Built in 1819, the Customs House in Salem, Massachusetts was once employed author, and Salem native, Nathaniel Hawthorne, who worked here from 1846 until 1849, when he was fired. It was a politically appointed job, and his being a Democrat apparently did him no good when the Whigs took over in Washington, but Mr. Hawthorne was really more keen on writing. During his off-time, he wrote, and at this period most probably he had started his novel The Scarlet Letter.
Mr. Hawthorne was not the first writer to work a crummy day job while he wrote at night and dreamed of better things. He wouldn't be the last.
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