The Connecticut Spring Antiques Show benefits the Haddam Historical Society and the Thankful Arnold House Museum, a late eighteenth century dwelling located in picturesque Haddam Village in the lower Connecticut River Valley.  Distinguished by its gambrel roof with unusual bell-shaped profile, the house was erected in three distinct stages between 1794 and 1810.  Merchant, Joseph Arnold and his wife, Thankful bought the “small dwelling” in 1798 and enlarged it over the next 12 years as their family grew.  Thankful remained in the house after her husband’s untimely death in 1823 and the property became known as the Widow Arnold’s.  The house remained in the Arnold Family until the early 1960s when it was authentically restored through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Arnold of Texas and became the headquarters of the Haddam Historical Society.   The museum is on the Connecticut Women’s Heritage Trail which celebrates and honors women’s often forgotten accomplishments.  The museum is open year round.

The Society offers extensive educational programs serving over 1000 students from local school districts and collects, maintains, and preserves artifacts and archives pertaining to the history of Haddam, Higganum and Haddam Neck.  In 2006-2007 the Society has undertaken a town-wide barn survey documenting these important structures which offer a tangible link to the community’s agricultural past.

To learn more about the museum and society’s programs visit www.haddamhistory.org.