The document discusses historical sites in East Haddam, Connecticut, including the Gelston House restaurant formerly an inn, the oldest surviving swing bridge in the world connecting East Haddam and Haddam, and the Goodspeed Opera House which has premiered famous musicals. It also mentions the Nathan Hale Schoolhouse where Nathan Hale taught before becoming a spy during the American Revolution.

1. East Haddam Holliday
Josiah Lund

2. The East Haddam Bridge and the Gelston House. The Gelston House is an
upper class American restaurant and pub. It used to serve as an inn for river
travelers; people can still reserve one today!

3. The East Haddam Swing Bridge carries rt. 82 over the Connecticut River. It connects
Haddam with East Haddam. It is a steel swing truss bridge and is said to be the oldest of its
class in the world!

4. The Goodspeed Opera House, located in the heart of East Haddam just in between the bridge
and the Gelston House, is a legendary theatre that has been the birthplace of some
well-known musicals including Annie and Shenandoah.

5. The Nathan Hale Schoolhouse is one of the treasures held in East Haddam. After Nathan Hale
graduated from Yale, he taught in East Haddam from 1773 to 1774. He then moved to New
London for another teaching job.

6. The schoolhouse is owned and operated by the Connecticut Society of the Son of the
American Revolution. They keep and maintain the building/lands which is an official historic
site.

7. Nathan Hale ended up becoming an American spy during the American Revolution. He volunteered for an
intelligence-gathering mission in New York City where he was caught. Right before the British executed him he bravely
spoke the infamous line: “My only regret is that I have but one life to give for my country.”

8. Sources
Goodspeed.org
Wikipedia.org
Gelstonhouse.com
varsitytutors.com/a time for heroes: the story of nathan hale
past-inc.org/historic-bridges/movable-easthaddam