The curse of Hobbes House is a well-known legend that has been passed down through generations. Located deep in the woods, Hobbes House is a mysterious and eerie place. According to the legend, anyone who enters the house is doomed to face a terrible curse. The origins of the curse are shrouded in mystery, with various stories and theories surrounding it. Some believe that the curse dates back to the 18th century when the house was the residence of a wealthy and powerful family. It is said that the family was involved in dark, occult practices, and their actions angered the spirits that resided in the nearby forest.
A New York Exhibition on the Salem Witch Trials Explores the Legacy of the Dark Historical Chapter on the Descendants of the Accused
"The Salem Witch Trials: Reckoning and Reclaiming" is on view at the New-York Historical Society.
Thomas Satterwhite Noble, Witch Hill (The Salem Martyr), 1869. Collection of the New-York Historical Society, gift of the children of Thomas S. Noble and Mary C. Noble, in their memory, 1939.
Magic is afoot at the New-York Historical Society, where a new exhibition revisits a dark chapter in U.S. history: the Salem Witch Trials. Between early 1692 and mid-1693, more than 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft, and 20 people were executed.
“The Salem Witch Trials: Reckoning and Reclaiming,” which originated last fall at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, is the latest offering of the historical society’s Center for Women’s History. It examines the legal proceedings in light of the role that race and gender played in the deadly affair, as well as the impact it made on descendants of the accused.
“Women were overwhelmingly the ones accused of witchcraft both in America and in Europe in the time period,” Anna Danziger Halperin, the center’s associate director, told Artnet News.
The Salem Witch Trials were an outburst of witch-phobia that followed a vogue for witch trials across Europe in the early modern period. The hysteria overtook the town and village of Salem (the latter is called Danvers today), implicating the poor and vulnerable as well as some of society’s most respected citizens.
Artist in London Sundial (1644), owned by John Proctor, one of the victims of the Salem Witch Trials. Photo by Jeffrey R. Dykes. Collection of the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts, gift of Abel H. Proctor, 1907.
“The first three people who were accused were women who were ostracized and easily scapegoated in the community, but from there, it spirals out,” Danziger Halperin said. “In some ways, the fact that men were also accused is part of what makes the Salem story exceptional.”
“It’s really a defining example of American intolerance and injustice—a terrible chapter in our history,” she added.
The trials created an intense climate of fear and uncertainty for the people of Salem, who never knew who the next target would be. (The accused included a four-year-old child.)
Setting an appropriately spooky tone for the show is an atmospheric soundtrack of crackling flames, howling winds, and eerie bird calls. The ambient noise plays as you approach a recreation of the Salem hearth where the tragedy all began. The daughter and niece of Reverend Samuel Parris accused Tituba, an enslaved woman from Barbados, of being a witch and causing the mysterious fits they claimed were afflicting them.
Richard Ligon, A True and Exact History of the Island of Barbados (1657). Collection of the New-York Historical Society, Patricia D. Klingenstein Library.
Though Tituba managed to avoid execution, the historical record offers no trace of her fate. In lieu of surviving artifacts, Danziger Halperin represented her with a colonial map of Barbados, where Tituba was enslaved before joining the Parris household.
The original Peabody Essex show drew from the museum’s collection of primary documents. In lieu of trial transcripts and other papers, the NYHS has brought in other historical manuscripts, such as a copy of the Malleus Maleficarum, or Hammer of Witches, a handbook on how to identify and kill witches, originally published in Germany in 1486.
Also on view are some of the personal belongings of Salem residents, such as a window from the home of the Towne family, whose three sisters were all among the accused. (Two were executed.)
Heinrich Institoris, Malleus Maleficarum (1669). Collection of the New-York Historical Society, Patricia D. Klingenstein Library.
“It has its own kind of eerie power,” Danziger Halperin said. “The window is this place where people could eavesdrop and see evidence and hear rumors.”
Other artifacts include a large chest that belonged to the Osborn family and a tape loom from the Putnams. Sarah Osborne was one of the first three people accused of witchcraft, likely targeted because of an inheritance dispute following the death of her first husband, a relative of the influential Putnam family. (Osborne died in jail before her trial.)
“The Putnams were really one of the most vehement proponents of accusing their neighbors,” Danziger Halperin said. “Which makes this small decorative tape loom that was used by Rebecca Putnam a really amazing artifact—it has these incredible symbols carved into the handle that are symbols of folk magic. It’s a protective amulet, which would have went against puritanical belief!”
Artist in Salem, Massachusetts, Tape loom owned by Rebecca Putnam (1690–1710). Photo by Kathy Tarantola. Collection of the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts, museum purchase made possible by an anonymous donor, 2001.
Existing conflicts between neighbors and families were among the tensions that bubbled to the surface as the trials picked up steam, fueled by political uncertainty and upheaval, a military conflict that brought in refugees from other parts of New England, and crop failures and disease amid a harsh winter.
