Beyond Broomsticks

Salem's Quakers and Their Lost Memorial

Often seen as possible witches, Quakers were persecuted in Salem for years.

Having come from what they considered an oppressive society, the Puritans were determined to follow their own ways, especially regarding religion. While they had been persecuted for their beliefs in England, this did not generate toleration in them. Once settled in the new world, they set about building a society that mirrored their beliefs. Knowing that the devil was about, they enacted strict laws. There was not separation of church and state when building a new Jerusalem. When settlers strayed from the accepted norms or failed to attend church meetings, they were fined and or punished. With such a theocracy, there was little room for dissent and no room for other belief systems. When Roger Williams advanced a new perspective, he escaped…

•  6 Comments
• Photos (3)

Chris Helms

4:10 pm on Friday, May 31, 2013

Thanks for another eye-opening column, Jerome. I always learn something from them.   more ›

Salem High School Chef Aiming for 'Cake War' Win

Which local high school senior do you think created the best cake?

A Salem High School senior is one of five local seniors hoping to win Cakes for Occasion's "Cake Wars." Catherine Kinsella is taking her cake creation up against Jamie Tarricone of Danvers High School, Ari Cipriani of Masconomet Regional High School, Kimberly Sousa of Peabody Veterans Memorial High School and Tess Greenberg of Beverly High School.  The winner will get a college scholarship and win dessert their Senior Class Up All Night event. Voting runs through Thursday at 3 p.m. on Cakes for Occassion's Facebook page. The cake with the most votes will win. The cakes were created at Cakes for Ocassions, on Maple Street in Danvers Square, in a three hour span. Family members and friends looked on as the senior decorated the cakes and the …

• Videos (4)

Live Music This Weekend: Black Dog Brother at the Gulu

Here is a round-up of live music throughout the North Shore this weekend.

This weekend is packed with live music on the North Shore and a whole bunch of bands playing a wide variety of music genres, from classic rock to blues and soul, can be seen for free at rock clubs and restaurants throughout the region.  The Guy Ford Band is playing the Red Rock Bistro on Friday night. This local group consists of a "five piece eclectic acoustic folk rock band featuring Guy Ford's unique guitar work and the incredible cello playing of Daniel Rowe with strong 3-4 part harmonies. Guy Ford Band performs covers from the 60's - 2000's and originals since 1997," per the Guy Ford Band Facebook page.  All shows begin at 9 p.m. unless specified. Other Live Music This Weekend: Rockafellas, 231 Essex Street, Salem Fri., May 17 - Lisa …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Diane Wolf

4:21 pm on Friday, May 17, 2013

The Lobster Shanty - 25 Front Street in Salem Friday the 17th from 8 to 11pm - Vein Saturday the 18th from 8 to 11pm - Lee Harvey Sunday the 19th from 3 to 7pm - the Barn Burners   more ›

Live Music This Weekend: Drop Zone at Rockafellas

Here is a round-up of live music throughout the North Shore this weekend.

This weekend is packed with live music on the North Shore and a whole bunch of bands playing a wide variety of music genres, from classic rock to blues and soul, can be seen for free at rock clubs and restaurants throughout the region.  The Drop Zone is playing at Rockafellas on Saturday night. Per the band's wesbite, the Drop Zone "is a full production rock/pop/dance cover band. Drop Zone is a top-notch act covering everything from The Bravery to Bob Marley, Rage Against The Machine to The Killers and The Rolling Stones to Katy Perry. The main idea for the song selection is to give the people what they want, and more specifically, what they want to dance to." All shows begin at 9 p.m. unless specified. Other Live Music This Weekend: …

• Photos (1)

Thousands Flock to Angie Miller Concert

Beverly's American Idol Angie Miller entertained thousands of North Shore fans with a concert at Beverly High School Saturday afternoon.

Thousands of fans flocked to Beverly High School Saturday as hometown heroine Angie Miller got the keys to the city and performed a live concert. Salem Patch was there: Here's our video of the early stages of the concert. For all of Patch's coverage of Angie Miller's dream journey, visit this special Angie Miller topic page.

• Videos (1)

Idol Angie Miller Sings Favorite Songs

American Idol Top 3 finalist Angie Miller gave her fans what they were waiting for - a free concert - on Saturday afternoon at Beverly High School.

While Angie Miller was coming up Cabot Street in a Ford Mustang convertible, thousands of fans were waiting patiently in the field at Beverly High School, and for good reason. They wanted to hear her sing. And sing she did, for an hour she sang some of the fan favorites from her American Idol performances, including "You Set Me Free.” For all of our coverage of Angie Miller's dream journey, visit our Angie Miller topic page.

• Videos (8)

Beyond Broomsticks

History Behind Salem's Senior Center on the Common

With the impending move of the Salem Senior Center, here's a look back at the history behind the historic Broad Street site.

I was recently asked the question about the history of 5 Broad Street. Now that the green light has been given to a new senior center, it seems this would be a good time to review the history of 5 Broad St. as it enters a period of change. Before this area became an enclave of educational buildings in the mid 1800s, there was already significant history here. This area was the site of Salem Common for many years before the Common on Washington Square. In the 1600s and 1700s the current Common on Washington Square was a combination of marshland with streams and hillocks along with scrubland, surrounded by ropewalks and tanneries leading to Collins (Shallops) Cove. In those days, the cove reached further inland to a dock on what is now Essex…

•  2 Comments
• Photos (5)

Jack Carver

6:28 pm on Sunday, April 28, 2013

"what should become of this property?" How about we move the Salem Prep Program into the building as we are paying $100,000 a year for the rental of the Gables building. We also rent space at the Museum Place mall for the Salem Community Charter School. Or god forbid we use it for city hall office space instead of renting 120 Washington street. It has better parking than all 3 of those mentioned.   more ›

Live Music This Weekend: Mugsy and Dr. DK

Here is a round-up of live music throughout the North Shore this weekend.

This weekend is packed with live music on the North Shore and a whole bunch of bands playing a wide variety of music genres, from classic rock to blues and soul, can be seen for free at rock clubs and restaurants throughout the region.  All shows begin at 9 p.m. unless specified. Other Live Music This Weekend: Rockafellas, 231 Essex Street, Salem Fri., April 26 - Mugsy Sat., April 27 - Live Radio Gulu-Gulu Cafe, 247 Essex St, Salem Fri., April 26 - Qwill Sat., April 27 - Dr. DK Howling Wolf, 76 Lafayette Street, Salem Fri., April 26 - Erinn Brown Sat., April 27 - Juliet Hawkins Red Rock Bistro & Bar, 141 Humphrey Street, Swampscott Fri., April 26 - Lois Lane and the Daily Planets Sat., April 27 - Erin and the Soul Drivers Stonewood Tavern…

• Photos (1)

Rob Zombie's 'The Lords of Salem' Makes East Coast Debut at CinemaSalem

Rob Zombie's new horror flick, suitably, screened at CinemaSalem Wednesday night before the general release on Friday.

It seems like ages ago when Rob Zombie's crew was in the city shooting "The Lords of Salem." But the wait is over. The horror film made its East Coast debut Wednesday night at CinemaSalem. That's well in advance of the film's general release on Friday. The film is set in present-day Salem, and you'll see a lot of the city in the finished product. That is, if you don't have your hands over your eyes the whole time. Zombie has told interviewers that this film isn't violent like his well-known butcher-fests "House of 1,000 Corpses" and "The Devil's Rejects." Instead this one offers psychological horror. Zombie says reading a book about the witch trials was the impetus for the movie, but that it doesn't aim at any kind of factual portrayal of …

•  1 Comment
• Videos (1)