The Salem Village Historic District was established by a vote of the Danvers Town Meeting on September 18, 1974 in order to "promote the educational, cultural, economic, and general welfare of the public through the preservation of the distinctive characteristics of the buildings and places significant in the history of the Town of Danvers or their architecture, and through the maintenance and improvement of settings for such buildings and places, and the encouragement of design compatible therewith.". This rather officious sounding quotation from the By-Law conveys the importance that the people of Danvers have attached to maintaining a connection to their past and that of the town in which they have chosen to make their homes. Looking back on the urban renewal programs of the 1960's has shown us the value of remembering and preserving pieces of our past, even while allowing for the inevitable march of "progress".
The establishment of the Historic District was formalized by the adoption of the Danvers Historic District By-Law, which established the boundaries of the District, set up the guidelines to be followed in administering the District, and required the establishment of a Commission to perform the administrative duties required in the By-Law. The Commission consists of seven (7) members and three (3) alternate members, appointed by the Board of Selectmen.
If you are interested in learning more about the history of Salem Village and Danvers, there are a number of resources available via the Internet. The University of Virginia maintains a web site containing an extensive library of transcriptions of original documents concerning Salem Village, including maps, Village and Church records, and proceedings of the infamous trials of 1692. You will also find links to number of excellent web sites documenting the history of Salem Village and Danvers to the present day, including the Danvers Archival Center. The Massachusetts Archives have a wealth of original material, including a large number of scanned documents from the 17th century.
Endicott Park Glen MagnaThe Rebecca Nurse Homestead has been preserved and is now maintained by the Danvers Alarm List Company.
Another descendant of Salem Village residents, Margo Burns, has compiled an extensive listing of primary sources of historical information about Salem Village in the 17th century. Another excellent source of information is the Massachusetts Historical Society.
To search the survey database, try our search engine.
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