Little Victorian
House
Just for the fun of it, imagine that you
are a world famous actor whose portrayal
of Sherlock Holmes has defined that
character’s look. You are sailing
up the Connecticut River in a houseboat
called Aunt Polly. You would like
to settle down, and the quest for a
perfect home site is percolating in your
ever fertile mind. Suddenly –
there it is, a stunning hilltop vista –
eureka! William Gillette
discovered East Haddam on that
noteworthy day in 1912. The result
was Gillette Castle, but stunning as it
is, it has to contend with a number of
other remarkable attractions that make
East Haddam a star attraction itself, a
reigning prince of the Connecticut
River. So here’s the list: Devil’s Hopyard State Park – named after a
series of potholes said to be the hoof
prints left by the devil as he hopped
from ledge to ledge to keep dry, is
bisected by the Eight Mile River; the
park features trout fishing, picnic
areas, 15 miles of hiking trails and a
22-site campground. The Hopyard is one
of the 10 best birding sites in
Connecticut. The spectacular Chapman
Falls drops 60 feet in three main
cascades.
The Burnham Brook Preserve – 1,000 acres
of wild woodland including watersheds of
Burnham and Strong brooks, as well as
permanent springs, wooded vernal pools,
red maple swamps, a flood plain meadow,
and ledges with rocky outcrops.
Chapman’s Pond – covering 600 acres
including an upland forest, brooks, a
tidal pool, flood plain forests, marshes
and abundant wildlife.
The Leesville Dam Fishway – A fish
ladder to facilitate salmon’s upstream
progress and return to the river.
Beautiful scenery, fish and wildlife
abound.
To that you can add, The Goodspeed Opera
House, The Nathan Hale School House, an
eagle viewing site, to say nothing of
the world’s largest swing bridge.
Mr. Gillette did not lack for taste!
