Moodus, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
Moodus is a census-designated place
(CDP) in East Haddam
, a town in Middlesex County
, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,263 at the 2000 census.
, 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 mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.69%) is water. Moodus is located within the Town of East Haddam.
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.
Algonquians
, three of which tribes are known: the Wangunks, the Mohegans and the Nehantics. The Native Americans called the area "Machimoodus", the place of noises.
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. 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.
, 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.
resides in a fine example of a rural Federal-style architecture
house in Moodus.
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 Hobomock. Pequot
, Mohegan
and Narragansett
tribes participated in this cult, and according to local Alison Guinness, the Wangunks were involved as well. The Algonquins called the area Matchemadoset or Matchitmoodus meaning "the Place of Bad Noises," since Hobomock was considered an evil deity.
The Moodus noises were the basis for the otherworldly noises in H. P. Lovecraft
's The Dunwich Horror
.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in East Haddam
East Haddam, Connecticut
East Haddam is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,333 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
, a town in Middlesex County
Middlesex County, Connecticut
Middlesex County is a county located in the south central part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It was created in 1785 from portions of Hartford and New London counties. As of 2010, the population was 165,676....
, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,263 at the 2000 census.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, 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 mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.69%) is water. Moodus is located within the Town of East Haddam.
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 AmericanIndigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
Algonquians
Algonquian peoples
The Algonquian are one of the most populous and widespread North American native language groups, with tribes originally numbering in the hundreds. Today hundreds of thousands of individuals identify with various Algonquian peoples...
, three of which tribes are known: the Wangunks, the Mohegans and the Nehantics. The Native Americans called the area "Machimoodus", the place of noises.
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. 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
Machimoodus State Park
Machimoodus State Park is a state park located in the village of Moodus, which is part of the town of East Haddam, Connecticut. It consists of the former Echo Farm and the former Sunrise Resort, purchased in late 2008. It located on Leesville Rd in East Haddam....
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
Connecticut Route 151
Route 151 is a Connecticut state highway in the Connecticut River valley running from East Haddam via Moodus to the village of Cobalt in East Hampton.-Route description:...
and CT 149
Connecticut Route 149
Route 149 is a state highway in east-central Connecticut running from Route 82 in East Haddam center to the Colchester-Hebron town line.-Route description:...
, 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
Urban renewal
Urban renewal is a program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use. Renewal has had both successes and failures. Its modern incarnation began in the late 19th century in developed nations and experienced an intense phase in the late 1940s – under the rubric of...
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.
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 racesRace (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 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
Moodus has a long history of being a vacation spot, with many different resorts. The Amasa Day House MuseumAmasa Day House
The Amasa Day House is a property in Moodus, Connecticut that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.It was built or has other significance in 1816 and 1878.It includes Federal architecture in a standard fashion...
resides in a fine example of a rural Federal-style architecture
Federal architecture
Federal-style architecture is the name for the classicizing architecture built in the United States between c. 1780 and 1830, and particularly from 1785 to 1815. This style shares its name with its era, the Federal Period. The name Federal style is also used in association with furniture design...
house in Moodus.
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
Sachem
A sachem[p] or sagamore is a paramount chief among the Algonquians or other northeast American tribes. The two words are anglicizations of cognate terms from different Eastern Algonquian languages...
) would gather around Mt. Tom in order to experience the living presence of the god Hobomock. Pequot
Pequot
Pequot people are a tribe of Native Americans who, in the 17th century, inhabited much of what is now Connecticut. They were of the Algonquian language family. The Pequot War and Mystic massacre reduced the Pequot's sociopolitical influence in southern New England...
, Mohegan
Mohegan
The Mohegan tribe is an Algonquian-speaking tribe that lives in the eastern upper Thames River valley of Connecticut. Mohegan translates to "People of the Wolf". At the time of European contact, the Mohegan and Pequot were one people, historically living in the lower Connecticut region...
and Narragansett
Narragansett
Narragansett may refer to:*Narragansett , a Pennsylvania Railroad train*Narragansett , an Amtrak train*Narragansett **Narragansett land claim*Narragansett, Rhode Island, a town*Narragansett Bay*Narragansett...
tribes participated in this cult, and according to local Alison Guinness, the Wangunks were involved as well. The Algonquins called the area Matchemadoset or Matchitmoodus meaning "the Place of Bad Noises," since Hobomock was considered an evil deity.
The Moodus noises were the basis for the otherworldly noises in H. P. Lovecraft
H. P. Lovecraft
Howard Phillips Lovecraft --often credited as H.P. Lovecraft — was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction....
's The Dunwich Horror
The Dunwich Horror
"The Dunwich Horror" is a short story by H. P. Lovecraft. Written in 1928, it was first published in the April 1929 issue of Weird Tales . It takes place in Dunwich, a fictional town in Massachusetts...
.