Ghosts of Salem

Paranormal patterns are among my specialties.  In profoundly haunted areas, I find patterns among the hauntings.

For example, in my earlier book, The Ghosts of Austin, Texas:  Almost all major hauntings in Austin relate to one of two patterns.  Either the building includes bricks from haunted Shoal Creek (most of Abner Cook’s buildings do) or the site relates to Austin’s ‘Jack the Ripper’ episode (just a few weeks before the more famous London murders).

In Salem, I’ve uncovered two clear patterns.  One of them appears to have an historic connection.  The other is a quirky geographical connection… a ley line.  For now, I’m calling it “The Judges Line.”

Put simply, if you connect the locations of Beadles (where inquests were held), the site where Colonial shackles were made, magistrate John Higginson Jr’s home, and Sheriff George Corwin’s home, you’ll see that the line continues directly towards Gallows Hill.

If you keep in mind that this is a fairly loose line and not 100% linear, you’ll see that it also follows along Chestnut Street, where many of today’s Salem judges live.

This line includes many of the most haunted sites in Salem, including the intersection of Hawthorne Blvd and Essex Street, and the home of Samuel Shattuck who accused Bridget Bishop of witchcraft.  (Ms. Bishop was one of the earliest victims of the Salem Witch Trials.)

Judge Hathorne’s home isn’t far off this line as well.

The only major Witch Trial judge’s home that’s not quite on this line is Judge Corwin’s (better known as the “Witch House”).  However, keep in mind that that house was moved when the street was widened.

When I see a pattern that relates so consistently to a tragic past, I know that I’ll find ghost stories and hauntings along it.  From my preliminary research in Salem, this line is a powerful one and I’ve already heard astonishing paranormal tales along it.

Note: I posted this in haste before my appearance on the Darkness Radio show on Feb 28/March 1, 2009.   For more information about this pattern, look for future posts that refer to “The Judges Line”, and read more about it in my book about Salem’s ghosts.  (I’m finishing the book during 2009.)

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