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East Hampton, Connecticut: Belltown, USA

East Hampton, Connecticut

Pictures from East Hampton

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Comstock Covered Bridge Hurd State Park Middle Haddam Historic District

European settlers arrived in the area in 1739 from Eastham, Massachusetts, and the community was incorporated in 1767 as the township of Chatham — a name borrowed from Chatham in England, a fellow shipbuilding town. Chatham kept that name until 1915, when it was renamed East Hampton, long its informal second name. In the 19th century the town became known as "Belltown, USA": William Barton built the first bell factory in 1808, and firms including Bevin Brothers and Gong Bell followed. Bevin Brothers, founded in 1832 and now in its sixth generation of family ownership, is America's only dedicated bell manufacturer and still produces bells here, including the bell that opened and closed the New York Stock Exchange for nearly seven decades. Across the river, the village of Middle Haddam was an important shipbuilding port from roughly 1730 to 1880. William A. O'Neill, Governor of Connecticut from 1980 to 1991, was an East Hampton resident.

  1. Nearly 1,000 riverside acres with the landmark split-rock formation.

  2. One of only three historic covered bridges left in Connecticut.

  3. A 50-mile rail trail on a former railroad bed through East Hampton.

  4. A former Connecticut River shipbuilding port, 1730 to 1880.

  5. America's only dedicated bell manufacturer, founded 1832.

  6. Pub fare and craft beers on the Route 66 corridor.

  7. Family-run Italian restaurant and pizzeria since 1991.

  8. Thai and Chinese restaurant in the village center.

  9. New Haven–style pizza in the Cobalt village section.

  10. A restored 1872 mansion named for East Hampton's bell-making family.

Belltown, USA

William Barton built East Hampton's first bell factory in 1808 on what became Barton Hill, and firms including Bevin Brothers and Gong Bell followed, giving the town its nickname "Belltown, USA." Bevin Brothers, founded in 1832, is now in its sixth generation of family ownership and is America's only dedicated bell manufacturer, producing more than 50 sizes and styles — its bells have rung as the New York Stock Exchange's opening and closing gong and on Salvation Army kettles and Good Humor trucks. Across the river, the village of Middle Haddam was a shipbuilding port trading with the West Indies from about 1730 to 1880; its 110-acre historic district of 58 buildings, most predating 1835, was added to the National Register in 1984. East Hampton is also home to Lake Pocotopaug, a 512-acre natural lake — the largest in town, though far smaller than Candlewood Lake.

Getting there

East Hampton has no passenger rail station of its own. Connecticut Route 66 is the main east–west corridor through the town center, narrowing to two lanes as it follows the east shore of the Connecticut River after crossing the Arrigoni Bridge from Portland and Middletown; it begins at Interstate 91 in Meriden to the west and meets the Route 2 freeway at Exit 15 in Marlborough to the east. Route 16 serves the southeast corner of town, running past Comstock's Bridge and through Salmon River State Forest toward Colchester. The nearest passenger rail is the CTrail Hartford Line at Berlin, Meriden or Hartford, or Shore Line East at Old Saybrook.

Where to eat and stay

East Hampton's dining runs along West High Street and East High Street near the town center: The Tavern on 66 and Rossini's Pizza (family-run since 1991) anchor West High Street, while Po's Rice and Spice sits on Main Street in the village center. In the Cobalt village section, Pizzeria Da Vinci Cobalt serves New Haven–style pizza on the Route 66 corridor. The Bevin House Bed & Breakfast, a restored 1872 French Empire mansion named for the bell-making family, is the only conventional lodging verified inside East Hampton; travelers needing overflow rooms should look to Middletown or Cromwell, roughly 8–12 miles west.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to East Hampton?
By car — Route 66 runs through the town center, reached from I-91 in Meriden to the west or the Route 2 freeway at Exit 15 in Marlborough to the east, crossing the Arrigoni Bridge from Portland/Middletown. There is no passenger rail station in East Hampton; the nearest CTrail Hartford Line stops are Berlin, Meriden and Hartford.
Why is East Hampton called "Belltown, USA"?
The town's 19th-century bell-manufacturing industry began with William Barton's 1808 factory. Bevin Brothers, founded in 1832 and still operating in East Hampton today, is now America's only dedicated bell manufacturer.
Can I tour the Bevin Brothers bell factory?
Not with a formal tour — regulations prohibit the company from offering factory tours. Visitors can browse a small display in the factory office at 17 Watrous Street, Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed to the public on Fridays).
What is Comstock's Bridge?
A covered bridge built in 1840 and rebuilt in the late 1860s–1870s, restored by a Civilian Conservation Corps crew in the 1930s. Now closed to vehicles but open to pedestrians from a small public park, it is one of only three historic covered bridges remaining in Connecticut.
Is there a hotel in East Hampton?
The Bevin House Bed & Breakfast, a restored 1872 mansion, is the only conventional lodging verified inside East Hampton. Travelers needing additional rooms should look to Middletown or Cromwell, roughly 8–12 miles west.

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