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About
The town of East Haven, located in New Haven County, is on the east side of New Haven Harbor in the Long Island Sound. First called East Farms, in 1638 settlers obtained the land as part of the purchase of New Haven. In 1785, after years of petitioning the General Assembly, East Haven incorporated, becoming a separate town from New Haven. By the late nineteenth century, East Haven had greatly reduced its size by selling a significant portion of its land to New Haven. Today, the Shore Line Trolley Museum in East Haven operates the Branford Electric Railway. The railway is the oldest continuously operating suburban trolley line in the United States.
More interesting information on the settlement and history of East Haven can be read here.
For a detailed read of East Haven's history, visit:
East Farms, as it was first called, was considered a parish of the New Haven Colony. Settlers settled into Morris Cove and what is now the "center" of East Haven in 1639. The first Connecticut ironworks, the third in New England, was founded on the shores of Furnace Pond in 1655. Called Lonotononket (Great Pond) by the Quinnipiac, it was renamed by English-speaking settlers as Lake Saltonstall.
Named for Sachem Momauguin, chief of the Quinnipiac, a native Indian Tribe.
The area now known as East Haven was obtained by Puritan settlers Reverend John Davenport and Theophilus Eaton on November 29, 1638, as part of the purchase of New Haven from Sachem Momauguin of the local Quinnipiack tribe.
Additional land, in what is now known as Foxon, was purchased from Chief Montowese on December 11, 1638.
With Branford and North Branford having had settlers since 1643, people from the New Haven Colony started to settle the Foxon section in 1683.
Interesting early information can be found here.
East Haven Documents Pertaining to The Town of East Haven
East Haven Today- Watch it Grow is a 1928 promotional publication for area businesses. It is to be noted because of the historical information which is presented here such as information on buildings, businesses and organizations no longer in existence. Instances are the Button Ball Tree Inn which still on Park Place, the Quality Pastry & Delicatessen Shop which stood on 291-293 Main Street and the Elm Filling Station which stood at Main and Elm Street. Notable too, are the historic sketches it contains on East Haven, and The Old Stone Church. There is also information on The East Haven Civic Service Association citing the first president as Lottie Street, East Haven’s first Librarian. In addition the publication contains photographs of the First Selectman at the time, Robert H. Gerrish and Town Clerk, W.S. Coker as well as others. Also in the publication are photographs of Union School (built 1896), Laurel Street School (built 1925), Gerrish Avenue School (built 1917), Momauguin School (built 1922), South School (Built 1913), Foxon School (built 1891) and Highland School (built 1917). The publication also reveals an interesting note on the library- Horace E. Clark & Son were the roofers of the slate tiles covering the building.
Education in the New Haven Colony was important. The colony had required that each parish provide a common school. Prior to 1700, the parish education was being provided by the Congregational Church. The town voted in 1706 to build the first public school. The school was located around what is now 260 Hemingway Avenue. In 1707 the town established a school board to oversee the education system. By 1728 East Haven had split their system into 4 school districts.
The first town high school was opened on September 28, 1936, in the "Center" of town. Prior to the building of the high school, students had to apply to local town high schools for acceptance into their school system. A new junior high school complex was built in 1957. In 1997, a new high school campus was built in the Foxon section of town.
Our Museum/Research Center is located in two larger former classrooms at Hays School, 1 Maple Street.
We have a treasure trove of historical artifacts for viewing during open hours which are everey Wednesday from 10 am to 1 pm and the first Saturday of each month also from 10 am to 1 pm..
Stop by for a tour of many historical item from East Haven's past.