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1626-- Roger Conant leaves
Cape Ann Colony and founds Naumkeag.
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June 24, 1629-- Naumkeag is
renamed Salem. Name came from Psalm 76:2 "In Salem also his tabernacle, and
his dwelling."
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July 6, 1630--Mass
Bay Governor John Endicott lands at Salem.
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December 13, 1636--Salem
takes up the First Muster of the East Regiment, consisting of men willing to
defend Massachusetts from the Pequot Indians at the present day Salem
Common. This is the beginning of the US National Guard.
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November 10, 1676--Arthur
Hughes was given a contract to become the town's first "watchman".
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March 1, 1692-- First
examinations take place in Salem Witch Trials.
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May 27, 1692--Governor
Phips convenes the court to investigate allegations of witchcraft.
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June 10, 1692-- Bridget
Bishop is hanged for witchcraft.
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May 1693-- Governor Phips
pardons all on "Death Row" for witchcraft.
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February 26, 1775-- By
raising the draw bridge, townspeople prevented Col. Leslie and his British
troops from seizing patriot army stores and ammunition, hidden in North
Salem. This event is the first armed resistance against British authority
and is known as Leslies Retreat.
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1788--The Essex Bridge
connecting Salem to Beverly is erected
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April 13, 1796--Jacob
Crowninshield on the ship America arrived in the US with the nations first
elephant.
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July 4, 1804--Writer
Nathaniel Hawthorne is born in a modest house on Mall Street.
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August 10, 1831--William
Driver of Salem, nicknamed the US flag "Old Glory."
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March 23, 1836-- Salem in
incorporated as a city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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May 12, 1836--Salem
officially appointed itself a city marshal. Thus establishing the Salem
Police.
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September 6, 1837--The
Cornerstone is laid for Salem's City Hall. The building is still in use and
it the nations second oldest continually used city hall buildings
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August 27, 1838--Boston &
Maine Rail Road Salem Depot Built
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April 7, 1882--Salem's B&M
Train Depot catches Fire
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1896-- The final
incarnation of the Essex Bridge was built to replace the old bridge.
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June 17, 1913--Salem
dedicates a statue near the common to its founder Roger Conant.
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June 25, 1914--A fire
erupts in the "Blubber Hollow" section of Salem, it soon engulfs nearly 1/4
of the city. Calls go out to various municipal fire departments for aide.
This event is known today as the Great Salem Fire.
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1935--The US Coast Guard
opens an air station at Winter Island
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March 25, 1947--The US Navy
launched the third incarnation of the USS Salem, which can be seen in
Quincy, Mass.
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August 29, 1970--The Coast
Guard air station at Winter Island in Salem closes it's doors.
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February 24, 1982--Salem's
National Guard Armory is set on Fire.
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June 1989--Salem Native
Jeff Juden is drafted in the 1st round (12th overall) by the Houston Astros.
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February 15, 1991--Salem
Jail closes it's doors after 379 years of service in Salem and 180 years at
that location.
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September 15, 1991--Jeff
Juden makes his Major League Pitching Debut against the Cincinnati Reds
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August 6, 1996--Veterans
Memorial Bridge is dedicated, ending more than a century of traffic problems
with the old drawbridge.
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March 13, 1996--Rich's
Department Stores of Salem Files for Bankruptcy and closes several stores.
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March 1997--Rich's
Department Stores closes remaining stores.
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November 8, 2005--The
voters of Salem by nearly 2/3 elected their first female Mayor Kim Driscoll.