Comments on: Salem on the Fourth: a While Ago

By: John Gambino

John Gambino — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 21:30:23 +0000

Fascinating! Are there any localities continuing the bonfire tradition near Salem?

By: wittylarius

wittylarius — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 08:50:50 +0000

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 12:37:57 +0000

Yes, what is in those barrels? When Peter’s Laundry in Salem was still in business, they would have newspaper clippings every holiday from holidays gone by. The Independence Day clippings always included a few yellowed, decades-old pictures of Salem’s Bonfires from the local paper. When I asked about the barrels, Peter told me that they were the empties from the tanneries. He said, “we probably don’t want to know what coated the insides of those barrels, but whatever it was was certainly flammable and made for quite a show.” I assume the end of the bonfires coincided with the decline in the tanneries.

By: Cotton Boll Conspiracy

Cotton Boll Conspiracy — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 13:32:09 +0000

The Life photos are amazing. The structure was so big that it had a doorway built into it. It must have been visible for many miles once it was alight.

By: daseger

daseger — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 17:26:27 +0000

Anytime, Brad–Happy Fourth to you and all the girls.

By: daseger

daseger — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 17:25:22 +0000

Happy Fourth, Steve! Could not find the perfect pre-lit photo: I think it was too big!

By: markd60

markd60 — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 13:51:07 +0000

Wow! The bottom pics look like volcanoes! Wonder what’s in the barrels…

By: bradaustin

bradaustin — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 13:24:55 +0000

Incredibly interesting, Donna. I’d love to see copies of your sources sometime without, you know, doing any research myself.

By: Steve@UrbanCottage

Steve@UrbanCottage — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 13:10:23 +0000

Awesome photos! I would have loved to have seen that entire bonfire structure before it was lit. It looks like it was huge.