Cry Innocent & Pioneer Village

The presence of these lovely ladies on the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall can mean only one thing:  Cry Innocent is open for the season! 

Cry Innocent: The People verses Bridget Bishop opens today, July 3rd, for the season.  Performances are held at Old Town Hall, which is between Essex and Front Streets, and prior to each performance Bridget Bishop is "arrested" on the Pedestrian Mall near the Museum Place Fountain.

A great way to experience and understand the Witch Trials of 1692, the audience becomes the jury in the examination of Bridget Bishop.  As the jury, it is your job to determine if Bridget Bishop should go to trial.  And the decision is not as easy as you might think.

To continue your 17th-century journey, visit Pioneer Village in Forest River Park (less than 10 minutes from downtown Salem in Forest River Park).  New England's first living history site, Pioneer Village will allow you to experience the daily life of Salem colonists in the 1630s.  Pioneer Village is open daily through October 31st from 12pm - 4pm. 

Stepping back in time at Pioneer Village

It was a beautiful weekend to do some time-traveling, so my family and I headed about a mile south of downtown Salem to explore Salem in 1630 at Pioneer Village.  Interpreted by the Gordon College Institute for Public History's "Folkways" program, Pioneer Village is an authentic stop that will complete any visit to Salem.

Entering Pioneer Village

Trying out the stocks.

Still life in the Governor's Mansion

Looking out of the Governor's mansion.

My kids were pretty quick to recognize the difference between the Governor's house and the other homes in Pioneer Village.  Clearly the Governor was wealthy, because his roof isn't thatched, and he has glass in his windows.  Most impressive.

The blacksmith.

The blacksmith works making hooks and tools for the village, and offers excellent interpretation of what life was like in 17th century Salem.

Playing games to pass the time.

Trying to imagine a family of 4 (or 5 or 6) living in this house.

For more information on Pioneer Village, visit PioneerVillageSalem.com.  Admission is: Children $5, Adults $6. Salem residents get free admission, and their ticket stubs are valid for discounts at the Witch House and Cry Innocent.   

Pioneer Village is open 12pm - 4pm daily (Saturdays 10am - 4pm) through October.

Pillage the Village this Weekend!

Pioneer Village at Forest River Park will be overrun by a notorious bunch of sea-robbers this weekend, July 24-25!

“Pillage the Village: Pirates Invade Salem!” is a special event for the entire family that will feature a treasure hunt, period music, sword fights and more. Guests can wear pirate finery for adult and children’s costume contests, bring a picnic for the day, or join a pirate crew while witnessing the chaos of the Salem village under ‘attack.’

Local actors will bring famous pirates from New England’s past to life. The village will be crawling with characters including Captain Ned Low, “Black Sam” Bellamy and even Lynn’s Rachel Wall, who was the last woman hanged on Boston Common.

Here are the details you need to know for an excellent day of Piracy at Pioneer Village:

Admission: $10 Adults, $8 students, seniors, and military, $6 for children 4-12 . All proceeds will go toward the continuing restoration of the Village.

Saturday, July 24: 10am - 4pm

Sunday, July 25: 12pm - 4pm

Pioneer Village is America’s oldest living history museum, built for the 300^th anniversary of the founding of Massachusetts in 1930. It features thatched cottages, the colonial governor’s “Fayre House,” and even an English-style “wigwam.” Interpretation at the Village is provided by the Institute for Public History at Gordon College, which also produces Cry Innocent!

Arrrrh!

History Alive in Salem

Cry Innocent: The People Verses Bridget Bishop opens for the 2010 season this weekend. This is a great way to be immersed in the Salem Witch Trials history. If you haven't done it before, put it on your itinerary. If you have done it before, you know every show is different, and it's worth seeing more than once.

There are two great videos of Cry Innocent on YouTube. The first is their promotional video, and the second is a bit more fun - the cast of Cry Innocent was featured in the "ambush" from an episode of TLC's What Not to Wear in 2010. Watch the intro here.

Cry Innocent is produced by the Institute for Public History at Gordon College, which also runs the interpretation and tours at Salem Pioneer Village 1630. Pioneer Village is Massachusetts' oldest living history museum. Dormant for a number of years, visitors today will have an "immersion" experience, where they can interact with villagers and get a sense of what it was like to live in Salem in the 17th Century.

For more information, visit:
History Alive! Gordon College
Salem Pioneer Village 1630

Cry Innocent and Pioneer Village Open this Weekend

Over the years, visitors have expressed a unique interest in learning more about the people and events of 17th century Salem. On July 4th, History Alive! is hosting its Grand Opening with the recreation of the original 1630 Salem at Pioneer Village and reenactments of the Salem Witch Trials at Old Town Hall.

The Grand Opening promises a day of discovery and relaxation to visitors of all ages. Cry Innocent will begin at Old Town Hall at 11:30AM, followed by a 1:30PM and 3:00PM afternoon show. From either Old Town Hall or Pioneer Village, visitors can catch a free ride on the Salem Trolley between both locations with the purchase of a History Alive! ticket.

The trolley pickup for Pioneer Village comes directly behind Old Town Hall on Front Street. At the village, visitors can explore 17th century life by joining a scheduled Folkways event or simply wandering through the village on their own. Folkways events include the recreation of a Sabbath Day meeting at 11:20AM and 1:20PM; Puritan songs and dance taught at 11:40AM and 1:40PM, and Colonial games at 12:00 noon and 2:00PM.

The following ticket prices apply to both shows: $9 adults, $8 seniors/students, free for children under six years, and a $2 discount is available with the purchase of a Cry Innocent and Folkways ticket.

Having been closed the past four and a half seasons, Pioneer Village is opening its doors to the public once again!

At Pioneer Village, visitors can take a leisurely country picnic at Forest River Park. They are also invited to take part in 17th century song, dance, and games before investigating the new Pioneer Village gift shop. Free colonial refreshments such as non-alcoholic burnt wine, fruits, and ginger snaps will also be offered at various points within the village. Before leaving, visitors can take home a bundle of fresh herbs from the garden, along with recipes on how to use them.

The village attempts to recapture the essence of 1630 Salem—the first capital of Massachusetts Colony. “At Pioneer Village, visitors can experience what life was like for people who lived in the 17th century, but another very important part of our story is to demonstrate who the Puritans were and what they accomplished,” said David Goss

For More Information: go to www.gordon.edu/historyalive/productions or visit http://www.pioneervillagesalem.com/