From City Hall to Sacred Ground: Honoring Salem's First Mayor Leverett Saltonstall and Those Who Followed

Join us at Harmony Grove Cemetery for a special program commemorating Salem’s mayoral history during this landmark year. In 2026, Salem marks both the 400th anniversary of its founding and the 190th anniversary of its incorporation as a city.

The program begins with a lecture by Peter Drummey, retired Chief Historian of the Massachusetts Historical Society, focusing on Leverett Saltonstall (1783–1845), Salem’s first mayor. Drawing on the Saltonstall Family Papers preserved at the Massachusetts Historical Society, along with other historical records and research, Drummey will explore Saltonstall’s life, leadership, and lasting civic contributions.

Following the lecture, guests are invited to enjoy a social hour with complimentary refreshments. At 1:00 PM, an optional self-guided walking tour of Harmony Grove Cemetery will begin, highlighting the final resting places of 21 Salem mayors, including Saltonstall. Cemetery maps will be distributed, and informational markers will be available at each site, with select locations staffed by guest interpreters offering additional insights. All are welcome to participate in the tour, including those who did not attend the lecture.

In addition, both the Friends of Greenlawn Cemetery and the Friends of Broad Street Cemetery will offer maps for self-guided tours and information about the Salem mayors buried in those cemeteries.

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Event Schedule

• 10:30 AM – Doors open with musical guests Jen and Bob Strom
• 11:00 AM – Lecture by Peter Drummey (in the Blake Memorial Chapel)
• ~12:15 PM – Social time with complimentary refreshments
• 1:00–3:00 PM – Optional self-guided walking tour

Event Details

• Location: Harmony Grove Cemetery, 30 Grove Street, Salem, MA.
• Admission: Free and open to all, but donations are always appreciated. People can attend either the lecture or the tour, or both.
• Lecture Registration: Required (space is limited in the chapel).
• Self-Guided Tour: No registration needed.

About our presenter

Peter Drummey recently retired following forty-seven years of distinguished service at the Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS). As one of the longest-tenured staff members in the history of the nation's first historical society, Mr. Drummey served as Chief Historian, acting as a premier steward and guardian of American heritage.

Throughout a remarkable career that culminated in his appointment as Chief Historian in 2022, Mr. Drummey’s tenure was defined by an unparalleled command of the Society’s vast collections. Committed to fostering historical accessibility, he has provided vital support to thousands of researchers, curated significant landmark exhibitions, and remains a preeminent expert for journalists and scholars alike.

A native of Duxbury, Massachusetts, Peter Drummey completed his undergraduate and graduate studies at Columbia University in New York City. Upon graduating from the School of Library Services prestigious program for rare book librarians and archivists, he returned to the Commonwealth to serve as curator of manuscripts at the New England Historic Genealogical Society. He joined the MHS staff in 1978 and served as the Society’s Stephen T. Riley Librarian from 1987 until his eventual transition to Chief Historian.

This biographical sketch is based on information from the Massachusetts Historical Society website.

About Harmony Grove Cemetery

Founded in 1840, Harmony Grove Cemetery is a nonprofit, non-denominational cemetery and crematory rooted in the rural cemetery movement. Spanning nearly 57 acres, it is dedicated to honoring and commemorating the dead, welcoming the living, and preserving its grounds in perpetuity.

Harmony Grove offers burial, cremation, and end-of-life services, and the historic Blake Memorial Chapel is available for funerals, memorials, wedding ceremonies, and community gatherings. Through its growing public programs, the organization shares the rich history of Salem and New England through the stories of those laid to rest there.

About Salem 400+

Salem 400+ commemorates Salem’s quadricentennial while acknowledging the preexisting indigenous community, explores the opportunities and connections within Salem’s multifaceted history, and crafts a vision for current and future generations.