Haddam Historical Society 

Thankful Arnold House Museum 

News and Events

September 14, 2022

On Saturday, October 8, 2022 the Haddam Historical Society will host “Fresh Faces, Old Places: The Next Generation of Historic House Owners” from 10 am to 4 pm. Visit and tour six architecturally distinct properties in Haddam and Higganum which are loved and respected by their owners, who range from young families to tech-savvy entrepreneurs.  


All six homes offer a fascinating look at how this next generation of old house champions has found beauty and tranquility in our town’s important historic structures, while balancing careful restoration and/or preservation of historic elements with modern needs and lifestyles. Join us for a look at seamlessly blending the old with the new, to learn more about the history connecting back to some of our earliest Haddam families, and to see how old houses can be a wonderful place to call home.


Houses on the tour include the Stephen Smith House (c. 1720) on Jacoby Road, Caleb Bailey House (c.1755) on Thayer Road, Samuel Bailey House (c.1870) on Landing Road, James Cone House (c.1748) on Clark Road, William Foote Brainerd House (c.1857) on Island Dock Road and the Tollhouse (c.1828) on Walkley Hill.


Lunches from Cooking Company are available if ordered in advance and the Tour Headquarters is at Haddam Town Hall/Brainerd Academy at 21 Field Park Drive, Haddam, CT. Details here.


Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 day of the tour. Tickets are on sale at www.haddamhistory.org. For additional information call 860-345-2400. 

Click on QR Code below to BUY TICKETS TODAY!

WE HAVE SOME DOCENT SLOTS LEFT FOR THE HOUSE TOUR!!!


We are looking for house tour docents and volunteers. If you would like to help out on October 8, 2022 as a docent, parking or headquarter volunteer, we have available slots. The first shift is 10 am to 1 pm and the second shift is 1 pm to 4 pm. Volunteers get a free ticket to the house tour. Please call or email the office at 860-345-2400/contact@haddamhistory.org if you are interested.


Fall Online Auction Fundraiser

Thankful Arnold’s Treasure Chest

Online Auction 2022

November 4-11, 2022

Charity Online Auction for the

Haddam Historical Society and Thankful Arnold House Museum


It was so successful last year we are doing it again!


The Haddam Historical Society and Thankful Arnold House Museum will hold an important online charity auction featuring an array of exceptional goods, unique experiences and one-of-a-kind items from November 4 to November 11, 2022.


The Auction Committee is currently seeking donations from our supporters and community to help make this event a huge success. Popular items include libations, antiques, collectibles, small furniture, gift certificates for goods and services, unique experiences, and useful items.

This important fundraiser will help the organization and museum continue its important activities, programming and collections care.

If you have something you would like to donate to the auction, please email us at contact@haddamhistory.org. Send a photo of item if you can!


SAVE THE DATE!



Founders’ Day Celebration

November 6, 2022

2 pm to 4 pm

Thankful Arnold House Museum


Outdoor Celebration with cider, donuts and fire pit.

Tour of Field Park and acknowledgement of Haddam’s Native American’s and first settlers. We will also acknowledge the 2022 outstanding volunteers. 

Thank you to our Garden waterers this summer. It hot and dry and we appreciate the volunteers taking time out of their busy schedules to keep our important gardens alive.

Sharon Bailey

Charlene Breen

Marijean Conrad

Sue and Dave Costa

Vera Davidson

Diane Gawronski

Pat Hartman

Mary Alice and Ron Matulevich

Deb Rutter

Cindy Sullivan

Thank you to Fair Volunteers

Jane Aldieri

Marijean Conrad

Gretchen Gregg

Sherry Lusardi

David Neal

Deb Rutter

Terry Smith

Elaine Stephens

Christmas Through the Ages



To celebrate the holiday season, the Haddam Historical Society will host Christmas Through the Ages at the historic Thankful Arnold House Museum where visitors can step back, slow down and savor the sights, sounds and smells of the past.

The museum will feature three rooms specially curated to reflect different time periods from early America to the mid-2oth century. The historic kitchen of the house will focus on Colonial Connecticut and will feature gingerbread delights and delectables. The Front Parlor will highlight the elaborate and sumptuous Victorian period while the Back Parlor will illustrate a sleek, modern 1950s Christmas. Guest curators will create unique and memorable vignettes of holiday’s past.

The Society gift shop will be packed with a variety of goodies including themed gifts to capture the spirit of Christmas Through the Ages including old-fashioned candy, Colonial -period toys, locally handcrafted goods, kissing balls, holiday cards with scenes of area landmarks and so much more. In addition, visitors can enter our holiday raffle for fabulous prizes including a stay at the Mystic Inn, Goodspeed Tickets, Restaurant gift certificates and a one-of-a-kind, luxury, handcrafted birdhouse. This is an event not to be missed.

A special members open house will be held on Sunday, November 20 from 1 pm to 4 pm, so become a member and you will be one of the first to experience Christmas Through the Ages. Public Hours for the event will be Saturday and Sunday, December 3 and 4, 2022 from 10 am to 4 pm and Saturday and Sunday, December 10 and 11, 2022 from 10 am to 4 pm. Admission is free and the museum is located at 14 Hayden Hill Road, Haddam, CT.


Haddam Historical Society |contact@haddamhistory.org

860-345-2400|www.haddamhistory.org

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