Proctor’s Ledge, Salem, Massachusetts.
Many visitors to Salem, Massachusetts who are here to learn about the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 often feel a kinship to the 19 innocent persons hanged at the long enigmatic place referred to as the Gallows. The search for this place has brought these visitors and locals alike on walks about Gallow Hill Park, a park of many acres. Some will walk up to the water tower that is decorated with a witch flying through the air on a broom. Yearly the Temple of the Nine Wells makes the journey up to Gallow hill park on Samhain night (Halloween) to be celebrants of the Samhain (Sow-Wan) energy in the presence of the heaviness of our history here. Modern day witches honor all the midwives, shamans, herbalist, wise women, wise men, two-spirit persons who were persecuted with animosity by persons in authority afraid of these gifts.
A recent development has settled the question and confirmed the location of the Gallow. The seven researchers of The Gallows Hill Project, considered the same 1000 relevant documents from the Salem Witch Trials that Selby Percey had himself carefully read in his own research in the 1900’s. Percy had suggested that Proctor’s Ledge closer to the base of Gallows Hill, once part of the common land used for grazing livestock was the true location. The modern day researchers and historians also employed modern technology not available to the Keen minded Percey.
Now I have been to the site of Proctor’s Ledge previously and I had suspected the relevance of the location but had not over thought it. I had gone to visit two people I knew who were camping in the woods to check on their well being. I would not suggest you try camping there yourself. You won’t be alone very long. Now that the location has been made public, the site will be under increased surveillance to protect the integrity of the site. It is also surrounded by private property and has no groomed path. The good news is that the city of Salem is working to create some access and mark the location with a modest memorial marker. Parking is not allowed abutting the site, but is situated a five minute walk away at Gallows hill park. There is no rush, the place hasn’t gone anywhere in over 325 years. It was only forgotten for a while. The Salem Witch Trials Memorial is still an excellent place to experience the kinship with the Spirits and “Spirit of Place” here in Salem.
That being said on January 12, 2016 I was myself at Proctor’s Ledge on a bright sunny winter day. Having given into my own precipitancy I now stood on Proctor’s Ledge in this little strip of woods with a Boston Globe Staff reporter, Staff photographer and “Tad” Emerson Baker, one of the Seven historians of The Gallows Hill Project. I took in the natural, plain beauty of the place. The photograph in this post was taken by John Blanding/Globe Staff. In the photo I am standing in my broad brimmed hat and plain coat above the precipice of Proctor’s Ledge. I promised to grab his camera if he should loose his footing and tumble into the leaf filled crevice. Laura Crimaldi, the Globe Staff reporter wrote in her article “When people come [to Salem]…they all want to know where it happened,” said Kenneth Glover, who gives tours.
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