John Proctor met a horrible death in 1692, when he was hanged during the Salem Witch Trials after being falsely accused and convicted for witchcraft. Proctor was only 60 years old. He left behind 18 children.
While many people will know the name John Proctor, something we don't know is what his house looked like. It's weird to think about, right? We focus on his tragic death and the trials...but what did houses look like back then? And what happened to them as years went on?
Thanks to a real estate listing in Peabody, Massachusetts, we're getting a few answers to these questions. The house for sale is Proctor's old home, and while it admittedly has been through a lot of renovation, it's still pretty neat.
The house is listed as a "first period, registered historic home features period detail with the functionality of todays needs."
The exterior is pretty basic, with black siding all the way around the home. I'm sure there have been a lot of renovations since the original construction, but the muted colors definitely have a historic feel.
The interior features a lot of exposed wood, with a lot of modernizations as well.
I would love a kitchen like this. Think of all the entertaining you could do!
The brick might be from the original build, but we know for sure that the oven is not!
This fireplace is totally stunning. I'm daydreaming about curling up in front of it with a good book on a cold night.
A second fire place? This place really has everything, doesn't it?
A THIRD fireplace? Alright, now this is getting crazy!
A fourth...how does this house not catch fire?
The bathroom has definitely been modernized, and I think we can all be thankful for that.
The yard is phenomenal, with an in-ground pool and a patio.
The house is almost 4000 square feet, and is listed for $600,000.
There are, however, conflicting reports about when the house was built. The Massachusetts Historical Commission says it was built around 1700, while the Peabody Historical Commission dates back to 1638.
A house that John Proctor reportedly lived in is up for sale although it is debatable if he really lived there. The Massachusetts Historical Commission dates the house to around 1700 but the Peabody Historical Commission dates it to 1638 https://t.co/AqmejyUcSc
— History of Mass Blog (@HistoryofMass) October 10, 2018
Regardless, it's still a fascinating piece of history with a connection to one of the most notable time periods. The Peabody Historical Society is in the process of trying to buy the house and use it as a public observation center, or a museum of sorts. It's not every day you get to walk through the house of someone from history!
[H/T: J. Barrett & Company]
