Place:Danvers, Essex, Massachusetts, United States

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Danvers is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. Located on the Danvers River near the northeastern coast of Massachusetts, Danvers is most widely known for its association with the 1692 Salem witch trials.

History

the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

The land that is now Danvers was once controlled by the Naumkeag branch of the Massachusett tribe. Around 1630, settlers converted an existing Naumkeag trail into the Old Ipswich Road, creating a connection to the main cities of Salem and Boston. Danvers was permanently settled in 1636 as Salem Village, and eventually petitioned the Crown for a charter as a town. According to legend, the King, rather than signing the charter, returned it with the message "The King Unwilling." On June 9, 1757, however, the town was incorporated anyway, and the King's rebuff was defiantly given a place on the town's seal.

• The historical event for which Danvers is probably most well-known is the Witch Hysteria of 1692.

• From the Battle of Lexington onward, Danvers has been represented in the Armed Forces. Noteworthy Revolutionary figures who stayed in Danvers include Royal Governor General Thomas Gage and Benedict Arnold.

• In 1847, the railroad came to Danvers. A street railway was also installed in 1884, originally consisting of horse-drawn trolleys that were later converted to electricity.

• Town Hall was built in 1855 and, though it has undergone modifications and renovations several times, still stands today. In the same year, the southern portion of Danvers broke away to become the town of South Danvers, later renamed Peabody.

• Originally an agricultural town, Danvers farmers developed two breeds of vegetables: the Danvers Onion and the Half-Long Carrot. There was also a booming shoe industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with successful manufacturing companies like Ideal Baby Shoe.

• In 2002, Danvers celebrated its quartermillennial anniversary with special events throughout the year.

Chemical plant explosion

On November 22, 2006, around 2:45 a.m., a major chemical explosion occurred in the Danversport area at a facility housing Arnel Company (a manufacturer of industrial-use paint products) and CAI Inc. (a manufacturer of solvents and inks). The blast shook several North Shore towns—knocking homes off foundations and damaging buildings up to half a mile away. Glass windows shattered at least three miles away, in neighboring Peabody and even in downtown Salem. The explosion was heard and felt up to 45 miles away; the concussion was intense. According to many witnesses, it seemed like an airplane had crashed.

At least 10 people were taken to local hospitals; no one was killed, and none of the injuries were life-threatening, according to Fire Chief Jim Tutko. Approximately 90 homes were damaged. Residents whose homes were damaged or destroyed in the blast were taken to Danvers High School, where the Red Cross established a relief shelter. The blast occurred next to a marina, a bakery & pizza shop, and a gas station, and across the street from Eastern Propane Gas Inc.

January 2007 ---In late November, the State Fire Marshal determined the explosion was not caused by an intentional act. No cause has been determined. State and Federal investigations are ongoing. Members of the US Chemical Safety Board investigating the accident have stated that this is one of the most difficult investigations the Board has ever undertaken, and that it will likely be 12 to 18 months before a final report is released by the agency.

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