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Title
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The Salem Witch Trials Tercentenary Memorial, Memorial Structure
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Creator
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Smith, Maggie
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Cutler, James
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Commemorates
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Victims of the Salem Witch Trials
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Biographical Text
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Three-sided large granite memorial structure featuring benches, locust trees and inscribed text. Designed by James Cutler and Maggie Smith.
The memorial is located in the downtown center of Salem, MA, and is dedicated to the twenty victims of the Salem Witch Trials. Inscribed along the memorial are their protests of innocence recorded from court. The names of the victims, along with their means and dates of execution are inscribed on the benches on the structures interior perimeter. Locust trees stand in the center, representing the type of tree that may have been used for the victims hangings.
The memorial was organized by the Salem Witch Tercentenary Committee, and was officially dedicated on August 5th of 1992. It was then rededicated on September 16th of 2012, following a several weeks closing for restorations of the wall and installations of new lighting and landscaping.
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Text
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[Text on Plaque 1]
THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS
TERCENTENARY MEMORIAL
The memorial is surrounded on three
sides by a granite wall. Inscribed on the
threshold are the victims' protests of
innocence. This testimony is interrupted
mid-sentence by the wall, symbolizing
society's indifference to oppression.
Locust trees represent the stark injustice
of the trials. at the rear of the memorial,
tombstones in the adjacent cemetery
represent all who stood in mute witness
to this tragedy. Stone benches within
the memorial perimeter bear the names
and execution dates of the victims.
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[Text on Memorial]
GOD KNOWS I AM INNOCENT.
I AM WHOLLY INNOCENT OF SUCH WICKEDNESS.
I DO PLEAD NOT GUILTY.
I CAN DENY IT TO MY DYING DAY.
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[Text on Benches]
BRIDGET BISHOP
HANGED
JUNE 10, 1692
SARAH GOOD
HANGED
JULY 19, 1692
REBECCA NURSE
HANGED
JULY 19, 1692
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[Text on Plaque 2]
THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS TERCENTENARY COMMITTEE
5 AUGUST 1992
THIS MEMORIAL IS DEDICATED TO THE ENDURING LESSONS
OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND TOLERANCE LEARNED FROM THE
SALEM WITCH TRIALS OF 1692
JAMES CUTLER ARCHITECTS . MAGGIE SMITH, ARTIST
HAYDEN HILLSGROVE, STONE MASONRY
THE FOLLOWING ARE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGED FOR THEIR GENEROUS
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS WORK:
SALEM WITCH MUSEUM . EASTERN BANK . SALEM FIVE CENTS SAVINGS BANK
THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS . HISTORIC SALEM INC
NEW ENGLAND POWER/MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC . THE LAPPIN TRUST
BOSTON GAS . WARNER COMMUNICATIONS . HISTORIC INNS OF SALEM
THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES . HILL, HOLIDAY, CONNORS, COSMOPULOS
ESSEX INSTITUTE MUSEUM NEIGHBORHOOD . MR. & MRS. FRANCIS WELCH
MICHAUD BUS LINES . GOODWIN, PROCTER & HOAR . PARKER BROTHERS
BARDON TRIMOUNT . SALEM STATE COLLEGE . PAUL LYDEN, PHOTOGRAPHER
PEABODY MUSEUM OF SALEM . LOHR INSURANCE . MRS, HELEN SPAULDING
MR. & MRS. CHANNING BACALL, JR. . ESSEX OFFICE SUPPLY . BAYBANK
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS . MILLIPORE . CMDR. & MRS. J. A. MICHAUD
MR. & MRS. CALEB LORING . MACAOMBER ELECTRICIANS . BANK OF BOSTON
KINGS GRANT INN . SHAWMUT CHARITABLE FUND . SALEM EVENING NEWS
NONDAS LAGONAKIS B & BRB . LYCEUM BAR & GRILL . DESCHAMPS PRINTING
FRED ROGERS . PETER M. MCSWIGGIN . DAYS INN OF SALEM/DANVERS
THE HONORABLE WILLIAM SALTONSTALL . THOMAS H. LEE . CITY OF SALEM
BROWNE SCHOOL TRUST . THE HALVORSON COMPANY . LANDRY & ARC
SALEM HOUSING AUTHORITY . HAWTHORNE HOTEL . RAYTHEON FOUNDATION
THE HONORABLE KEVIN B. HARRINGTON
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Date Created
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1992-08-05
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Date Modified
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2012-09-16
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Type
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English
Display
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English
Signage
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Project Researcher
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O'Neill, Iris
