A Recent Visit to Salem

    On November 9th, Joel and I attended the wedding of my nephew at the historical Federalist Hamiliton Hall in Salem, Massachusetts.  We arrived well before the designated time for the festivities intentially, in order to visit the Salem Witch Trials Monument on Liberty Street.  I had not been to Salem in many years, and probably not before the monument was dedicated in 1992, some 300 years after the witch trials had ended.

   In December 2018, I submitted a post on this blog about my findings regarding the witch trials and their connection to  certain families living in Maine,the impact of the French and Indian Wars, and attitudes which would continue to govern the way 1st Nation people were dealt with, as well as new immigrants who came to settle in the region with differing religious and political mind sets.  The post for those of you who want to read it for the first time or to refresh your memories is titled:  A Strange Tale.

    The monument is simple and somewhat stark, but I felt it was a solemn place for reflection to remember the 20 victims; fourteen women and five men hanged, and one man, crushed to death.

Four foot high granite walls surround three sides, with granite benches representing each victim cantilevered inward toward the wall.  Etched on each bench is a name, means of execution, and execution date.  One can read on the stone threshold.....words of the accused taken directly from court transcripts.  Visitors willl note that the words....among them, 'God knows I am innocent' - are cut off in mid-sentence, representing lives cut shprt and indifference to the protestations of innocence.

      I was particularily touched by the tokens left,probably by relatives, on some  benches.  I chose to leave one of my own in remembrance of the Rev. George Burroughs, the only Puritan Minister to be executed and who served the small settlement of Casco (Portland) as a preacher.

     

     Here are additional photos from the memorial:

     The Salem Witch Trials Memorial was dedicated on August 5th, 1992 by Nobel Laureate, Holocaust survivor, and author Elie Wiesel.

If I can't stop all of the hate all over the world in all of the people, I can stop it in one place, within me, (adding) We all have our Salems.

     Here is a link to information about the Memorial:  https://salemwitchmusuem.com/locations/witch-trials-memorial

  Did you know that at least forty people, judges, accusers, afflicted and victims have ties to Maine, either directly or by family affiliation or even land ownership.  Mary Beth Norton, noted author of In The Devil's Snare  published this list:

At times, guilt was ascribed by association.  Over 200 people were accused from New England towns, forty had ties to the Northern Frontier, twenty were executed during this period.

 

   In 1711, a Reversal of Attainder was issue by the Massachusetts Court exhonorating some of the victims.  Much later,the state legislature of Massachusetts would exhonorate and include the missing names of all the victims.

 

     Undoubtably, the witch trials will continue to hold a fascination for people, and good scholorship and research will try to make sense of it all, but I'd like to end this brief piece with a reflection from the Memorial designers James Cutler and Maggie Smith:

It is important that people think about real human suffering caused by witchcraft hysteria and the lessons that are to be learned from that dark period in history of this city, and this country.

November 3rd, 2019 - Annual Fall Cleanup/Planting at the Grand Trunk Cemetery

     Our very first attempt at restoring dignity to the much neglected Presumpscot/ Grand Trunk Cemetery took place in early November 2009, shortly after Samantha (Allshouse) Lopez and Kayla Theriault met with then Cemeteries Coordinator, Joe Dumais, and declared their intention to undertake this project.  Sam assisted me for two years with the Junior Girl Scout Troop 1974 and these girls were quite familiar with the cemetery in their own school's backyard.  After an extensive work-over by Portland Cemeteries Crew to pick up major debris, the Girl Scouts led by Sam and Kayla spent two hours raking and piling up the leaves on a very cool afternoon as they endeavored to support Sam and Kayla's commitment.

 

   

 This past Sunday, November 3, 2019, on a cool but sunny afternoon, thirty-six, Portland Girl Scouts, their parents and Leaders joined with some of the failthful 'Friends of the Grand Trunk Cemetery' to continue the legacy by cleaning  up the perennial gardens, raking tons of leaves, dragging broken tree branches, and planting bulbs.  

     Five years ago, Machigonne Service Unit, led by the volunteer leadership Team, adopted the Grand Trunk Cemetery as an on-going commitment to provide service twice a year by partnering with the 'Friends' for our annual Fall and Spring Cleanup/Planting Parties.  These events have brought in new families and Girl Scouts and increased the interest in our small historic cemetery which has definitly contributed to its care and visibility as a sacred place worth preserving.

     In addtion to the work of many willing hands, the cemetery has become a place for other worthwhile projects to benefit the Portland community.  The Girl Scouts planted a tribute garden to celebrate the centennial of Women's Suffrage.  Girl Scouts of Maine Troops are engaged in planting daffodils throughout the state wherever they can.  The daffodil is the symbol of the movement and the hope is that these gardens will be in bloom for Maine's 200 birthday as a state in March.

     One hundred a fifty large daffodil bulbs donated by Creative Portland to us, were planted by the girls and their families.  We chose to plant in the raised bed around our new interpretive sign so that visitors to the cemetery will appreciate the beauty next spring when they enter the space.

     A second opportunity was taken on by Portland Girl Scouts and their families to help out our newest Portland residents; asylum seekers who came here in the summer and some of whom has been able to move into permanet residents.  The following is a result of this endeavor:

     This afternoon, we delivered the cleaning and toiletry supplies (5 totes/baskets full!) that our Machigonne GS, troop leaders, families and friends donated to MAIN (Maine Immigrant Access Network)! A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who contributed!! MAIN is also currently in need of winter coats, boots, hats, gloves, etc (new or gently used). Winter clothing items can be dropped off anytime between 10am-4pm at their office on 237 Oxford St. Please give them a call with any questions: 552-1800.

Delivered cleaning supplies and toiletries today to MAN to help our "new Portland residents. " Items donated by Portland Girl Scouts at our Fall event at the GTC on Sunday.

      Additional photos of our Fall Cleanup and Planting event can be found on our Facebook page @FriendsofGrandTrunkCemetery.