Have a Pint of Flip at Haughton’s Tavern

This July the will be hosting the groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Public Safety Complex on Route 32.  However, few people know that in the same area was the Haughton Tavern of Colonial times.  The tavern was one of the more prominent meeting places in colonial Southeastern Connecticut for Montville residents, travelers and militia stationed around the region.

The Haughton family was one of the first English colonists to settle in Montville through land grants with the Mohegan tribe. Their homestead was located near Stony Brook Bridge on Route 32.  The property boundaries followed both sides of the old road and bordered the cove, encompassing over 150 acres. James Haughton (1719-1803) expanded the house into a mansion and eventual tavern. He eventually passed the prosperous tavern passed on to his eighth son William Whiting Haughton (1774-1819) in 1801.

Colonial taverns served many purposes including entertainment, town business, military meetings, and even medical association events.  According to a newspaper article in the Connecticut Gazette, the members of the New London Medical Society, an association of the Connecticut Medical Society, met at the tavern in March of 1785.  Located half-way between Norwich and New London, the tavern was an ideal location. Additionally, in an unpublished Montville history compiled by V. F. Villano, it states “the New London County [Medical Society] could well be one of the oldest, if not the oldest, in the country.”

But most importantly, taverns were meant for entertainment and Haughton’s Tavern truly met the criteria.  An 1899 article in the New Haven Register described the tavern as “architecturally designed to the general plan of taverns of the colonial days, but somewhat larger than many of them. The upper part of the building had a fine ball room and polished floors.” A two story building, it had ample space for travelers spending the night as well as townfolk seeking fun after a long day of work.  Additionally, military personnel sailed from the Thames to the cove during the War of 1812 to frequent the tavern and it array of entertainments.

Scribner’s Magazine detailed the dances at the tavern as, “gallant sparks came from town in broadcloth suits of purple and maroon, high-rolled collar and ruffled neckerchief and scant waistcoats of flowered silk with dangling fobs, and with them bewitching maids clad in trim gowns of white and buff, silken hose and slippers. Then the building glowed with light and cheer and the music of violin and piano-forte drifted from open windows and down the highway.”

The music, dancing and a large supper enticed the frolicking couples and travelers.  Even in winter months, Haughton’s Tavern was a favorite location for sleighing parties of between 15 – 20 couples.  Music included songs such as Fisher’s Horn-pipe or Molly Put the Kettle On.  Meals had a large assortment of entrée’s such as roast turkey, chicken pie, turtle, sausages, mince pies, butternut, coffee and of course as a special beverage, flip or mulled wine.

Sadly, the place that had so much life to it and brought great enjoyment to our residents was destroyed in 1899 by fire in a faulty chimney.  By then, the Haughton family no longer owned the property but their legacy still is with us today with the familiar names such as Haughton’s or [Horton’s] Cove and Haughton’s Mountain.