When you think of Salem, what comes to mind? Witch trials, haunted graveyards, a great place to visit for Halloween? What about sailors and pirates? How about illegal brothels, shanghaied young men turned sailors, and underground tunnels?
After the hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials , illegal activity in Salem began to thrive. The town moved from its Puritan roots and began to cater to the many vices of the seamen and merchants that started to arrive on its shores. Sailors in Salem truly had a town made perfect for them.
Now known as the Derby Street Historic District, the area became a mecca for prostitution, alcohol, and gambling. In , the Derby Wharf quickly became one of the busiest in Salem. It was created by Elias Hasket Derby Sr. Soon after he passed away in , he left the wharf to his son of the same name. Derby Jr. He was a member of the Salem Maritime Society, whose main prerogative was to collect expensive artifacts from all over the world. To smuggle his goods, he would need to build massive tunnels from the wharf into town, where his shipments would be delivered unnoticed.
Late one night, he devised a clever plan. He wanted to create parks and walking trails that would allow tourism and bring more money into the harbor. This project also helped him to hide that he was digging tunnels around Salem.
To conceal his enormous brick purchase, which was intended for use in the tunnels, he also ordered the construction of several brick homes around the area. These homes included fireplaces in the basements, which would serve as an entrance to the underground wharf tunnels. A sort of prohibition-style operation, if you would. Once the tunnels were in place, sailors in Salem could transport the goods they had acquired — or even stolen — in secrecy.
