Rebecca Nurse Homestead, Massachusetts, United States

4Route128North 5:00 PM Sep 7, 2010

Real history, no sensationalism
The Rebecca Nurse Homestead in Danvers is an important stop for those interested in the Salem witchcraft hysteria of the late 17th century. The witchcraft delusion began in Salem Village, which was then a part of Salem and is now the community known as Danvers. Rebecca Nurse, an up-standing, highly respected, 71 year old citizen of Salem Village, was among the 23 accused of witchcraft. Today her family Homestead is owned by the Danvers Alarm Company, which offers tours during the summer and fall months (call ahead for specific times). Our tour began with a slide show at the Salem Village Meetinghouse, a reproduction built for the PBS film "Three Sovereigns for Sarah." Following filming, the building was left at the Homestead though the original Meetinghouse was located about a mile away. This was where Rebecca Nurse was examined and found guilty. The excellent slide show provided a solid introduction to the witchcraft delusion history. A guided tour of part of the Nurse house followed (caretakers reside in the rest of the house). We learned a bit about the first period architectural style of the home, as well as what life was like in such a home in the 17th century. The guide spoke about the Nurse family, but the focus was not on witchcraft (which of course makes sense as there's nothing to say about Rebecca as a witch--she was wrongly accused). After the tour we spent a few minutes exploring the exhibits and small gift shop in the barn and the historically correct vegetable and herb gardens. We also walked across the field to the family cemetery plot where the Nurse descendants erected a memorial to Rebecca. A second monument is dedicated the neighbors of the Nurse family who signed a petition in support of Rebecca's innocence. I've visited the Homestead quite a few times and this is always my favorite part of my visit. Though highways and a shopping mall are nearby, a quiet tranquility reigns in the area making it easy to feel transported back a couple of centuries. The spot also provides a a good place to reflect on the injustices experienced by Rebecca and her fellow accused and on intolerance in our times. The homestead is very low-key and pretty much devoid of commercialism. Those who are looking for scary ghosts and supernatural events should stay in Salem. However, I think those with a genuine interest in pre-Revolution American history, and in particular that of the witchcraft hysteria, will find an hour or two at the Nurse Homestead well-spent.

4Lou L 5:00 PM Sep 7, 2020

For Witch Trial Enthusiasts
If you’re interested in the Salem witch trials this is a site you’ll want to see. While it’s a little outside of Salem as we know it today, it is close to the site where the original interrogations began. A replica of the Salem meeting house is at the site while the original spot is a short 5 minute drive near an incredible memorial to the victims. The site itself, especially during these trying times is limited, make sure to check the hours on their website to make sure it’s open. You’ll check in at a desk near the parking lot, where you’ll fill out the forms for contact tracing, etc. from there you’ll head to the visitor center/gift shop to purchase your admission tickets and browse the gift shop, which has an awesome selection. From there, you’ll begin at the homestead, which doesn’t have a lot to it. For me, it was a must see because the Rebecca Nurse story is heart wrenching. Without background information though, it’s a tough sell to pay $9 a person to walk through a house for a total of maybe 5 minutes. The treasure for me here is the family cemetery, which is a short walk on the trail behind the home. Make sure you stick to the trail, as the “shortcut” is very bumpy so please just walk the trail. There is a wonderful monument to Rebecca there, where her family buried her body according to their accounts. Remarkably, George Jacobs, another witch trial victim is buried there, when a skeleton of a believed witch victim was identified and reburied here. Very honestly, if you’re not someone with deep interest in the trials and doesn’t have background knowledge already, this place will not interest you due to how it’s presented right now. But it is historically significant and gives an insight to the personal place from the time lived.