Bunghole

For those that grew up in the 90s aka the era of Beavis and Butthead, hearing the word “bunghole” sparks a completely different mental image than what the word actually means.

18. Beavis and Butthead
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According to Merriam Webster, a bunghole is

a hole for emptying or filling a cask

So an appropriate word to be used for naming a liquor store. In Salem, Massachusetts there’s exactly that, The Bunghole with a second location in nearby Peabody.

Their slogan?

<strong>Bunghole Liquors</strong><br /><em><strong> “We’re not #1 butt we’re right up there”</strong></em>

Bunghole History

Deep in the tight aisles of this small corner liquor store, are spirits. Of the liquid form and maybe the ghostly form.

While Salem is known far and wide to be haunted due to the Salem Witch Trials of the 1600s, The Bunghole hauntings are far more recent.

According to BungholeLiquors.com, the Salem location was originally a funeral home. Well, these were difficult times as this was The Prohibition era. Down in the bowels of what is now The Bunghole, was the basement where dead bodies were embalmed. This is obviously to be expected of a funeral home. But not only did embalming happen in the space but so did secretive drinking.

That's right, the dead bodies didn't cramp the style of the thirsty men and women who squeezed inside The Bunghole, pulled up a stool, and unwound drink in hand.

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The name Bunghole Liquors actually came from this time. Since consuming alcohol was against the law, those looking to drink would refer to the speakeasy space as the bunghole.

“Psst, meet you tonight at the bunghole.”

According to Ghost City Tours, the location was perfect for transporting illegal liquid goods from ships docked at Derby Wharf and during that time there was a system of underground tunnels in the town of Salem making for the perfect opportunity for a boozy Bunghole.

There’s a rumor that one of the bunghole lovers said to the owner that if Prohibition is ever lifted he should transform it into a liquor store and that’s exactly what happened in 1933 when it officially became The Bunghole.

1933: 'PROHIBITION ENDS AT LAST!'
Thomas Cizauskas // Flickr
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Haunted Bunghole

With the historical mixture of booze and dead bodies, it’s no wonder the Bunghole is rumored to be haunted.

Ghost City Tours reports that employees have long reported paranormal experiences, especially when working alone after dark. Keeping with the witchy Salem theme, cats are said to haunt the town and some ghostly pussycats have been said to have been witnessed visiting The Bunghole. In addition to the cats, workers have reported seeing women go into the bar and then disappear and basement cameras have caught multiple floating orbs.

Are they patrons from the Prohibition era coming back for a cocktail? Or sprits of the bodies that laid lifeless while a Bunghole bash occurred nearby?

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Creator @mybloodygalentine showed off the inner workings of the infamous Bunghole on TikTok recently.

With such a long history of people entering The Bunghole, you would be silly not to pop in next time you’re in Salem.

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