Book excerpt: A close-up look at this historic Massachusetts landmark, including photos and illustrations. Though Salem is located on Massachusetts’s scenic North Shore, its history has not always been picturesque. The “Witch City,” as it is internationally known, is home to numerous landmarks dedicated to the notorious trials of 1692. Of these, the Witch House is perhaps most significant—the former residence of Judge Jonathan Corwin, whose court ordered the execution of twenty men and women. It was here that Corwin examined the unfortunate accused. There is, however, more to this ancient building than its most famous occupant. From wars and death to prosperity and progress, this book searches beneath the beams and studs of the Witch House—to find the stories of those who called this place home.