Salem Witchcraft History Museum In Danvers Seeks Return Of Taken Items

DANVERS, MA — Operators of the Rebecca Nurse Homestead — a Salem witchcraft history museum in Danvers — are seeking the return of items they said were recently taken from the 17th century building.

Operators said they recently learned on a Reddit post that a visitor found a piece of loose floorboard and a chunk of bricks at the homestead and took them from the site.

"Please don't remove anything from the Homestead, even things that look broken or loose," operators said. "Even if something looks like loose debris, a broken floorboard, a piece of brick, hardware that's come away from where it belongs, it's still part of the property. It's not something visitors get to take home because it seems inconsequential or already broken.

"'I found it' doesn't make it yours."

Operators said there have also been instances of visitors picking off pieces of plants and flowers in the garden without permission.

"It happens more than you'd think," operators said. "These small pieces matter more than they might seem.

"A chunk of old floorboard or brick can be relevant to repairs, restoration, or research on our historic structure, even when it looks like scrap."

Operators are seeking the return of any items recently removed from the museum and said there will be no punishment or retribution sought for the seemingly-innocent mistake.

"No judgment, just bring it back," operators said. "Going forward, if it's on the property, please leave it there or hand it over to a staff person."