On the Road with Haddam Historical Society – Tea Rooms

Submitted by Elizabeth Hart Malloy, Executive Director, Haddam Historical Society.

On the Road with the Haddam Historical Society
Tea Rooms- “You’ll find it quite refreshing”

Tea rooms gained popularity in the early 20th century and were found in small towns, suburbs and large cities throughout America. They were traditionally run by women who provided home cooked meals in a quiet, comfortable, and homey atmosphere. Most patrons were women although men also frequented tea rooms after their popularity caught on. Tea rooms also catered to motorists who “sauntered” through old New England towns and would stop for simple fare in a tranquil restful place. A 1915 Hartford Courant article on the popularity of tea rooms noted that there was “hardly a town in Connecticut where a tea room is not found in some Colonial House.”

Haddam had a number of Tea Rooms doting the Middlesex Turnpike (now Saybrook Road) in the 1920s though 1940s. These establishments accommodated visitors traveling along the busy roadway from Hartford to the shoreline.

The Red House Tea Room

Charles Ingersoll and his wife Nell, occupied the Thankful Arnold House in the first half of the 20^th century and kept a tea room in the western most room of the house. The enterprise was called “The Old Red House Tea Room” an allusion to the color of the exterior of the house at the time. An early menu from the establishment shows they served everything from toast to Southern style chicken dinners. A poem about the tea room states that “The Old Red House at Haddam on the central village street, is the place for hungry travelers If they want good things to eat. The roadway stretches onward for many a lengthy mile, so the tired and weary traveler Should stop here and rest awhile.”

Valhalla

The Valhalla was located in the Shailerville section of town and operated from the late 1920s into the mid-1950s. A guest book from the restaurant shows that not only locals and Connecticut residents frequented the establishment but it hosted many New Yorkers and visitors from Sweden and Norway. “Valhalla” is from Norse mythology and means the great hall of slain heroes and a place of honor, glory and happiness. The restaurant was run by Norwegian immigrant Dagny Nelson with help from her daughter Irene. It was a seasonal operation opening from May to November in the 1920s and 1930s. In the later years it was open primarily for events including birthday parties, Haddam Music Club, and other events. During the height of the Depression the Haddam Poverty Party Committee met in the restaurant possibly to discuss how to help the needy in town.

The Cabin Tea Room

Another Haddam landmark was The Cabin situated at the far north end of Walkley Hill Road. Run by Miss Maybelle Roberts (later Arnold) it was described as “an attractive tea room at Haddam, overlooking the river.” This eatery provided luncheons, afternoon teas and suppers.

By the mid- 20^th century many tea rooms lost favor because of high prices and motorists were seeking a faster meal and started to patronize the quick luncheonette or roadside stand.

Next time we will visit some of Haddam’s stands including Pop’s Stand, Sid’s Milk Bar and Hubies.

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