1920's

A massive stack of leather barrels, with what appears to be an American flag flying on top. More than likely, we're looking at a 4th of July bonfire from the 1920s. These occasions were common in Massachusetts, specifically Salem, through the 1950's. The Gallows Hill bonfire was one of the most iconic of these events. Stacked to over 100 feet high, the pyre burned spectacularly for hours and received national press coverage. At the time, Salem was the center for many leather tanneries.