trial to the
Supreme Court which disallowed what was considered “evidence” in the other
trials. This “evidence” was the “visions” people said they were having!!! Then
one of the original girls confessed that it was all in fun!!! Meanwhile,
something like 150 people had been arrested, about 20 had been hanged or
killed, about 5 died in prison, and all had lost all their possessions, and two
dogs had been hung for being witches!!? This all started because of a prejudice
and a lie that got way out of hand!!! Of course, this wasn’t the only time for
something like this to occur --- look at the McCarthy trials!!!
The next museum was
the Witch History Museum. Again, it told the story, but the scenes were set up
in sequence and you walked through them. Here are a few photos of that museum
---
The Children playing in the woods -- a "no-no" for puritans!!
The girls learning about witches from their Nanny --
One of the girls faking a trance and the doctor saying that it must be from witches!!!
People being arrested for being witches ---
The people being put on trial and the girls saying that they had "visions" ---
The next museum was
the Witch House. That is the name of a house that was owned by one of the
leaders of the community who was in fact the Judge over the trials. The museum
showed how the typical family lived in those days. It really wasn’t about
witches or the trials. Here are some photos of the house ---
The last was the
Witch Dungeon Museum. It had actors portraying a few characters during one of
the trials. I thought that it was very well done. Then, we all went to the
basement and saw what the dungeons were like. This building was only a few
blocks from where the original dungeon had been, but it showed the miserable
conditions the prisoners had to put up with after being accused. Most of my
photos didn’t turn out, even with a flash, but here are a few photos ---
In the dungeon, you were charged room and board and if you couldn't pay all your property was taken and your family was even put in jail with you. While you were there, you were beat to get you to "Confess". Also, since the dungeon was under ground and near the harbor, when the tide came in, the cells filled to about knee deep in water and sewer!!! This was not a nice place and it is a wonder more people didn't die in the dungeons!!!
With that I started to
go back to the truck and passed a used book store!!! The books in the windows were
some that I collect, so I went to the door to go in --- it was closed for the day!!!
That’s when I gave up
and went to the truck and drove back to the trailer and fell into bed!!! What a
day that was!!!
Well, I am done for that day and I need to get some rest,
so, with that, I will go for now, but I will see you all again tomorrow.
Again, to quote that great comedian, Red Skelton, "Good
Night and May God Bless!"
Happy Trails ---- Jon
Happy Trails ---- Jon
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