Old Witch Jail

The site of the Old Witch Jail was 4 Federal St., at the corner of St. Peter Street (then called Prison Lane.) In approximately 1763, the wooden jail was rebuilt to replace and enlarge the old jail of 1684.

When the new stone jail was built in 1813,(on the corner of St. Peter and Bridge Street, this building was remodeled into a home. It is said that some timbers of the jail of 1684 were used in the construction of the

jail in 1763, according to the Visitor's Guide (1953 ed.)

These structures were torn down in the mid-1950's to make way for New England Telephone Company's expansion.

See Also

• Postcard Image courtesy of CardCow.com

• Salem Visitors' Guide 1953 ed., p. 152

• Salem Massachusetts ed. by K. Turino, p. 61

• Greetings from Salem by M.L. Martin and N. Wolfgang-Price, p. 17