Salem Historical Society celebrates 70 years

Special to The Vindicator

Photo

Above, Kevin Schafer coordinates the Ghost tours for the Salem Historical Society.

SALEM

The Salem Historical Society is celebrating its 70th anniversary Saturday. On July 29, 1947, Roy Wells Harris and Frank Yengling organized a community meeting. Those attending voted to start a historical society. Forty-two charter members enrolled.

To observe this 70th anniversary milestone, the society is having an old-fashioned porch party from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at 208 South Broadway, and everyone in town is invited. The party will be held rain or shine.

In addition to the porch party, the society also kicks off its tour season that day with the first of this season’s Ghost Trolley Tours at 8 p.m. A second Ghost Trolley Tour will take place Aug. 26. The trolley tour takes people to local cemeteries and other “haunted” areas around Salem. The cost of the tour is $15.

Another tour offered by the society is The Salem Ghost Walk. This tour takes people around the city, telling of Salem’s “haunted” past. The walk is $10 and is held rain or shine. The upcoming dates for the walking tours are at 8 p.m. Oct. 13 and 22. To finish the tour season, a dinner and Ghost Walk is planned for Oct. 28. All tours meet at The Dale Shaffer Research Library meeting room, 239 South Lundy Ave.

Reservations are required for both the walk and trolley tours. Please call 330-205-3923 and leave a message if interested. “The Haunted Salem, Ohio,” by docent Kim Mitchell is available at the museum gift/book shop.