New Board Members!

We would like to welcome new board members Rob Harlow and

Mike Karam to the Board of Directors.

Rob is one of the founders of “Digging for Good”, a local group of metal detectorists both young and old who are passionate about exploring, history and being outside. Their operation is simple-they will metal detect at a property owners request, the owner keeps all finds and the “diggers” give back to the community by making a donation to a local charity. An AVP of Digital Marketing at The Hartford, Rob is also actively involved in local Little League and Youth Hockey.

Mike, who is passionate about historic architecture, preservation, and gardening, works in the field of brand consulting, marketing, and content strategy. His beautiful home was featured on our house tour in 2022 and he is active in the community serving on the Economic Development Commission, POCD Implementation Committee and local improvements.

We welcome both to the Board of Directors and look forward to working with them. 

The Shad Museum is on the Move

The Haddam Shad Museum will soon be moving to the former HES playground at Haddam Elementary School. We have received permission from the Board of Selectmen, Planning and Zoning Commission and the Economic Development Commission. The current location of the Shad Museum is on the market and the building needs to be relocated. After looking at various sites throughout town it was suggested that we move it to the HES site which offers a number of amenities including parking and visibility.

The Haddam Shad Museum is a viable and important part of Haddam’s cultural history. Located in the former Maynard’s Shad Shack, a Higganum landmark, the museum is a true gem which tells the story of the shad fishing in the Connecticut River Valley and the importance it has played in the development of the Connecticut. It has a collection of fascinating items which chronicle shad and shad fishing and their role in the community and throughout the state. Founded in 1999 by Dr. Joseph Zaientz, the museum features a wealth of materials including newspaper articles, videos, photographs, fishing apparatus including drift netting, needles, and darts.

We look forward to this new chapter in the museum’s future and hope you all get a chance to visit soon. 

Venture Smith's Colonial Connecticut

The Haddam Historical Society recently donated 75 copies of Venture Smith’s Colonial Connecticut to the 5^th grade class at H-K Intermediate School to be used in the classroom with their studies of Colonial Connecticut.

The story of Venture Smith, a slave who was able to buy his freedom and the freedom of his family, is the tale of hard work, tenacity, and ingenuity but also heartache, injustice, and racism. Captured as a child in Africa, he was sold into slavery at the age of 6 and spent the next 30 years living and working for masters in New York, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. In 1765 he purchased his freedom and in due course the freedom of his wife and children. By 1775 he had saved enough money to buy land in Haddam Neck and became successful in farming, fishing, and trading, eventually owning over 100 acres, multiple boats, and three houses.

One of the most fascinating aspects of Venture is that he shared his life’s story in A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Venture, a Native of Africa which was published in 1798 almost seven years before his death. This account offers a first person account of the life of an enslaved African and is a testament to his remarkable life. 

The Haddam Historical Society is pleased to share the important story of Venture, one of Haddam’s most notable citizens, with the students at Regional School District #17.

Pictured: L to R Tracy Papa, Fifth Grade Teacher, Serenity Carlson, Jack Courchesne, Hailey Goodmaster, Jennifer Beermuender, HK Curriculum Coordinator for Language Arts and Social Studies, Terry Smith, President of the Haddam Historical Society, and Sarah Neal, Haddam Historical Society Education Coordinator. Photo by E. Malloy