The Ghosts of Salem, Massachusetts by Fiona Broome

Rebecca Nurse homestead, haunted Danvers and Salem, MA

Fiona Broome's book, The Ghosts of Salem, Massachusetts, is nearly completed. Her Salem research began in 2006, when she revisited favorite childhood haunts around "Witch City."

In 2008, Fiona and her family returned to New England so that Fiona could dedicate more time to on-site research in Salem, and neighboring haunted locations throughout Boston's North Shore.

After a brief hiatus in 2010, Fiona has resumed her research and writing. Her goal is to present a unique book with Salem's classic "ghost stories" as well as the facts behind them. Fiona's research has led to her discovery of an energy line she's called "the Judges' Line" in Salem, along which most of Salem's haunts occur.

Pursuing unusual research leads and methods, Ms. Broome's book promises to be a fascinating book of ghosts and ghouls, pirates and Puritans and -- of course -- the witches whose lives, deaths, curses and hauntings make Salem one of the world's eeriest cities and top Halloween destinations.

The articles featured below represent a small portion of Fiona's unique research that will appear in her upcoming books.

The Judges' Line of Salem, Massachusetts

Salem Massachusetts Judges Line

Patterns emerge when we study profoundly haunted areas. Sometimes, we can apply logic to those patterns. Sometimes, they simply indicate a pattern of energy that we can use to find and confirm haunted places.

In my previous book, The Ghosts of Austin, Texas, I talked about two major patterns connecting almost all hauntings in downtown Austin.

In Salem, Massachusetts, I'm finding different kinds of patterns. I'm calling one of them "The Judges' Line." It seems to be a ley line.

Witch Hill, aka Whipple Hill

Whipple Hill, Danvers, MA

Witch Hill in Danvers is an important part of the Salem Witch Trials. It's where "spectral evidence" was observed in 1692, and used as evidence against people accused of witchcraft in Salem.

The correct name for the site is Whipple Hill, and it's a hauntingly wild and lovely location for hiking. Marked trails lead you to the crest of the hill and a beautiful view.

The Gallows Hill Mystery

Gallows Hill Park, Salem, MA

Gallows Hill is among Salem's most famous site related to the witch trials of 1692. However, no one is certain of its historic location.

Today, a site called Gallows Hill rises above a children's playground and sports field. It's surrounded by single-family homes in a quiet residential neighborhood.

But, is it the hill where the "witches" were actually hung? Evidence is scant, but we can guess with some confidence.

Fiona Broome

Random foliage

Fiona Broome is a respected author and paranormal researcher whose career spans more than 25 years and investigations in many countries.

She may be best known as the founder of one of the Internet's earliest (and largest) ghost-related websites, HollowHill.com, and the author of over a dozen books including ghost stories and studies of groundbreaking paranormal topics.