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Townie Trivia: How Much Do You Know About Salem?

Salem
File (Photo from WBZ-TV)


Salem, Mass. was among the earliest English settlements in America. Forever associated with witches, there's no doubt you learned about it in grade school history classes. But just how much do you know about this city's rich and colored history?

Related: More Townie Trivia

1. Salem got its name from which two languages' word for "peace?"

A. Greek and Latin
B. Spanish and French
C. Hebrew and Arabic
D. Gaelic and Norwegian

2. Which early settler's arrival in Salem began the "Great Migration?"

A. Roger Conant
B. John Endecott
C. Matthew Craddock
D. John Winthrop

3. Samuel Skelton acted as which important figure for Salem?

A. Pastor for the first church
B. First appointed governor
C. Witch trials judge

4. Most of the accused in the Salem Witch Trials lived in what present day town?

A. Peabody
B. Topsfield
C. Danvers
D. Beverly

5. John Hathorne was the primary Witch Trials judge.

A. True
B. False

6. What is the English translation of Salem's Latin motto?

A. Where history comes alive
B. To the farthest port of the rich Indies
C. America's oldest seaport
D. As God was with our fathers, so may He be with us

7. Salem is officially the birthplace of the Coast Guard.

A. True
B. False

8. Salem holds the world record for most expensive ____ ever sold.

A. Fishing Boat
B. American Flag
C. First edition book
D. Federal Furniture

9. In the last 18th century, Salem was a thriving seaport thanks to what export?

A. Whale Oil
B. Codfish
C. Raw Wool
D. Metal Products

10. Which Academy Award-nominated movie was filmed in Salem?

A. Glory
B. The Fighter
C. On Golden Pond
D. The Europeans

Answers on Page 2

1. Salem got its name from which two languages' word for "peace?"

A. Greek and Latin
B. Spanish and French
C. Hebrew and Arabic - The name of the town comes from the Hebrew word "shalom" and the Arabic word "salaam," both meaning "peace."
D. Gaelic and Norwegian

2. Which early settler's arrival in Salem began the "Great Migration?"

A. Roger Conant
B. John Endecott
C. Matthew Craddock
D. John Winthrop -- Contant was the first settler, Endecott, the second, and Matthew Craddock, the governor in London. Winthrop's later arrival prompted the mass migration of Puritans to Salem.

3. Samuel Skelton acted as which important figure for Salem?

A. Pastor for the first church - Samuel Skelton led congregations at the First Church of Salem, which was North America's first Puritan church.
B. First appointed governor
C. Witch trials judge

4. Most of the accused in the Salem Witch Trials lived in what present day town?

A. Peabody
B. Topsfield
C. Danvers -- All four present-day towns were a part of the old "Salem Village," but what is currently Danvers was home to the most "witches."
D. Beverly

5. John Hathorne was the primary Witch Trials judge.

A. True - He became known as the "Hangining Judge" for sentencing many accused witches to death.
B. False

6. What is the English translation of Salem's Latin motto?

A. Where history comes alive - Marblehead
B. To the farthest port of the rich Indies
C. America's oldest seaport - Danvers
D. As God was with our fathers, so may He be with us - Boston

7. Salem is officially the birthplace of the Coast Guard.

A. True
B. False - Salem is the birth place of the National Guard. President Obama signed this designation into law in 2013.

8. Salem holds the world record for most expensive ____ ever sold.

A. Fishing Boat
B. American Flag
C. First edition book
D. Federal Furniture - In 2011, a Samuel McIntire mahogany side chair sold for $662,500.

9. In the last 18th century, Salem was a thriving seaport thanks to what export?

A. Whale Oil
B. Codfish - Salem's abundance of codfish made the city a world-famous port. Its primary imports were sugar from the West Indies, tea from China, and Sumatran pepper from the East Indies.
C. Raw Wool
D. Metal Products

10. Which Academy Award-nominated movie was filmed in Salem?

A. Glory
B. The Fighter
C. On Golden Pond
D. The Europeans - The film adaptation of Henry James' novel was released in 1979. It was nominated for Best Costume Design at the Oscars and Best Foreign Film at the 1980 Golden Globes.

Related: More Townie Trivia

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