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THE WEST HOUSE.

previously known under the names of the parishes of East Middletown, most of the parish of Middle Haddam, all of East Hampton parish, and a part of the parish of Westchester. The parish of East Middletown was set off from Chatham as a separate town in 1842, comprising the present town of Portland. By referring to the topographical atlas, issued by the United

genuity has been able to devise a pattern for, besides an endless variety of toys. In the south-west part of the town, abutting on the Connecticut River, is the equally interesting and picturesque village of Middle Haddam, which was formerly a prominent point for building every kind of wooden sailing craft, ships, steamboats, brigs, schooners, sloops and barges, and all of smaller size.

The soil of the town is not generally very productive, but outside of the respective industries of the above-named centers of trade, the business is agriculture.

The name of East Hampton is said to have been selected for it by some of its first settlers who had previously lived in Eastham, Mass. The first settlers were attracted there by the fine mill site, or water privilege, at the outlet of Lake Pocotopaug, where a forge had been erected in 1743. Of the beautiful Lake Pocotopaug I shall say but little. It equals in itself, and its surroundings, any of the fine lakes of Litchfield County, as Waramaug in

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Two hotels here, one the Pocotopaug House, kept for years by the late William Glover Buell, now kept by his daughterin-law, Mrs. Caroline B. Buell, the other, the Lakeview House, provide entertainment for the many summer visitors to the Lake. The well appointed Lake View House is finely situated near the shore of

It

the Lake. This hotel for thirteen seasons has been one of the factors in drawing summer visitors to East Hampton. was formerly conducted by Capt. D. D. Brown and is now under the management of Frank M. Weller. Easily accessible, close enough to the activities of life for convenience, and yet far enough away to

afford absolute rest and quiet, the Lake View House presents many attractions. It is a mile from the station on a road leading north from the village and is nestled close beside the water at the foot of the hills which form its western barrier. Eighty feet of lawn connects the broad veranda of the house with the water's edge where

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

a cozy pavilion furnishes a breezy lounging place and a convenient landing for boats. The water supply is of remarkable purity, a wind engine supplying each floor with pure water from the lake. Within 200 feet of the house is a smooth, shelving beach which offers an ideal place for still water bathing. The lake furnishes endless entertainment. Safe row boats are furnished in abundance for the free use of guests of the house. Fishing is a favorite pastime, the lake being well stocked with black bass, pickerel and perch.

At the time of the erection of the forge, iron was very much needed by the inhabitants of the surrounding country, and very soon was needed in ship building at Middle Haddam, which was carried on so extensively as to cause the town to be named Chatham, after the town in England which was noted for the same industry. How much business was done at this forge it would be impossible to tell accurately, but for those days, in the fifty years of its existence, it must have been very great. The property was owned by a number of

persons and companies, and for a time was held by Abijah Hall, and passed to his son Abijah, Jr., who operated it until the war of 1812, when it was given up. Ore was brought to this forge from West Point on the Hudson River, and from this iron was made for use in ship building.

The best iron was made from the pig iron bought in New York, and from Salisbury, Conn., for general purposes, and for this the Salisbury iron was preferred. In 1825 a new forge was built on the site of the old one, and in connection with it a scythe factory, and at these business was done for several years. Near the site of these, since erected, was a shop in 1850 in which Buell & Veazey made bells. Next below, established in 1832, is the Bevin Brothers Mfg. Co., who have one of the largest plants on the stream. Next to them is the Summit Thread Co., which had previously been occupied by Butler N. Strong. Their site was once the Eureka Silk Co. which flourished for a while. This site was formerly occupied by Buell & Sears' saw mill on the east