Salem draws line at hunting ghosts

By David Filipov, Globe Staff | December 20, 2008

It's the eternal debate in a city that cherishes its rich history but also embraces witch kitsch as a way to lure tourist dollars: How much supernatural is too much?

Apparently, allowing a team of ghost hunters to investigate whether the Salem Witch House is haunted crosses the line.

A commission that oversees the Witch House denied a request this week by Spirit Finders Paranormal Investigators of North Smithfield, R.I., to hunt for restless shades in the 17th-century landmark, citing the need to respect the historical importance of the site.

"I don't see how paranormal activity would complement or is compatible with what we are promoting," Laura Swanson, a member of the commission, said, explaining the vote. "We are promoting a historical house. Not only is this a historical piece of property, but it is symbolic of the significance of what happened."

The house was the home of Jonathan Corwin, one of the nine judges who sent 20 people to their deaths during the 1692 Witch Trials. But the site has no other connection to the trials; despite its generations-old name, no witches were convicted or hanged there, as many tourists believe when they go inside. Tours of the house focus entirely on the lifestyle and history of the people who lived in it, often to the dismay of tourists who go in looking for supernatural lore or at least tales of the country's most infamous witch hunt.

It's easy to understand their disappointment. Pointed hats and broomsticks are ubiquitous in the self-proclaimed Witch City, with their images placed on such prominent places as police cars and tourist brochures.

Swanson argues that the Witch House, also known as the Jonathan Corwin House, is important precisely because it is a link to the history of the events of 1692. The commission, she said, did not want "to allow anything to overshadow the tragic events that occurred."

The investigation, she said, would not be "compatible with the story of the house and the tragedy that occurred."

Eric Fraize, the self-proclaimed "Witch King of Salem," represented Spirit Finders at the hearing this week and said the commission was being hypocritical by embracing the occult selectively.

"If they wanted to respect the voice of those that died in 1692, they would take the witch off police cars and stop calling Salem the Witch City," Fraize said yesterday.

"At the same time, they may as well put the noose around the neck of Salem's economy."

Swanson said the economic argument has nothing to do with the decision. The Witch House, she said, is doing just fine without ghost hunters. It covers its costs and turned over to the city $175,000 at the end of the fiscal year that ended in July.

She also said that allowing one paranormal investigation would attract others. Already, Salem has received other requests with publicity of the proposed hunt, she said. "Where do you draw the line on this?" she asked.