WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - What's in a Name: Salem, the Witch Capital of Early America

Episode Date: November 1, 2025

On this episode of What's in a Name, host Megan Pidcock dives in to the infamous yet rich history of one of America's oldest cities, Salem, Massachusetts.

Today, we will be talking about the name of one of America's oldest and most infamous cities, Salem, Massachusetts. Settled in 1626 by Roger Conant, its original name was Nomkeg, which was a Native American word meaning fishing place because it was a fishing town. Not long after, it was renamed Salem after the Hebrew word shalom, which means peace. At odds with its name, the area is best known for the 1692 witch hunting trials, where over 200 people were accused of witchcraft. 30 were found guilty and 19 were put to death. Beyond this tragic event, Salem has an important place in military history. It's considered the birthplace of the National Guard, traced back to regiments formed by the Massachusetts Bay General Court in December of 1636, to fight Native Americans and defend the area.

More recently, author Nathaniel Hawthorne was born there in 1804, and today Salem draws over a million visitors every October. You've been listening to What's in a Name on Radio Free Hillsdale 101. 1.7 FM.