Hocus Pocus, It's a 90's Thing

     The 90's was the perfect decade to grow up in.  It was a time standing on the edge of the technological boom.  The cordless phone was the closest you got to a cell phone.  Dial-up internet gave access to AOL and MSN messenger.  Twitter and Facebook weren't even created yet.  Summers were spent outside instead of staring at a television with a playstation controller in your hand.  Barbie Girl, NSYNC and the Spice Girls were amplified out the windows of parents' cars as they took their kids to the pool and to the movies.  Tents were made in living rooms, and dances were choreographed and performed.  Movies were watched on VCR's, and yes, it was upsetting to put one in to find the last person didn't rewind it.  

     As a matter of fact, one great movie that got plenty of playtime was Hocus Pocus.  The Sanderson sisters, Binx the cat, Max the virgin, Dani the little sister, and Allison the crush graced our televisions and still does every October. This comical horror remains one of my favorite Halloween movies, so when we visited Salem, Massachusetts, PDub and I had to see the filming sites for the movie.

Town Hall where Max and Dani's parents celebrated Halloween night.  The Sanderson sisters paid the place a visit and entertained the guests with their own rendition of "I Put a Spell On You."

Town Hall exists as the Salem Museum.

Max and Dani stumble across this mansion while trick-or-treating.  It happens to be the home of Max's crush, Allison.

And yes, it is an actual location in Salem called Ropes Mansion.

Max and Dani's family move from LA to Salem.  Their new home sits right on the bay, and I remember as a kid being jealous of Max's skylight room.

Yup, there it is folks.  Max and Dani's home......and someone else's.  Hopefully they don't mind us taking pictures in front of their home.

The beginning of the film is set back in time during the actual witch trials (although historically inaccurate).  This is Emily and Zachary's home.

Although it is now shut down, the Pilgrim Village Cottages in Salem was the location for the filming of these scenes.

And as any 90's kid would say, "Laters, homeskillets."  

Zack Morris and Kelly Kapowski forever!

The Story of the Salem Witch Trials

     It was the winter of 1692 and not even our black houses with low ceilings could keep the cold out.  Little did we know that the bitter weather we were facing was only the beginning of a harsher future. Church was the only time to look forward to; it was a time to warm up with friends, hear the town gossip, discuss the newest books, and of course, watch the Putnam and Porter families feud.  I guess being rich wasn't enough for these two families; they were power thirsty as well.  We all knew that the Putnams had won the church battle by hiring their pick of a minister, Samuel Parris.  We could tell they were hungry for more, whether it be land or town leadership, no one knew.

Many churches today use the "first" word in their names, but this church actually was the first congregational church in America.  Take a number, First Baptist Church, First Christian Church, First Church of God, etc.

The placard proves it.

The First Church in Salem would have been present during the Witch Trials.

     Samuel Parris with his wife, daughter, niece, and Indian slave had moved to town from Barbados.  The girls had settled in quite nicely and had made many close friends.  If you asked me, they were forever up to no good that winter.  Samuel's daughter, Betty, fell ill in February.  Rumors said she was running around aimlessly, hiding under furniture, complaining of fever, and screaming in agonizing pain.  The doctor was baffled as to the cause, and of course, the rest of the community was restless for answers.

     Around that same time, Cotton Mather's book, "Memorable Providences," had become the subject of discussion after church services.  It was uncanny the likeness of Betty's symptoms to Mather's character who was afflicted by witchcraft.  The town grew more and more nervous as some of Betty's playmates (including one of the Putnam's daughters) started to show the same symptoms.  Dr. William Griggs finally concluded that the girls were under some sort of supernatural force, witchcraft.

     One of the Parris's neighbors told Tituba, their Indian slave, to bake a cake made of rye and of Betty's urine to feed to a dog.  The witch responsible for causing such spells would feel the dog's biting teeth and immediately react.  Although there is no recorded result to this test, Tituba was one of the first of three to be accused of sorcery.  The other two "witches" were Sarah Good, a homeless beggar, and Sarah Osborne, who had not attended church in a year.  The Putnams brought their complaints to the county magistrates, Jonathan Corwin and John Hathorne.  The two magistrates called for a public examination.

Visiting the Witch House, or actually Jonathan Corwin's house, in Salem.

Houses in that time period were painted black to soak up as much sun and heat during the day to stay warm at night.

At the time, this would have been considered a mansion, belonging to a town magistrate.

