Moodus, Connecticut

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²), of which, 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²) of it (0.69%) is water.

The area is subject to earthquakes, with an intensity VI quake occurring in 1568, and numerous quakes being recorded from 1638 onwards. The largest earthquake recorded for Connecticut was an intensity VII quake on May 16, 1791 near Moodus.

History

Prior to its purchase by English settlers in 1662, the area around Moodus was inhabited by Native American Algonquians, three of which tribes are known: the Wongums, the Mohecans and the Nehantics. The Native Americans called the area "Matchetmadosett", the place of noises., because of numerous earthquakes that were recorded between 1638 and 1899. Loud rumblings, the “Moodus Noises,” could be heard for miles surrounding the epicenter of the quakes near Mt. Tom. The land, which is now Haddam and East Haddam, was purchased by settlers from the Indians in 1662 for thirty coats – worth about $100. The Native American's worshipped the god of the dead in the land called Matchetmadosett. The area was ripe with game and the Natives grew many crops on the fertile land around the rivers and lakes. The native people's would hold celebration with feasts and orgies to commemorate unity of the tribes. Many of the first settlers in the area from European decent participated in the celebrations as was recorded in Yankee Township, and tales of our land. It wasn't until the industrialization era that many of the townsfolk lost connection with the past stories and past celebratory practices.

In the nineteenth century, Moodus was the “Twine Capital of America,” with twelve mills in operation. The most successful was Brownell & Company. Moodus was in an ideal location for textile production since it had access to ample water power and shipping (via the Connecticut River and the Connecticut Valley Railroad), and it was close to an enormous trading center and market, New York City. Moodus's mills primarily manufactured cotton yarn, duck, and twine, and that production lasted from 1819 to 1977. The mills also produced certain related products, particularly fishing nets and pearl buttons. A part of that textile mill history is preserved in the Johnsonville historical section of Moodus, named after one of the mill owners. Brownell was a pioneer with DuPont Corporation in the production of nylon products, and Brownell still manufacturers specialized textile-related products in Moodus such as archery bowstrings, helicopter cargo nets, and tennis nets.

Moodus is known for many local resorts that operated over the course of the early and mid twentieth century. Almost exactly between Boston and New York, the village drew guests from both cities who were enchanted by its rural atmosphere. In its heyday, during the 1940s and 1950s, Moodus was called the "Catskills of Connecticut." During the summer season, people visiting the more than 30 Moodus-area resorts quadrupled East Haddam's population to about 20,000 people. The resorts, boarding houses and camps of Moodus attracted Christian and Jewish vacationers primarily from New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and other parts of Connecticut. One of the last resorts to remain in operation, Sunrise Resort, was purchased by the state of Connecticut in late 2008 to be incorporated into the adjacent Machimoodus State Park as a campground, and to protect "4,700 feet of additional frontage along the Salmon River."

The quaint village center, dubbed "Downtown Moodus", formerly located at the intersection of routes CT 151 and CT 149, was a popular destination for guests. However most of the village was razed after the citizens of East Haddam controversially voted in 1967 to accept urban renewal funding to build a new commercial district for Moodus a quarter mile east, along CT 149. East Haddam was one of the smallest towns in the United States to participate in the urban renewal program. The urban renewal program is now asking to bring Moodus back to its roots. The local townies have started a petition to rename Moodus, Matchetmadosett, its original Native American name.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,263 people, 529 households, and 322 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 438.8 people per square mile (169.3/km²). There were 592 housing units at an average density of 205.7 per square mile (79.4/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.78% White, 0.40% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.79% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.27% of the population.

There were 529 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the CDP, the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 33.8% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 102.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $52,188, and the median income for a family was $68,500. Males had a median income of $42,938 versus $33,214 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $32,475. None of the families and 2.4% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.

Attractions

Noises

Moodus is infamous in Connecticut for the strange noises coming from the woods which have been termed "Moodus noises", and are attributed to shallow micro-earthquakes. The noises can be heard most strongly from Cave Hill, located next to Mt. Tom and owned by the Cave Hill Resort.

In Legendary Connecticut, author David Philips asserts that the Moodus noises were the source of an indigenous religious cult important to local Native Americans. Local Algonquin chiefs (Sachems) would gather around Mt. Tom in order to experience the living presence of the god Hobamok (Mohecan) Hobomock. Pequot, Mohegan and Narragansett tribes participated in this cult, and according to local Alison Guinness, the Wongums were involved as well. The Algonquins called the area Matchetmadosett or Matchitmoodus. Hobamok was considered the evil spirit of the dead and worshipped by a warfaring tribe that inhabited the hills, ridges and caves in the area. Hobamok was the spirit of the dead and though accordingly the white puritains that came to inhabit the areas after the witch trials viewed him as evil. However to the native people's he was more like a zeus, or a hades, a god that can do good or bad, depending on what mood he was in, or what came his way. .

The Moodus noises were the basis for the otherworldly noises in H. P. Lovecraft's The Dunwich Horror. The local high school's athletic teams are dubbed the "Noises."