Moodus

History

Prior to its purchase by English settlers in 1662, the area around Moodus was inhabited by Native American Algonquians. The names of three of the inhabiting tribes are known: the Wangunks, the Mohegans and the Nehantics. The name was derived from the Native American name for the area. The name was "Matchetmadosett" or "Matchitmoodus". It can be translated to the place of noises. Its name possibly because of the frequent earthquakes in the area. Numerous earthquakes were recorded in the area between 1638 and 1899. Loud rumblings, possibly the "Moodus Noises", could be heard for miles surrounding the epicenter of the quakes near Mt. Tom. The land, which is now the towns of Haddam and East Haddam, was purchased by settlers from the Indians in 1662 for thirty coats. In today's money, it is worth about $100. During the nineteenth century, Moodus was advertised as 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, cotton 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…

Geography

Moodus is in eastern Middlesex County, in the northwest part of the town of East Haddam. Connecticut Routes 149 and 151 pass through the village, Route 149 running northeast–southwest and Route 151 running northwest–south. Colchester is to the northeast, East Hampton is to the north-northwest, and the village of East Haddam is to the south, on the Connecticut River. According to the United States Census Bureau, the Moodus CDP has a total area of , of which , or 0.59%, are water. 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.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  14,265
• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  12,784
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  12,690
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  12,177
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  10,897
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  10,599
• White-breasted Nuthatch

  Sitta carolinensis Latham, 1790 · Aves
  10,334
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  10,324

Largest nearby schools

• Haddam-Killingworth High School
  High · Higganum · 546 students · 10.7:1 ratio
• Memorial School
  Elementary · East Hampton · 544 students · 14.3:1 ratio
• East Hampton High School
  High · East Hampton · 514 students · 12.5:1 ratio
• Valley Regional High School
  High · Deep River · 489 students · 10:1 ratio
• East Hampton Middle School
  Middle · East Hampton · 433 students · 12:1 ratio
• Nathan Hale-Ray Middle School
  Middle · Moodus · 378 students · 10.2:1 ratio
• East Haddam Elementary School
  Elementary · Moodus · 337 students · 12.5:1 ratio
• Burr District Elementary School
  Elementary · Higganum · 331 students · 11.8:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.6 — 2015-01-13
  2 km E of Wauregan, Connecticut
• M 3.3 — 2015-01-12
  0 km NE of Wauregan, Connecticut
• M 2.66 — 2014-08-14
  6 km SW of Deep River Center, Connecticut