New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-10
TYPE OF A NEWENGL4ND TOWN
| EAST HADDAM AND ITS DOUBLE CELEBRA.
TON LAST WEEK.

The celebration last week of the 2OOth ami
versary of the setting off of the ecclesiastical
society of East Haddam. Conn, from the Haddam
society and the formal transfer by the New York
Society of the Sons of the Revolution the Con-
nectcut Society OF the same name of the old
schoolhcuse at East Haddam. in which Nathan
Hale taught school, serves to draw attention to this
typical New England town.
The village of East Haddam lies the east side
Of the Connecticut River about twenty miles above
its mouth 1t stretches along the bank of the
river. in the shadow of a bluff. between two boat
landings renominated the lower and upper land
ings. The chief is that connecting the land
ings.
The town OF East Haddam formerly part
Of the town of Haddam, which lies the west
side of the river. The ground purchased from
the indians on Nay 70 1857 the price being thirty
from Hartford. settled upon the west side of the
posed, after an English town of that name. The
width of the river did not prevent persons from
Those living on the east side continued their
church RELATIONS To- s, with those on the west side.
EAST side ed to fStsn
those the further shore the privilege of acting
bs % fhe w9
and kept distinct records. although still components
lied BY the Legislature. continued until May. 1884,
when the town was divided. with boundaries coin
the Society the west side Of the river retaining
the name ne of Hadd9 9 and that on the east side
Within the borders of the two towns have been
Impress upon the tines and few WHOSE t
have become part of American history Among
famous Mr.. Nicholas Noyes," who came to Had
church After leaving this pastorate he went to
Salem. Mass. and became prominent in the witch
natives Of the and brothers later became we'll
Kew fSW D DsFf
to- the e org1al church from 1904 to is and from
1886 TO those Of his a children born in
lurist. and Stephen J. Field for a long time Senior
ago o'-t the four sons Of Dr. and Mrs Field opened
park in Haddam as memorial OF their parents
stands a short distance above Goodspeeds Land
cation is slightly one as the river bends away tow
ard the northwest in front OF It, permitting an ex-
tended view the river The date of the erection of
the schoohouse is unknown. It first stood on the
angle Of GROUND by o the he OF f the
ton. When abandoned for school purposes in 1893.
Haddam it was purchased by Elijah atwood, IT.,
who moved it to its late site near St; stephen 5
house The house descended to his widow and
% and sanGson r0m of ' Rah IN In 0 8
the last named owner gave the land on which
Trustees Of Donations and requests for Church
of St to be aT froan the b
ing into the possession Of Richard Henry
the NewCYork Society Of the Sons Of the Revo-
luton and descendant OF an East Haddam fam am
lance away, and turned IL the Sons of the
Revolution. and last Wednesday this society. be-
eving that the Connecticut society was the proper
organization to preserve the relic transferred II
to that society. The Connecticut society VIII use
the building for its annual meetings hereafter. Ex-
Governor Buckley has purchased eight acres of
ground about the building and set it apart as a
Nathan Hale Memorial Park.
When Mr. Greene acquired possession OF the
building he had II restored Finding beneath the
cIanboards bits Of paint which indicated that 1t
had once worn coat OF red, he matched the color
and had IL again painted red He had old door
way reopened and removed the interior partitions
The interior he ceiled with yellow pine.
IL is the belief of some persons, based on old
documents found In recent years that Nathan Hale
was PUT to death and buried near the 18th Reg-
ment aTmory.