Proctor's Ledge - Salem, MA

 If you've been following me for awhile, and have a really good memory, you may recall a post I did about the re-dedication of the Witch Trials Memorial in downtown Salem. That memorial was created in 1992 to honor those who were persecuted for witchcraft.

In 2016, a group of researchers determined the actual location of the Witch Trials hanging executions is a place now called Proctor's Ledge and not the nearby Gallows Hill area. In 2017, a new memorial was dedicated at the base of this location, which is where the victim's bodies were unceremoniously dumped after being executed.

Sorry for the "shady" photo. I went at 8:30 on a Saturday morning because when I went Friday afternoon there were people there. Even Saturday morning, a car rolled up across the street with Virginia plates and a family of 3 got out to take photos.

It sits on a one-way street nestled in a small residential neighborhood behind a Walgreens. Your typical Salem sightseer is unlikely to stumble into it because it's not in the main downtown, touristy area. As it should be, it's not an overly commercialized type of place, it's a simple memorial area. The names and dates of the 19 who were executed by hanging line the back wall.

At the front of the memorial, an oak tree is planted with the words "We Remember."

Up the hill behind the memorial is the ledge where the executions took place.

It's a little, peaceful wooded area that's obviously used for partying judging by the various colored, broken glass scattered around. There are signs posted stating you can be fined if found here after dusk.

If you happen to be of a historical mind, there's plenty of info out there about the Ledge.

Here's a couple articles of interest.

The Salem News from 7/19/17 on the memorial dedication.

 

A good read from the History Of Massachusetts Blog about the memorial and how the site was determined to be the location of the executions. 

  

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Classic Creepy Comics - Chamber of Chills

I had such a fun time looking through old horror comics last year, that Creepy Classic Comics is back again! And since Wednesday is known as "comic book day" what better time to do it? Okay, so these aren't new comics, but still...

 

As before, all the books I talk about are legally available for free on Comic Book+. You can read them online or, if you create a free account, you can download them.

Chamber of Chills was a 26 issue series that ran from June 1951 to December 1954 published by Harvey Comics. Yes, the same Harvey Comics that's probably best known for Casper the Friendly Ghost.

 

The cover of each issue dares you...to open the mysterious door into a world of horror! At least until issue 5 anyway. Speaking of numbering, the above cover shows 21 even though it is the first issue. The numbering was carried over from Blondie Comics of all things. Starting with issue 5, the numbering matched the actual issue number.

 

Although there would be a Marvel Comics series of the same name starting in 1972, the books are not related. You just can't beat a good alliterative title!

Issue 7 (above) was mentioned in 1954's Seduction of the Innocent, a book that claimed comic books had a negative effect on young minds and lead to the creation of the Comics Code Authority. It's bad enough there's a hanging skeleton with a knife stuck in its skull, but look at the poor girl in the background shackled by her neck! Also, I love that this guy is prying open the wall to get away and there's some ghoulish hands trying to pull the rock back.

And to close out our showcase this week, here's some nightmare fuel.

What even is this thing? Is that a robot head or some kind of iron mask? You'll never know because this thing doesn't even appear in the issue!

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Disney Doorables - Haunted Mansion

 Disney Doorables is a series of blind packed characters that are around 1.5 inches tall with big, glittery eyes. This line has been going for years and while Mrs Dex has picked up the occasional Beauty & the Beast or Frozen set, I haven't paid much attention to them until this recent Amazon exclusive set. I didn't even know this was a thing until it appeared on my doorstep. Thanks, Mom!

Doorables are so named because there's usually a door involved, either in the packaging or a mini-playset, and they're adorable. I would love it if they'd do a mini Mansion playset! Or better yet, a series of connectable mini playsets.

Let's go around the back...