Hauntings at Turner’s Seafood at Lyceum Hall
Posted: 07.31.2024 | Updated: 11.18.2024
One of Salem’s most popular dining establishments, Turner’s Seafood, is a New England seafood restaurant and local institution. While the cuisine and ambiance at Turner’s are renowned, its enduring appeal isn’t only due to its fare or decor. The modern Turner’s property is better known as Lyceum Hall, a historic landmark and haunted hotspot.
Why is Turner’s Seafood at Lyceum Hall haunted?
Turner’s is one of Salem’s most popular restaurants, not only for its great assortment of seafood but because many believe it is haunted by the ghosts of Salem’s past. With ties to Salem’s darkest days, there is little doubt as to what makes Turner’s Seafood a choice location for ghost hunters. Read on to unveil the hauntings of Turner’s Seafood at Lyceum Hall, and to see some of Salem’s most haunted locations in person, book a ghost tour with Salem Ghosts!
The Orchard and Bridget Bishop
In its heyday, Lyceum Hall at 43 Church Street in Salem was a hub of intellectual and cultural activity. The hall hosted a number of prominent figures, making it a cornerstone of the town’s history.
Yet, even before the construction of Lyceum Hall, this site held a significant place in Salem’s past—it was once home to an apple orchard owned by Bridget Bishop, a woman whose name would become infamous during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692.
Bridget Bishop was the first person to be executed during the trials, a fate that has forever linked her to the dark legacy of Salem. Since her death, stories have circulated about a spectral woman appearing throughout the former Lyceum Hall building, now Turner’s Seafood.
43 Church Street has seen many transformations, with its first life tied to Bridget Bishop. Bishop is often remembered as a vibrant but misunderstood woman. Centuries-old rumors paint her as a promiscuous, flamboyant figure who was married three times—traits that Puritanical Salem frowned upon, especially in women. Her perceived defiance of societal norms likely made her an easy target during the witchcraft hysteria.
However, historical records suggest a more nuanced portrait of Bridget Bishop. Much of what is known about her has been distorted over time, often confused with another accused witch, Sarah Bishop, who was the wife of one of Bridget’s stepchildren. Despite these misconceptions, Bridget’s life was indeed marked by controversy and conflict, making her a figure of suspicion in the tight-knit Puritan community.
The Many Lives of Bridget Bishop
Bridget Bishop, born Bridget Playfer between 1632 and 1635 in England, first married Samuel Wasselby in 1660. The couple soon relocated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony, but their marriage was cut short by Wasselby’s death in 1664.
Bishop’s second marriage in 1666 was to Thomas Oliver, a widower with sons. This marriage was tumultuous, with neighbors often intervening in their public disputes. One particularly severe fight led to court testimony detailing the physical abuse between the two. As a result, both were fined, and in 1678, Bishop was again brought to court for using “foul language” toward Oliver.
The court’s punishment was public humiliation—Bishop and Oliver were made to stand in the town square with gags in their mouths and papers attached to their foreheads detailing their offenses. These punishments did little to help Bishop’s reputation.
When Thomas Oliver died in 1679, Bishop inherited his estate, including a house, ten acres of land, and two pigs. However, her inheritance was meager compared to the wealth she was accused of having. Suspicion arose that she had bewitched her husband to death, but these accusations never went to trial due to a lack of evidence.
Bishop’s third marriage was to Edward Bishop, a respected woodcutter. This marriage gave her the name she would be remembered by throughout history.
The Salem Witch Trials
At the time of the Salem Witch Trials, Bridget Bishop lived in what is now downtown Salem. Her home at 43 Church Street, where she also owned an apple orchard, would later play a significant part in her story—both during her life and in the years following her death.
Bishop was the most frequently accused person during the trials, with numerous outlandish claims made against her. Witnesses testified that she conjured demonic creatures, bewitched people and animals, and even caused deaths. Her previous brushes with the law and her less-than-sterling reputation made her an easy scapegoat.
Despite her protests of innocence, Bishop’s inconsistent testimony and the overwhelming number of accusations led to her conviction. She was sentenced to death for “bewitching” five young girls: Abigail Williams, Mercy Lewis, Mary Walcott, Elizabeth Hubbard, and Ann Putnam Jr. On June 10, 1692, she was the first to be hanged, her execution sparking a wave of subsequent trials and executions that claimed the lives of thirteen women and six men.
Lyceum Hall: A New Era
After Bridget Bishop’s death, 43 Church Street entered a new chapter. In 1831, the Salem Lyceum Society purchased the land and built Lyceum Hall. The hall became a center for education and enlightenment, hosting over 1,000 lectures by some of the most influential figures of the 19th century, including Henry David Thoreau, Frederick Douglass, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Alexander Graham Bell.
One of the most remarkable events at Lyceum Hall occurred on February 12, 1877, when Alexander Graham Bell conducted the first public demonstration of the telephone. This historical moment cemented the hall’s place in Salem’s storied past.
Despite its active role in the cultural life of Salem, there are no recorded stories of paranormal activity at Lyceum Hall during this period, leaving the question of why this might be the case open to speculation.
The Ghost of Bridget Bishop
After its time as a cultural hub, 43 Church Street underwent further transformation. The building has since become a restaurant, with its current occupant being Turner’s Seafood. Since the site’s conversion into a dining establishment in 1989, reports of otherworldly activity have surfaced. Visitors and staff have reported seeing a woman in a long, white gown drifting through the building, especially near the main staircase. Some have caught glimpses of her in the reflections of windows and mirrors.
Adding to the eerie atmosphere, a distinct scent of fresh apples often permeates the building despite the absence of any nearby orchards or apple-centric decor. Though Turner’s Seafood occasionally features apple-based dishes on its menu, the aroma persists regardless of what’s being served, suggesting a lingering presence from the site’s past.
Haunted Salem
Turner’s Seafood has gained a reputation as one of the finest places to dine in Salem, Massachusetts. While it does appear that it is haunted, this doesn’t seem to deter locals and tourists from eating at the establishment. And while many of Salem’s businesses appear to be equally haunted, few of them have forces quite so malevolent as that of Bridget Bishop’s ghost.
Check out our blog for more on the haunted history of Salem, and to see some of the city’s most haunted locations in person, book a ghost tour with Salem Ghosts! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, and keep reading our blog for more real Massachusetts hauntings.
Sources:
www.wheretraveler.com/boston/eat/ghost-hunters-guide-7-haunted-sites-salem
historyofmassachusetts.org/bridget-bishop-witch-or-easy-target/
www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-salem-witch-hanging
www.salemweb.com/tales/lyceum.php
https://www.turners-seafood.com/salem-ma
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