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

When it comes to this terrible period in time, it is important to preserve what remains of these historical events. Salem offers endless “witchcraft” museums, toursand there are reenactments, but only a few sites remain with any real connection to the cases. We’ve already lost a lot. The Old Witches’ Jail (prison), where the accused were imprisoned under horrific conditions, was demolished by the New England Telephone Company in the 1950s, and most homes of citizens connected to the cases have long been demolished. Witch House (Judge Jonathan Corwin’s home) is the only “witch trial” town building we have left.

But what many people don’t realize is that the neighboring town of Danvers also contains buildings connected to events related to the trials. Unfortunately, one of these remaining structures, Nathaniel Ingersoll’s Commonplace Tavern, is in need of serious repairs and may eventually be lost to history, like so many historic buildings before it.

In 1692, Danvers was considered part of Salem. It was not until 1757 that the town was incorporated. Many residents connected to the witch trials, including accused victims Rebecca Nurse and Sarah Osborne, lived in what was dubbed “Salem Village.”

Salem Village was also the home of Nathaniel Ingersoll (my 10th great-great uncle). Ingersoll was a militia lieutenant and a church minister. His family ran a tavern known as Ingersoll’s Ordinary. The tavern served as a social center for the community, who regularly gathered there to eat and drink. Guest rooms could also be rented. During the period of hysteria, people accused of committing acts of witchcraft were kept and possibly examined at this site. The rank was later used as a meeting point for militia during the Revolutionary War.

Fast forward to 2024, this historic home is in a sad state of neglect and disrepair. The siding is coming off, the sills are rotting and a large hole is visible in the roof. The condition of the privately owned building is deplorable and is getting worse every year. The race against time continues to save this important part of our country’s history.

A group of concerned citizens, history buffs, and witch-trial descendants started a Facebook group called SAVE Ingersoll’s Tavern. The group rallied behind a passionate man named David McKenna, president of the Danvers Historical Society. In addition to serving as the campaign’s spokesperson, McKenna also served as the public liaison between the current owner of Ingersoll’s Ordinary. The group is trying to raise awareness of the situation and members have created an online petition to save the building. That’s the only thing that can be done for now.

When I spoke to David McKenna he told me he was disappointed, and rightfully so. The Ingersoll house (once owned by McKenna’s good friends) has sat vacant for more than a decade. The off-site owner has neglected to properly maintain the historic property, and nature is quickly taking its toll. While some progress has been made to preserve the exterior of the house, it is unknown what is inside. McKenna’s hands are tied until the reluctant homeowner allows someone to assess the condition of the property’s interior. And time is of the essence.

Although McKenna is upset, he believes the owner means well and truly wants to preserve the property, even though he is overwhelmed by the process. McKenna attempted to contact the owner multiple times but was unsuccessful.

Earlier this fall, my husband and I had lunch in Danvers and took a trip to visit the Ordinary. I must admit that I was a little emotional. The three-bedroom house is located on the corner of a beautiful street. Many historic witchcraft sites are within walking distance of the house.

The house is surrounded by mature trees and an old stone fence. Despite the Ordinary’s historic past, there is no plaque to highlight its importance. If you didn’t know the history of the building, you’d think it was just another one. old new england house Desperately needing some love.

When we examined the property from the sidewalk, we could clearly see the growing hole in the roof and the peeling paint on the clapboards. The house is marked with a red and white square sign indicating it is an unsafe, abandoned property. But looking beyond the damage, it wasn’t hard to see the beauty of the old house and realize the potential it could hold if it could be saved.

We wrapped up our visit and took a quick walk down the street to pay our respects to the Salem Village Witchcraft Victims Memorial. Later, on our way back to Salem, we passed by Rebecca Nurse Farm, another historic home of witchcraft trials. As I drove on, I thought a lot about what life must have been like for my ancestors who lived in that area at the time of the hysteria. While many things will be quite different in 2024, we all know that history repeats itself, especially if we don’t learn. I can’t think of a better reason to preserve our ties to the past.