The Town of East Hampton, CT

A Town in Middlesex County

East Hampton takes in two villages, Middle Haddam and Cobalt, and sits roughly ten miles east of Middletown with a population of 12,959 as of the 2010 census.

The area was inhabited by the Wangunk Indians and called Pocotopaug, a Pequot word meaning “lake with pierced islands.”

From Easthampton Parish to Belltown

• 1739 Settlers from Eastham and Chatham near Cape Cod bought lots from Middletown proprietors in East Middletown and the Three Mile Division. Led by Isaac Smith, several families settled near Lake Pocotopaug.
• 1746 The community was named Easthampton parish.
• 1767 Middletown petitioned the General Assembly for a new township, incorporated as Chatham, Connecticut’s 71st town.
• 1841 The area now encompassing Portland became a separate township.
• 1915 Residents renamed the town East Hampton, after the original Easthampton.

Belltown USA

William Barton established a bell-making factory in 1808, turning out cow bells, sleigh bells, church bells, and more. His apprentices learned the trade and started businesses of their own. In 1832 brothers Abner and William Bevin founded Bevin Brothers, later joined by their brothers Chauncey and Philo; it is the only bell manufacturer still operating in town.

Over forty companies produced millions of bells sold worldwide, among them Starr Bros. Bell Co., The N. N. Hill Brass Co., and Gong Bell. No wonder East Hampton is called “Belltown USA.”