The History of 43 Church Street in Salem

Today, at 43 Church Street - a short street with a long history in Salem, Massachusetts - sits the home of Turner's Seafood at Lyceum Hall. It's current day vibe carries a fun and positive energy coming from happy foodies, seafood lovers and cocktail enthusiasts, and from the awesome team serving the best seafood in New England. 

Step back into the 18th century and you'd find 43 Church Street also had an energetic vibe, but back then it came from the excitement of learning, debating and taking in stories of life in faraway places. That was what lyceums brought to many communities during the Lyceum Era.

Step back a bit further into the 17th century, when the area was known as Salem Town, and you'll find yourself surrounded by an apple orchard. The vibe was likely one of mistrust and fear by the woman who walked amongst the trees, and whose spirit may walk the halls of Turner's Seafood today.  

The Q & A sections below provide answers to some of our customer's most frequently asked questions about this property. We welcome you to learn about this special spot here in Salem. We will continue to add to these lists over time, so check back for updates!

The first recorded ownership of the property now known as 43 Church Street goes back to the 1600s. Thomas Oliver, 2nd husband to Bridget Bishop, owned 71 Washington Street, a large parcel which included an apple orchard where 43 Church Street is today. Bridget inherited the property but her 3rd husband, Edward Bishop, assumed ownership when they married.

Q: Who was Bridget Bishop?

A: Bridget was a wife, a resident of Salem Town, thought to run a tavern in her home, rumored to have been a midwife, and the first person executed in the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. 

Q: Did Bridget Bishop live right on this spot?

A: Bridget's home was at the end of the street, on Washington Street. Her apple orchard was in this spot.

Q: What unusual scent have people smelled at times in the hallways of Turner's?

A: Apple. Anecdotes from visitors and media mention unexplained apple scents—a nod to the old orchard. 

Q: Is Bridget Bishop's spirit the only one rumored here

A: She's the best-known spirit, but some have sensed additional "residents.".

Q: Where did the 1692 Witch Trial executions take place?

A: Proctor's Ledge, at the base of Gallows Hill. Proctor's Ledge was accessible by waterway, allowing for public viewing and easy body retrieval.

Q: Have ghost hunter TV shows investigated here?

A: Yes—Ghost Hunters featured Salem and the Lyceum/Turner's in its coverage; multiple tour sites reference the episode(s). 

Q: What ghostly sightings do people report?

A: Stories include mirror reflections, bottles and glasses falling, cold spots, uneasy feelings, and that telltale apple scent. 

Q: How is lyceum pronounced? 

A: ly-SEE-um 

Q: What was the Lyceum Movement?

A: A 19th-century public lecture movement that brought education and debate to American towns. 

Q: What was a lyceum? 

A: Going way back, it was an ancient Greek school founded by Aristotle. The term was adopted to refer to the public halls used for lectures, debates and discussions that were part of the Lyceum Movement.

Q: What was the the timeframe of the Lyceum Movement?

A: The first lyceum was established in 1826. There were over 3,000 lyceums by 1834. By the end of the century many of the Lyceums had closed, replaced by other community interests and education channels.

Q: When was the Salem Lyceum Hall established in Salem?

A: The Lyceum Society bought the Church St. lot and opened its own hall for the 1830–31 season. 

Q: How big was the hall?

A: It seated about 700 in amphitheater-style rows. 

Q: Is the building at 43 Church St. the original Salem Lyceum building?

A: Yes—historical references indicate the brick hall put up by the Lyceum Society still stands, now housing Turner's. 

Q: Who spoke at Salem's Lyceum? 

A: Speakers included Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Frederick Douglass, Clara Barton, Alexander Graham Bell, Daniel Webster, John Quincy Adams, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and Charles Sumner.

Q: How often were talks held? 

A: Typically weekly.

Q: What's the Alexander Graham Bell plaque near the Turner's entrance?

A: It marks Bell's first public demonstration of a telephone conversation, and the first long-distance call, which took place at the Salem Lyceum on Feb. 12, 1877. 

Q: Where did he connect to?

A: The conversation was with Bell's assistant, Thomas Watson, who was in their laboratory in Boston. That may not seem like a long distance, but it was back then! Prior to this, Bell's testing was within the same building.

Q: How many people attended this session at the Lyceum?
A: Contemporary engravings indicate a sold-out audience. Records have paid attendance at 500 men.

Q: Where can I see an image of the event?

A: The Library of Congress hosts a wood engraving titled "Professor Bell in Lyceum Hall, Salem…," March 15, 1877.