“Historians use the phrase a powder keg,” Danziger Halperin said. “There’s so many different conflicts and tensions coexisting in the community, once there’s this spark that ignites it, it just explodes.”
The trials end almost as suddenly, with reason seemingly prevailing in January 1693, when a new court ruled that spectral evidence was no longer legally admissible.
Alexander McQueen, dress from the “In Memory of Elizabeth Howe, Salem, 1692” collection (2007). Photo by Bob Packert. Collection of the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts, gift of anonymous donors in London who are friends of the Peabody Essex Museum, 2011.
A powerful addition from the museum’s own collection closes the show: Thomas Satterwhite Noble’s massive painting Witch Hill (The Salem Martyr) (1869). The model for the woman being executed was a descendant of a woman who was hung as a witch in Salem.
The exhibition also brings the story of the trials into the 21st century, with bodies of work by two Salem descendants who have embraced witchcraft in ways that their ancestors could never have imagined.
The late fashion designer Alexander McQueen dedicated his 2007 fall/winter collection to his ancestor Elizabeth How, who was put to death as a witch, creating garments that incorporated symbolism of witchcraft, the occult, and tarot cards.
Frances F. Denny, Keavy, Brooklyn, New York (2016) from “Major Arcana: Portraits of Witches in America.” Courtesy of the artist and Clamp Art, New York.
And then there are portraits of modern-day witches—women who have embraced elements of witchcraft and magic—shot by New York photographer Frances F. Denny, a descendant of Samuel Sewall, one of the judges who oversaw the trials.
“There’s a huge difference between being accused of being a witch and claiming it on your own as a religious or political identity,” Danziger Halperin said. “These women do call themselves witches, and some lay claim to long historical roots in witchcraft practices and different kinds of traditions. It shows that witch doesn’t have to be this dirty word—magic doesn’t have to be this evil incarnate kind of power.”
“The Salem Witch Trials: Reckoning and Reclaiming” is on view at the New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West at Richard Gilder Way (77th Street), New York, New York, October 7, 2022–January 22, 2023.
Salem witch trials
The play The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, is based on the Salem witch trials.
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It is said that the family was involved in dark, occult practices, and their actions angered the spirits that resided in the nearby forest. Others claim that the curse stems from a tragic event that took place within the walls of Hobbes House. According to this version of the legend, a family member committed a heinous crime, resulting in the curse being placed upon the house and all who enter it.
Introduction
© North Wind Picture ArchivesThe Salem witch trials were a series of investigations and persecutions that occurred from June 1692 to May 1693 in the town of Salem Village in the Massachusetts Bay Colony (now Danvers, Massachusetts). The proceedings led to the hanging of 19 suspected witches and the imprisonment of many others.
Regardless of its origins, the curse is said to bring misfortune, despair, and even death to those who dare to enter Hobbes House. Many people have reported experiencing strange and unexplained phenomena within the house, such as cold drafts, eerie voices, and the feeling of being watched. Over the years, numerous individuals and paranormal investigators have attempted to unravel the mysteries of Hobbes House. Some have reported witnessing apparitions and other supernatural occurrences, further fueling the belief in the curse. Despite the warnings and tales of the curse, there are those who are drawn to the house's dark allure. Some curious adventurers seek to prove the existence of the curse, while others are simply thrill-seekers looking for an adrenaline rush. Many of these brave souls have entered Hobbes House, only to regret their decision later on. Whether the curse of Hobbes House is real or merely a legend, one thing is certain – it has captivated the imaginations of people for centuries. The fear and intrigue associated with the cursed house continue to draw in those who dare to explore its haunted halls. As with most legends and myths, it is up to individuals to decide whether they believe in the curse or dismiss it as mere superstition. However, one thing remains clear – those who choose to enter Hobbes House do so at their own peril..
Reviews for "Unlocking Hobbes House: Deconstructing the Curse"
1. Name: Sarah
Rating: 2/5
Review: I was really excited to read "The Curse of Hobbes House" based on the intriguing synopsis and positive reviews, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The story lacked depth and the characters felt underdeveloped. The plot twists were predictable and the horror elements were not as chilling as I had hoped. Overall, I found the book to be underwhelming and it did not live up to its potential.
2. Name: Mark
Rating: 2/5
Review: I found "The Curse of Hobbes House" to be a tedious and slow-paced read. The author's writing style was over-descriptive and repetitive, which made it difficult for me to stay engaged in the story. Additionally, I felt that the characters' actions were unrealistic and lacked believability. The plot twists were forced and didn't add any excitement to the narrative. Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me and I can't recommend it to others looking for a thrilling horror read.
3. Name: Emily
Rating: 1/5
Review: I'm a huge fan of horror novels, so I was excited to dive into "The Curse of Hobbes House". However, I was sorely disappointed. The writing felt amateurish, with clunky dialogue and lackluster descriptions. The pacing was incredibly slow, with the story dragging on without any real purpose. The supposed scares were predictable and the plot twists were poorly executed. Overall, I found this book to be a complete letdown and would not recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating horror read.