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On this fine summer day, the view was spectacular. The Castle is situated atop the most southerly hill in a chain known as the Seven Sisters, overlooking the Connecticut River. Here are some of the better photos I took, mostly of the exterior from different angles. We weren’t allowed to photograph the castle interior, so you’ll have to take my word for it that it’s quite as fabulous as the exterior. I was especially intrigued by the intricately carved woodwork and the raffia wall panels. Begun in 1914 and completed in 1919 at a cost of about a million dollars, the 24-room mansion has granite walls 4-5 feet thick and 24 oddly-shaped windows. This amazing edifice was built by William Gillette, a wealthy late 19th century thespian, best known for his portrayal on stage of Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective, Sherlock Holmes. A local landmark, it is considered by many as an engineering wonder.Ībout 4 miles south of the town is the Gillette Castle State Park, which was my destination today.

Spanning the Connecticut River, with one terminus anchored squarely in the town center, is the East Haddam Bridge, built in 1913 and reputed to be the longest swing bridge in the world. Restored in 1958, this gem of Victorian architecture today serves as a venue for musical revivals. The Goodspeed Opera House was built in 1876 by William Goodspeed, a shipbuilder, merchant, and banker. Nearby are two state parks and the Chapman’s Pond Nature Preserve. First settled in 1685, the town now boasts a fine Opera House, historic homes and churches, and a number of notable restaurants. East Haddam, Connecticut is a quaint New England town situated on the east bank of the Connecticut River, a few miles upstream from where it enters Long Island Sound.