Salem Secret Underground: The History of the Tunnels in the City

Christopher Jon Luke Dowgin

Salem House Press, Oct 11, 2011 - History - 254 pages

In 1801 the son of America's first millionaire, Elias Hasket Derby Jr.,  enlisted 144 subscribers into the Salem Common Improvement Fund who sponsored the erection of a series of smuggling tunnels designed so they could avoid Thomas Jefferson's new custom duties. These subscribers included a Secretary of the Navy, a Superior Court Justice, pirates, and congressmen. Three presidents had walked through them. They were built by Masons and the country's first National Guard unit.

The tunnels extended over 3 miles connecting the wharfs, to their homes, stores, and banks. The hub of these tunnels was an underground train station which smuggled goods to help develop the new mill towns of Lawrence and Lowell. A new architectural style was created to connect the tunnels to their homes called Federalism. The architects who built these homes were Samuel McIntyre and Charles Bulfinch who was the Architect of the Capitol. Throughout the years the tunnels were used for smuggling, shanghaiing, prostitution, gambling, murder, Prohibition, and the Underground Railroad.

Enjoy this tale of early American conspiracy conducted by our founding fathers of the Federalist Party that included the Rothschild's American agent, the precursor to Skull and Bones, the man who shaped the early Constitution the most, the captain who brought the first elephant to America, the inspiration of Sam the Eagle, and the most famous murder victim in the nineteenth century. Who knew you could love a dirty book on history in which everyone digs!

About the author

Chris is still wearing his 12 foot long scarf (seasonally of course) and is not eating as much Cadbury Royal Dark Chocolate as he used to. Also the local cows are having a slight downturn in production. Just in case you see him walking in Salem, he will gladly pay you on Thursday for a chocolate bar today, and some milk too! If you are a good hearted person, you will never see him on any given Thursday...

This is Chris’s 8th illustrated book. He has won three Mass Cultural Grants for his Salem Trilogy. Plus he has written Salem Secret Underground: The History of the Tunnels in the City. Based on the excitement from the book he gives tours of the tunnels’ route through town along with their history on the Salem Tunnel Tour.  www.salemtunneltour.com

Tune in later this year to see what story  Mr. Dowgin will have in store for us! Same bat channel! Same bat time!

Bibliographic information

• Title: Salem Secret Underground: The History of the Tunnels in the City
• Author: Christopher Jon Luke Dowgin
• Photographs by: Chris Dowgin
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Salem House Press, 2011
• ISBN: 0983666555, 9780983666554
• Length: 254 pages
• Subjects: History / United States / 19th Century