Salem, Massachusetts, famous worldwide for the infamous 1692 Witch Trials, draws thousands of paranormal enthusiasts and history buffs annually. But beneath the lantern-lit tours and quaint colonial charm lie darker, rarely discussed secrets. Here are five controversial, eerie, and spine-chilling dark Salem secrets, often glossed over during Salem’s ghost tours.
1. Hidden Remains Beneath St. Peter’s Church
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, established on land donated by Philip English (a witch-trial accused merchant), was originally built atop a cemetery. When city planners moved graves to Harmony Grove Cemetery, some coffins were left behind. Contractors uncovered fragmented bones and coffin shards during renovations, suggesting restless spirits remain. Discover the unsettling history here.
2. Bridget Bishop’s Lost Orchard
The exact location of Bridget Bishop’s home and apple orchard—key evidence used to accuse her of witchcraft—has long been debated. Modern residents near Derby Street report phantom scents of apple blossoms and glimpses of an unidentified woman in colonial attire, fueling beliefs that Bishop’s spirit haunts her former orchard.
3. The “Burned-Face Woman” of Joshua Ward House
The Joshua Ward House is notoriously haunted, known especially for the chilling photograph captured in the 1980s, revealing a spectral woman with a partially burned face. Experts link this haunting to Sheriff George Corwin’s brutal interrogation practices during the trials, adding another layer of grim history to this haunted location.
4. Proctor’s Ledge: Salem’s Real Execution Site
For centuries, Salem marketed Gallows Hill as the location of the witch trial hangings. However, research confirmed Proctor’s Ledge as the actual execution site. Visitors frequently report emotional distress, sudden temperature drops, and disembodied voices—perhaps residual echoes of the tragic events.
5. Judge Hathorne’s Death Coincidence
Judge John Hathorne, Salem’s relentless witch-trial magistrate, died exactly 25 years to the day after accused “witch” Sarah Osburn perished in jail. Legend claims Hathorne never repented for his role in the hysteria, suggesting his grave in Charter Street Cemetery remains spiritually active, visited frequently by paranormal investigators capturing EVP whispers of “guilty.”
Ready to Experience Salem’s Haunted Past Firsthand?
Discover these locations—and more spine-chilling Salem landmarks—on a small-group ghost tour. Spots vanish quickly; reserve your lantern today at GhostToursOfSalem.com.