The Witch House facts for kids
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Jonathan Corwin House
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U.S. Historic district
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| Part of | Chestnut Street District |
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The Jonathan Corwin House in Salem, Massachusetts, known as The Witch House, was the home of Judge Jonathan Corwin (1640–1718) and is the only structure still standing in Salem with direct ties to the Salem witch trials of 1692, thought to be built between 1620 and 1642. Corwin bought it in 1675 when he was 35, and he lived there for more than 40 years; the house remained in the Corwin family until the mid-19th century. It is located at 310 Essex Street at the intersection of North Street and Summer Street in the McIntire Historic District.
History
Corwin was called upon to investigate the claims of diabolical activity when a surge of witchcraft accusations arose in Salem Village (now Danvers) and neighboring communities. He took the place of Judge Nathaniel Saltonstall, who resigned after the execution of Bridget Bishop. Corwin served on the Court of Oyer and Terminer, which ultimately sent 19 people to the gallows.
The house is an excellent example of 17th-century New England architecture, although historians are unsure of the date when it was built. Corwin family lore maintains that it was built in 1642, but some scholars claim that it was built in the 1620s or 1630s and that Roger Williams lived in it in the before he founded Providence Plantations.
The house was moved about 35 feet (11 m) to its current location in the 1940s when the adjacent street was widened. It was restored to look as it would have in the 17th century and the gambrel roof was altered. It is now a museum operated by the City of Salem and is open seasonally. In 2011, the Ghost Adventures crew featured it during season 4.
