Middlesex County CT Archives History - Books .....East Haddam Landing 1887

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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com May 19, 2005, 9:28 pm

Book Title: The Old Chimney Stacks Of East Haddam

CHAPTER II.
EAST HADDAM LANDING.

  The first dwelling house in East Haddam Landing was erected in 1743. A market
for produce was opened about the same time, and a storehouse Built, which stood
on the spot now occupied by Dr. Harris' barn in front of Tyler's store. A large
storehouse stood on the site of the store and just back of the ledge of rocks
stood a hotel with a piazza on the river front. During the revolutionary war
many soldiers on their way from the eastern part of the State to the North River
forces made this a favorite route and stopped at this public house. Later, the
house in which Ashbel Ray now lives was the principal public house, and called
"The Blacksmith's Arms." The name was painted in rude letters upon a swing sign,
suspended high between two posts that may have formed the original gallows of
Haman. It was further illustrated by a bent muscular arm, wielding a
blacksmith's; hammer. The present generation remember the Landing as a beautiful
village with a row of fine houses, at the summit of a gently rising green, and
two neat white fences making two parallel roads arid terraces, which, in
contrast with the bold, abrupt mountain behind presented one of the most
attractive and picturesque scenes on one of the most charming of rivers.

  The most central, perhaps, of the dwellings, was the one alluded to above. It
was then the residence of Capt. James Green, and its high stone stoop facing
both ways bespoke hospitality almost as plainly as its gaily painted sign. The
brick house next north of this is a fine building of more recent date, and
belonged to the Captain's son, Timothy. Next beyond stands the former residence
of his daughter Nancy (Mrs. Jared Spencer, Esq.,) and further on (the site of
the bank building) was the forge and then the residence of Oliver Green. The
next house to the "Arms" on the south side was the residence of Capt. Green's
brother-in-law, Mr. Thomas Marshall. Next south lived his son Richard ; next to
that his daughter Hannah, Mrs. Joseph Hungerford. These buildings have been
metamorphosed into the Maple Wood Music Seminary, and of the two generations who
made music and uproar (opera) there, is now but an occasional visitor. Here then
in the midst of his children lived Captain James Green, and just over the way,
as first postmaster of East Haddam, he presided over that event in New
England—the mail arrival .and distribution. His descendants have nearly all left
their native town, and have prospered and maintained the honor of the family
name in the busy world of trade and progress, but they have never forgotten the
old town, to which they return every summer, like pilgrims to their native
shrine. The family genealogy will be given in another chapter.

  Down near the steamboat dock, Noah Buckley erected a large store and built up
quite an extensive wholesale and importing trade with the West Indies. He owned
a large farm in Millington, where he raised mules, which he used to send out in
his vessels and exchange for molasses, sugar, etc. He bought the brick hotel
built by Samuel Lord, where the Champion House stands, and accumulated
considerable money. Like many others, he was wooed and won by the tempter in the
person of Roswell C. Peck, who induced him to invest in a banking speculation in
New York.

  He lost his property and went to Chicago, then in its infancy, and again
became rich and well known as the "Miser Money Lender."

  Ship building was begun at the Landing some time during the Revolutionary War,
and formed quite an important branch of business till within a few years.
Several coasting and generally two or three sea vessels were owned here. In the
year 1815, there were launched from this yard two brigs and three schooners. A
few years later this branch of business was carried on, but less extensively, at
Chapman's Ferry. At this time there was a general store near the Center
Congregational Church, on the main road from Moodus to Hadlyme. Shad fishing has
been carried on to quite an extent since the early settlement of the town, and
for the last seventy years has been quite profitable. Previous to this time this
delicacy was hardly appreciated.

  Salmon River, which enters the Connecticut at the Landing, derives its name
from the large number of salmon formerly caught from it, but for many years none
have been found, and the celebrated fishermen at the Cove have now to rely on
the small fry.

  The original settlers of East Haddam laid out the town into nine sections of
three-fourths a mile square, and the roads running north and south were made
that distance apart as boundaries for the same. In this "lay out," convenience
and topography seem to have been of little account. Any one familiar with our
roads will readily notice this observance of distance. The same distance is also
observed to a certain extent in the roads running east and west.

  "East Haddam and Colchester Turnpike," extending from "East Haddam Landing to
Colchester meeting house," was granted in October, 1809, with a capital stock of
$6,288. About the year 1806 a post-road was established from Middletown, through
Chatham, to East Haddam Landing, and thence to New London. A turnpike from
Norwich to New Haven, through East Haddam, was granted in 1817.


Additional Comments:
Transcribed from:

THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS OF EAST HADDAM, MIDDLESEX COUNTY, CONNECTICUT,
BY
HOSFORD B. NILES,
Author of Genealogy of THE NILES FAMILY.
NEW YORK: LOWE & CO., Book and Job Printers No. 210 Fulton Street.
1887


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