About East Haddam
The town of East Haddam is located in Middlesex county, on the banks of the Connecticut River. Native tribes called this territory Machimoodus, the place of noise, for its numerous earthquakes recorded during the 17-19th centuries. First English settlers came here in 1661 and purchased the land to become Haddam and East Haddam from native tribes for thirty coats. Its early industry included shipbuilding and timber farming. By the mid-1800s, the town’s commerce began to rise, and many retail shops and taverns were opened. Later, the town became a popular tourist destination for its widely known rural charm. Such local resort areas as Lake Hayward or Bashan Lake had attracted thousands of visitors each year until the 1950s, when the business started to decline. Today, the town is home to the Goodspeed Opera House, an award-winning theater and a popular destination for theater-goers.