In this episode, we’re joined by the curator of one of the oldest houses in North America. He’ll tell us about evidence that’s been uncovered that generations of residents may have believed in an ancient form of countermagic. The inhabitants of Dedham’s Fairbanks House used charms and hex marks deriving from Puritan, Catholic, and pagan religious traditions in an attempt to ward off evil forces that might have included witches, demons, and even disease. Fairbanks House Museum curator Daniel Neff will join us to explain the evidence he’s found and what it can tell us about the Fairbanks family and the world they lived in.
Folk Magic and Mysteries at the Fairbanks House
Ghost tours will be offered at the Fairbanks House Museum every Friday and Saturday from August 17 through Halloween. Call 781-326-1170 for information and reservations.
- Follow the Fairbanks House Museum on Facebook
- We covered the gruesome Jason Fairbanks murder case in episode 10
- Devil’s Dominion: Magic and Religion in Early New England, by Richard Godbeer
- Floor plans and schematics of the Fairbanks House, continuing over the next several pages.
Featured Historic Site
The Pierce House in Dorchester is one of just four buildings remaining in Boston that were built prior to the year 1700. It was built in 1683 by James Minot, and in 1696 he sold the property to the successful farmer Thomas Pierce. Over the next 272 years, ten generations of the Pierce family lived in and added on to the home, until Roger Pierce died in 1968, and his heirs sold the house and related collections to Historic New England for preservation.
The Pierce House is located at 24 Oakton Avenue in Dorchester, which is walking distance from Ashmont Station on the Red Line and has on street parking right out front. Unfortunately, Pierce House is only open for tours three days a year. The next time it will be open is October 27, when it will be open from 1pm to 5pm, with a $5 admission fee.
Upcoming Event
And for our upcoming event this week, we are featuring the annual Phillis Wheatley Day commemoration at Old South Meeting House. It celebrates the life of the famous enslaved poet who was once a member of the Old South Church congregation. This year, Phillis Wheatley Day will be celebrated at OSMH on August 18th from noon to 2pm.
Here’s the description from their website:
Travel back in time to the 1770s with African-American poet Phillis Wheatley to explore the Meeting House as it was when she attended church here! Phillis Wheatley, portrayed by a Freedom Trail Foundation Player® dressed in full 18th-century costume, will share her experiences as a writer, churchgoer, and enslaved woman in colonial Boston. “Phillis” will speak at 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM.
The Phillis Wheatley program is free when you purchase a normal admission to the museum.