Published Sep 14, 2017

These 15 Cities In Massachusetts Have The Best Schools

Massachusetts is home to some of the best school districts in the country, with the top 15 ranked based on data from the U.S. Department of Education.

Published Sep 14, 2017

Written by

Sophia

State Pride|History

Published Nov 4, 2024

The Battle to Save a Historic Witch Trials Home Near Salem, Massachusetts Is Worth the Fight

The future of a historic Salem Witch Trials building may look bleak, but concerned citizens are rallying to save the Ingersoll's Ordinary tavern before nature takes its toll.

Published Nov 4, 2024

Written by

Kim Falchek

As I write this article on a sunny autumn afternoon, 1.2 million tourists are quickly invading my local city of Salem, Massachusetts. Many come for the haunted houses, costume balls, and the festive party atmosphere that the spooky season brings to town. Others visit to reflect upon the dark history of the city’s most notorious event, the Salem Witch Trials.

When it comes to this horrific period in time, it is important to preserve what we have left of these historical events. Salem offers endless “witchcraft” museums, tours, and reenactments, but only a few sites with actual ties to the trials remain. We have lost too much already. The Old Witch Gaol (jail), where the accused were imprisoned under horrific conditions, was demolished in the 1950s by the New England Telephone Company, and many of the homes of citizens associated with the trials have long been torn down. The Witch House (home of Judge Jonathan Corwin ) is the one remaining "witch trial" city building we have left.

However, what many people do not realize, is that the neighboring town of Danvers also contains buildings linked to the events surrounding the trials. Unfortunately, one of these remaining structures, Nathaniel Ingersoll's Ordinary Tavern, is in dire need of repair and may eventually be lost to history like so many historic structures before it.

A historic house partially obscured by greenery, surrounded by colorful autumn foliage under a clear blue sky. — Kimberly Falchek/Only In Your State

In 1692, Danvers was considered to be part of Salem. It wasn’t until 1757 that the town was incorporated. Several locals associated with the witch trials, including accused victims Rebecca Nurse and Sarah Osborne, lived in what was called “Salem Village."

Salem Village was also home to Nathaniel Ingersoll (my 10th great-granduncle). Ingersoll was a militia lieutenant and a church deacon. His family ran a tavern known as Ingersoll’s Ordinary. The tavern served as a social center for the community who regularly gathered here to eat and drink. Guestrooms were also available for rent. During the time of the hysteria, people accused of performing acts of witchcraft were held and possibly examined on this site. The Ordinary was later used as a meeting spot for militia during the Revolutionary War.

A weathered two-story house with a sloped roof, surrounded by trees and overgrown grass. — Kimberly Falchek/Only In Your State

Fast-forward to 2024, and this historic home is in a sad state of neglect and disrepair. The clapboards are coming off, the sills are rotted, and a gaping hole is visible in the roof. The state of the privately owned building is atrocious and getting worse by the year. The race against time is on to try to save this important part of our nation's history.

A group of concerned citizens, history buffs, and witch trial descendants have formed a Facebook group called SAVE Ingersoll’s Tavern. The group has rallied behind a passionate man named David McKenna, president of the Danvers Historical Society. McKenna has acted as spokesperson for the campaign as well as the liaison between the current Ingersoll’s Ordinary owner and the public. The group is trying to bring awareness to the situation, and members have created an online petition to save the building. For now, that is all that can be done.

When I spoke with David McKenna, he told me that he was frustrated, and rightfully so. The Ingersoll home (once owned by McKenna’s good friends) has been sitting vacant for well over a decade. The off-site owner has neglected to properly maintain the historic property, and nature is quickly taking its toll. Although some headway has been made to preserve the exterior of the home, what lies inside is unknown. McKenna’s hands are tied until the reluctant owner lets someone inside the home to assess the state of the property’s interior. And time is of the essence.

While McKenna is upset, he believes that the owner has good intentions and truly wants to preserve the property despite being overwhelmed by the process. McKenna has attempted to meet with the owner numerous times but has been unsuccessful.

A weathered building with two windows and a red and white diagonal cross sign on the wall, surrounded by autumn foliage. — Kimberly Falchek/Only In Your State

Earlier this fall, my husband and I grabbed lunch in Danvers and took a trip to visit the Ordinary. I have to admit that I became a little emotional. The three-bedroom home sits on a corner lot of a pretty street. Several historical witchcraft sites lie within walking distance of the home.

The house is surrounded by mature trees and an old fence made of stone. Despite the Ordinary’s historic past, there are no plaques to mark its significance. If you didn’t know the building’s history, you would think it was just another old New England home in desperate need of some love.

As we surveyed the property from our spot on the sidewalk, we could clearly see the growing hole in the rooftop and the peeling paint on the clapboards. The house was marked with a square red and white sign indicating that it is an unsafe, abandoned property. However, looking beyond the damage, it wasn’t hard to see the beauty of the old home and recognize the potential that it may hold if it can be rescued.

