Selected Reprints
The Mighty Moodus River
by Jim Trocchi I remember the words of the late and multi-talented Don Malcarne, ASC Treasurer and a speaker at many
archaeological and historical events saying, "You don't have to dig to be an archaeologist." In essence he was
saying that a place such as New England has many abandoned historical features and sites that are exposed on the
surface and are waiting for the keen eye to further investigate and possibly reinterpret them. In Connecticut we
are fortunate to have many of these features in various stages of decay waiting to be explored. I am constantly
running into them as I drive and hike the woodlands of our state. So, for those who like to explore Connecticut's
many historical and archaeological features, one suggestion is visit the riparian banks of the Moodus River. It
is an interesting place where one can feed this appetite and in the early winter until spring, when the foliage
has fallen, sites and features are well exposed. The Moodus River is especially interesting to both those
interested in America's Industrial Revolution and in Industrial Archaeology.
The Moodus River once provided water power for 12 mills along its 3-mile, 300-foot descent to its confluence
with the Salmon River. These mills were established as early as 1819, the start of the American Industrial
Revolution, and many stayed in operation into the 20th century. The Moodus River begins its journey from the
lower Moodus Reservoir to the confluence of the Salmon River, all within the boundaries of East Haddam. Its
300-foot drop and the backing of a large watershed and available land on its banks made it an excellent location
for waterpower to propel industrial growth. "The Moodus River empties into the Salmon River at the Cove in
Johnsonville. Although it certainly is not a big river (it more closely approximates a stream. The word 'river'
is loosely applied in this case), the river bed declines approximately three hundred feet in three miles, and its
power was easily harnessed by dams and waterwheels The land adjoining the river was, at this time, unimproved,
and there were many available sites for mill development." (Sievers 2007:1). The remains of the dams, head races,
penstocks, turbines and building structures still remain for one to view today,
Further, as stated above, its location was close to the Connecticut River for all its transportation needs
to import and export goods. "In central Connecticut the Connecticut River was the passageway from local towns to
New York City and beyond. Moodus' location as a Connecticut River town meant that raw cotton from New York
wharves could be delivered on a regular schedule to Goodspeed Landing, and that the steamboats, on their return
voyages, could transport the finished goods from Moodus to selling agents in the City." (Sievers 2007:1). The
raw material that fed the mills was cotton imported from the South. The raw material was then carded and spun to
provide their main finished product of twine. Other products these mills were mainly known for were yarn and
duck. Duck is sailing cloth which was in high demand during the age of sailing ships (clippers). By a more
specific definition, duck is a cotton or linen cloth like canvas, but lighter in weight. "The Moodus cotton
mills concentrated primarily on manufacturing three different products: yarn, duck, and twine." (Sievers 2007:1).
"Twine, however, was the major product of Moodus involving, at one time or another, all twelve mills. The twine
was sold either as cord or made directly into fish nets." (Sievers 2007:1). Therefore, for all of the mills on
the Moodus River, the main product was cotton twine. It was probably the twine capital of America.
A good place to start your road trip to view what remains of these mills is at the beautiful dam at the
Lower Moodus Reservoir; the 300-foot elevation mentioned above. To see this location, at the intersection of
Connecticut's Route 149 and Route 16 in the Westchester section of Colchester, drive south on Route 149 for
about two miles until you come to Falls Bashan Rd. on the left. Photo 1 shows what is left of the Falls Mill.
Though the mill itself has long since been destroyed, three houses remain that were occupied by mill workers.
"Practically all the mills had tenements, multi-family dwellings, which were rented for one to three dollars
a month to mill operatives. Some have been destroyed, but a fair number still remain as private, two-family
homes." (Siever 2007:2). Today these former tenements have been updated to single family owners and are in a
beautiful recreational area. There are some remains of the Falls Mill and one other mill but they can't be
observed because they are on private property.
From Falls Mill, continue further south on Route 149 less than a mile, just past some more mill tenements on
your left, to the Berstein Preserve, also on your left. Caution, the road curves here so be careful for oncoming
traffic. You will be driving into someone's shared driveway but not trespassing. "The preserve is accessed via
Land Trust property that serves as a driveway for the house on the east side of Route 149/Falls Road, about 100
feet south of Andrews Road. Park off the right of the driveway."
See the following website for more info.
The following very nicely sums up the stages of twine manufacture in Moodus. "There were three distinct
stages in the history of seine twine manufacturing, each characterized by the use of a different fiber in the
production process. Twine was first made from linen, a derivative of the flax plant. The transition to the
second stage of development was initiated by Ebenezer Nichols of Moodus who, in the early 1820's, conceived the
idea of substituting cotton for linen in the manufacturing of seine twine. With his invention of the Whirl-A-Gig
twister, the production of cotton seine twine began in Moodus. The fishermen soon came to realize that cotton
twine was a more economic product than linen, and Moodus' domination of the cotton seine industry was ensured
for many years. The third stage in the history of twine production was instituted by the Brownell Company when
they became the first seine twine mill in the nation to convert to the manufacture of nylon twine. Today,
practically all seine twine used for commercial fishing is made from synthetic fiber. Moodus, Connecticut, can
justifiably be nicknamed the 'Twine Capitol of America' for its leading role in initiating the development of
cotton and nylon seine twine." (Sievers 2007:5).
In conclusion, its experiences like these that can so enhance your life in the place you live. As I travel
around our rich and scenic region, I've learned to stop and explore. You never run out of places to seek out.
Now, when I take my next trip to see a show down at the Goodspeed Opera House and travel down Connecticut Route
149 through this area, it will have ever more meaning to me.
References:
Sievers, Bruce R. 2007. "The Cotton Mills of Moodus: How Moodus Became the 'Twine Capital of America'".
Simon Pure Productions,
Note: This website is no longer available. A similar book, also by Bruce R.
Sievers, titled, "Mills Along the River: The History of The Cotton Industry in Moodus, Connecticut" is suggested
as an alternate source.