     Nearly the entire town showed up to the meeting house to witness the girls' symptoms firsthand.  I found my place amongst the crowd, and as soon as the accused witches entered the room, the seven girls began to freeze in position and fall over, contort their bodies in grotesque positions, and scream of biting and pinching on their skin.  The room erupted in rage at the three women.  People around me began accusing the women for causing their butter and cheese to go bad and livestock to be born with deformities.  The three women were imprisoned and awaited trial.  Shortly after, even more people, some connected to property desirable to the Putnam's, were accused of witchcraft and thrown into jail.  Entire families were even imprisoned with the youngest being a four-year-old.  I was lucky. I attended the correct church, lived on the correct side of town, and befriended the correct people.  Others weren't so lucky.

     The jails filled up quickly, causing Governor Phipps upon his return from England to step in.  He created the "court of oyer and terminer" to hear the excessive number of witchcraft cases.  Three of the five appointed justices happened to be close friends of the author Mather, now an avid witch hunter.  Mather pushed his friends to accept evidence, such as spectral evidence, the "touching test," and body examinations.  For spectral evidence, a witness would testify to seeing or dreaming a specter (or image) of the accused committing some injury, from pinching a victim's skin to digging up vegetables.  The "touch test" involved the accused touching the skin of the afflicted individual, and if the victim responded by stopping their contortions, etc., then the suspect had more proof against them.  As for the body examinations, moles were searched for on the suspect to determine if they were a witch.  Such evidence was admitted in court, and such evidence would send many to the gallows.

     By the end of the summer of 1692, somewhere between 100 and 200 individuals were accused and imprisoned for witchcraft.  19 were convicted and executed, and at least four others died in prison.  Two dogs were also executed for having been accomplices.  Thankfully, the witch hunt fad died away.  I am grateful to have survived through such a time, and hope that future generations will never make the same ignorant mistakes as my people did that summer.

PDub and I stayed in the Bridget Bishop room at our bed and breakfast.  She was the first of the accused to stand trial and be sent to Gallows Hill for execution.  Bishop was 60 years old and the owner of a tavern.  Her image was seen stealing eggs and then turning into a cat.

The Salem Witch Trials Memorial.

Giles Core, a man of over 80, refused to stand for trial.  He was laid upon the ground, a board placed upon his body, and rocks stacked upon the board until his death.

Elizabeth Howe was accused of afflicting several of the girls.  She was arrested by Corwin and Hathorne, found guilty, and executed on Gallows Hill.

Sarah Good was one of the first three women to be accused of witchcraft.  She was considered homeless and would go door to door begging for money and food.  Many believed that the death of their livestock was associated with her visits.

"Only if we remember will we be worthy of redemption."  -Elie Wiesel.

The oldest cemetery in Salem.

Where the Hathorne's were buried.

The Salem Witch Trial Memorial is placed right next door to this burying ground.

We can't forget about Samantha!  (Cue Bewitched theme song).

A Witches' Altar found in one of the gift shops we perused later that day.

     Many believe that the Salem Witch Trials drove our justice system into what it is today.  Spectral evidence, hearsay, and other absurd testimony is not allowed and most definitely provides our accused with a fairer trial.  To those individuals who lost their lives in such a troubled time, we thank them for driving our country in a better direction.

Seafood, Books, and Baseballs in Boston

     As I stepped off the airplane, my olfactory senses were immediately slammed with that fresh seafood smell.  My location: Boston.  City of the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, the Boston Marathon.....and Boston seafood.  To most people, that scent would instantly cause their stomachs to scream with desire, but for me, I plugged my nose and (for lack of a better phrase) got the hell out of there.  Awe, the struggles of a seafood hater.
     On our first day in one of the oldest city's in America, we ate seafood at the Atlantic Fish Co.  Yes, I had clam chowder (most all of it...I picked around the clams) and a Caesar salad.  We then walked to the Boston Public Library, which was established in 1848.  After perusing the many facets of this library, we headed for the Swan Pond to relax, people watch, and take pictures of the swans (ugly duckling-style), and swan boats (swan, swan, swan). To end our evening, we attended a Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park.  No worries, fellow Cardinal's fans, the Toronto Blue Jays slaughtered them 14-1.

The Boston Public Library, the second largest library in the U.S. (behind the Library of Congress).

Do you spy a PDub?

Marble walls, glowing chandeliers, and stone lions (better stone than real).