A memorial honoring the victims of the Salem witch trials, featuring a stone tablet and surrounding trees in autumn colors. — Kimberly Falchek/Only In Your State

We finished up our visit and took a quick walk down the street to pay our respects at the Salem Village Witchcraft Victims' Memorial. Later, as we headed back to Salem, we passed the Rebecca Nurse Homestead, another historic witchcraft trials home. As we drove on, I thought a lot about what life must have been like for my ancestors when they resided in the area back in the time of the hysteria. While most things are quite different in 2024, we all know that history tends to repeat itself, especially if we don’t learn from it. I can’t think of a better reason to preserve our ties to the past than this.

State Pride

Published Apr 14, 2024

This Is The Most Massachusetts Sound You’ll Ever Hear, And We Can’t Stop Listening To It

Published Apr 14, 2024

Written by

Kim Falchek

Your five senses are amazing things! It's incredible to think that a simple smell can invoke a childhood memory and a taste can bring you right to a certain point in time. But what about one's sense of hearing? I strongly believe that it is just as powerful. Many times, the sound of crashing ocean waves, bird calls, and regional accents have reminded me of specific instances in my life. In Massachusetts, another sound sends me back to my college days in Boston. While not as relaxing as birds chirping or waves crashing, this noise is certainly nostalgic.

Before you read the heading, close your eyes and hit play on the video below. Can you identify this familiar Massachusetts sound by just listening?

If you said the “T,” then you guessed correctly!

Aerial view of a bustling city skyline with tall buildings, roads, and a harbor in the background. — Art01852/flickr

It’s hard to mistake the squeaky sound of the wheels as they run along the tracks, the creek the cars make as they turn within the tunnels, and the highly recognizable noise the train makes as it breaks to a stop.

A subway station with trains arriving and departing, passengers boarding and alighting, and green lights illuminating the scene. — Ernest Bludger/flickr

If you have lived in the state for a while, you probably know that the country’s first subway system was invented in Massachusetts. This revolutionary transportation phenomenon took place way back in 1897 with the opening of the Tremont Street subway.

A circular sign with a large "T" in front of a modern building and green trees. — Sonja Alves/flickr

This is what the Park Street station looked like when it opened in 1898.

Black and white image of an empty train station platform with visible tracks and overhead signs. — Wikipedia

The “T” now has five different color-coded lines. The system includes over 150 stations that serve greater Boston and the surrounding area.

Map of rapid transit and key bus routes, featuring various lines and stations in a city layout. — Michael Kvrivishvili/flickr

It now hosts millions of riders each year and is currently one of the busiest subway systems in America.

A subway station platform with escalators, colorful wall art, and empty tracks under a sign for the Red Line to Alewife. — Eric James/flickr

And the noise of the train car isn’t the only “T” sound that invokes Massachusetts nostalgia. If you are of a certain age, you may remember when stops were announced live or when Frank Oglesby became the recorded voice of the Red Line.

A train crosses a bridge over a highway, with buildings and a blue sky in the background. Green grass is in the foreground. — Kate Mereand/flickr

Were you able to guess this iconic Massachusetts sound? What other noises do you associate with Massachusetts? For more Bay State nostalgia, check out our list of Nine Things That Will Always Make Bay Staters Think Of Home and view these 21 Images People From Massachusetts Will Immediately Recognize.

And if you know someone living outside of the area who is craving the tastes of Massachusetts, consider sending them this Massachusetts Care Package full of iconic New England treats.

All Stories

Nature

Hiking

Skip the Crowds: Explore Illinois’s 5 Quietest Trails and Parks This Month

Hiking is wonderful, but it's even better when you've got the hike to yourself.

The Audubon Center in Kansas Where You’ll See Dozens of Bird Species in a Single Afternoon

Chaplin Nature Center, near Arkansas City, is a Kansas Audubon center where you can see dozen of bird species on a single visit.

The Secluded Airbnb Cabin in Louisiana is the Perfect Place for a Digital Detox

This secluded Airbnb in Louisiana might be just the ticket to swap the screen time for a more natural setting.

The Iconic Trail in Northern California Everyone Should Hike Once in Their Lifetime

Stunning views of a high-altitude lake and the Sierra Mountains will be your reward for an adventurous six-mile trek.

The Iconic Trail in Southern California Everyone Should Hike Once in Their Lifetime

Hiking the Fortynine Palms Oasis Trail, Joshua Tree’s beautiful desert oasis. This 3-mile hike is a hidden gem for nature lovers.

by Megan Todaro

on Nov 13

These 15 Cities In Massachusetts Have The Best Schools

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest updates and news

The Battle to Save a Historic Witch Trials Home Near Salem, Massachusetts Is Worth the Fight

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest updates and news

This Is The Most Massachusetts Sound You’ll Ever Hear, And We Can’t Stop Listening To It

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest updates and news

All Stories

Skip the Crowds: Explore Illinois’s 5 Quietest Trails and Parks This Month

The Audubon Center in Kansas Where You’ll See Dozens of Bird Species in a Single Afternoon

The Secluded Airbnb Cabin in Louisiana is the Perfect Place for a Digital Detox

The Iconic Trail in Northern California Everyone Should Hike Once in Their Lifetime

The Iconic Trail in Southern California Everyone Should Hike Once in Their Lifetime