Salem, A Betwiched Town in Massachusets. Name is derived from "Shalom".

Salem in Massachusetts, United States. Salem's founding can be traced back to 1626 when Roger Conant, along with a group of immigrants from Cape Ann, established a settlement on the North Shore of Massachusetts Bay. They initially named the settlement Naumkeag, which was derived from an Algonquian word meaning "fishing place" or "fishing village."

However, in 1629, a larger group of settlers arrived from England and joined the existing settlement. These new settlers preferred to call the settlement Salem, which is derived from the Hebrew word "shalom," meaning "peace." The name change reflected their desire for a peaceful and prosperous community.

‘Salem’ is a common placename in the UK–– there’s one in Cornwall, two in Wales, and one in Lancashire. It derives from the English surname ‘Salem’, which in turn is derived from Biblical Hebrew. They named their new town after a village in Cornwall.

Salem went on to play a significant role in early American history. It was one of the most important seaports in the American colonies, engaged in trade with various parts of the world. Unfortunately, the town is also infamous for the Salem witch trials that occurred in 1692, during which several people were accused of witchcraft and executed.

A statue of Roger Conant, the founder of Salem, stands outside the Salem Witch Museum.

The Salem Witch Museum examines one of the most enduring and emotional events in American History, the Salem witch trials of 1692. 

Now a landmark of the city of Salem, this statue pays tribute to the well-known TV sitcom ‘Bewitched’ and its filming of the seventh season here in Salem.

Ref. https://salemwitchmuseum.com  

Dec 2022