Sturdy pillars, ornate artwork, and arched walkways.  If you are wondering, there were also books.....it's a library, duh.

Swan Pond, where you can sit, listen to street musicians, and take in the beauty of downtown Boston.

It's called Swan Pond for a reason.  Two swans live in the area and love to paddle around in this pond.

People like to paddle around in those boats too.

A revolutionary George Washington and a grateful American.

Not so sure about this seafood stuff.

Proof of eating clam chowder.

PDub's meal: an oyster po-boy.  The lemon was covered with mesh to prevent seeds from falling into your food, very clever.  With Harvard nearby, I am surprised we didn't see more amazing technology.

Drum roll please: FENWAY PARK!!!  Built in 1912, it is the oldest ballpark in the MLB league.

Imagine Babe Ruth up to bat in 1926, the year he hit 104 home runs.  Goosebumps?  For any baseball fan.

Our seats (very small seats from when people were tiny) were behind the visiting pitcher's bullpen and in front of many, many Canadians.  Fun fact: the Blue Jays are from Canada.

A thirty-seven foot, two-inch high wall in left field.  Better known as the Green Monster.  One of the Blue Jays ripped one clear over it.

I think my favorite part about the whole evening was listening to the vendors yelling in their thick Boston accents.

Ice Cole Be-ah He-ah!

Getchya cacka jacks!

Cah-ton candy!

Living a no R lifestyle.

Hillwood Estate

     First Question: Have you ever heard of Grape-Nuts?  If you haven't, open your eyes next time you are in the cereal aisle at the grocery store.  It has been on the shelves since 1895 so no excuses.  Contrary to its title, Grape-Nuts does not actually contain grapes or nuts, but it is a name that has been selling for nearly 120 years.  The businessman, Charles William Post, who launched this cereal also started the Post dynasty, a consumer packaged goods company.  Do you like Fruity Pebbles or Honey Bunches of Oats?  Those are also produced by Post.  Upon his death (and her mother's) in the 1910's, their daughter, Marjorie Merriweather Post, took over the company.

     Second Question (which I now notice is actually the third): Have you ever wondered what happens to the fortunes made from such a company?  For Post, obviously some of it went back into the company, or it wouldn't exist today; however, another portion of it went to funding Marjorie's love for artwork.  She began purchasing 18th and 19th century French artwork as well as items from the House of Romanov in Russia.  In 1955, Marjorie purchased an estate, named Hillwood, where her great collection could reside.

     Today, Hillwood has become a hidden gem to the D.C. area.  The mansion and its beautiful grounds are now open to the public.  Its location is just north of D.C. near Rock Creek Park, and in the distance, one can see the Washington Monument.  Seeing that I love studying the Romanov dynasty (ever since our trip to St. Petersburg.....yes, I have read biographies of some of the rulers), I was very excited to visit this off-the-beaten-path tourist destination.  It is definitely a must-see attraction if you ever visit D.C.

The front of the mansion, where guests would arrive for her lavish garden parties.  Eros stands in the center of the circle.

Why can't I find a couch with an extendable end table such as this?  Practicalities just don't exist these days.

Some of the beautiful artwork and ornate vases.  I am currently working on a re-creation of this; it'll be done in 20 years.

Loved the ceiling and lighting in this entertainment room.

The library, my favorite place in any mansion.

The beautiful dining room.

A breakfast nook where the indoor plants made the garden outside seem to come right into the room.  Very cool!

A portrait in a portrait gallery.....and the universe implodes.

Catherine the Great's portrait is the larger image....She is one of the most intriguing people to me; born in Prussia, married into the Romanov family, and ended up ruling Russia.

I'm pretty sure everyone from henceforth should incorporate a piano in their bedroom.  Play me some lullabies.

My nerdy husband.  We go together so well.

The grounds were separated into different gardens.  This area was called the French Parterre.

This was the rose garden and Marjorie's gravesite.

And the putting green.

Yes, this happened.

A fierce lion stands guard off the back porch.  You can also see the Washington Monument from here.

Roar!  Who's cowardly now?

Stepping stones in the Japanese Garden.

More stepping stones.

No worries, I have found my chi.

I shall call you Lily, and you shall rest on pads.

A beautiful flower garden where fresh flowers were and still are picked everyday to decorate Marjorie's many rooms.

Bees and sunflowers.  Epipen prepared.

More of this magnificent garden.

The greenhouse holds one of the country's greatest orchid collections.

ORCHIDS!

Ideas for my future lawn.