Ep. 39 - The Brutal Murder of Captain White That Inspired Poe
Salem, Massachusetts' Gardner-Pingree House was the scene of a horrific murder. In 1830, this had been one of the grandest houses in Salem and was owned by Captain Joseph White. On the night of April 6th, he was bludgeoned and stabbed to death. This event and the ensuing trial featured some prominent names. Daniel Webster was the prosecutor and writers like Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne and H.P. Lovecraft were all inspired by elements from this true crime. Such a horrific murder can lead to rumors of hauntings. And several ghosts seem to be at unrest in the aftermath. The Gardner-Pingree house sits at 128 Essex Street and was built in 1811. Salem native son Samuel McIntire designed the house in the Federal architectural style. McIntire was a self-taught woodworker and architect, and he built these beautiful and phenomenal mansions. His specialty was creating wonderful pieces of woodwork that included these ornate mantles for fireplaces. McIntire even entered a proposa