Witch House

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Situated on the corner of Summer and Essex Streets, the Witch House, also know as the Corwin House, was built in the 1670's (or earlier) and is one of the oldest dwellings in the United States. Jonathan Corwin, a magistrate during the witchcraft hysteria of 1692 held many pre-trial examinations here of the accused witches. Corwin bought the house from Nathaniel Davenport, who built it. The Witch House opened to the public as a museum in 1947 and is owned by the city. In 1944, when threatened with destruction, The Witch House became the catalyst that launched a wave of restoration in Salem. Historic Salem Inc. raised the $42,500 needed to move and restore the building. The new museum officially opened to the public in 1948.

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