1961 Map of Middle Haddam

About this map

The Connecticut River carves a deep path through this mid-century landscape, separating the industrial and institutional developments of Middletown from the wooded heights of Portland and East Hampton. On the western bank, the Silvermine Hall state hospital complex and the Maromas area sit near the Conrail line, while the eastern side features a cluster of quarries and mills, including the Eureka Mill. The terrain is defined by a series of significant elevations like Collins Hill and Penfield Hill, giving way to the substantial Pocotopaug Lake in the northeast corner. This 1961 survey, later updated in the early 1980s, captures the region's transition from a river-based economy to a suburban and recreational one, evidenced by the numerous cemeteries like Skinnerville Cem and Hog Hill Cem that mark the locations of earlier agrarian communities. Large tracts of protected land, such as Hurd State Park and Meshomasic State Forest, preserve the character of the highlands overlooking the river valley.