Fire Rips Through Historic Haddam Home

HADDAM, CT — A fire ripped through a historic home in Haddam early Wednesday morning, according to the Haddam Volunteer Fire Company. Firefighters responded at 2:50 a.m. to a report of a structure fire at 1236 Saybrook Road.

Firefighters arrived to find "the structure was completely involved." It took firefighters four hours to clear the scene.

Mutual aid was provided by the Chester, Deep River, Middletown, and Middletown South District fire departments.

The Haddam Fire Marshal’s Office with assistance from Connecticut State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit are investigating the blaze.

No one was in the building when the fire broke out.

The 1790s building was destroyed in the blaze.

"We lost 1236 Saybrook Road last night to a devastating fire," the Haddam Historical Society posted on Facebook. "Losing this important Federal period building disrupts and leaves a hole in a cohesive stretch of similar period architecture along the Middlesex Turnpike like a missing tooth. It also leaves a hole in our heart."

Known as the Ira Shailer House, the home was built by a member of the close-knit Shailer family for whom “Shailerville” is named. Ira was a direct descendant of Thomas Shaylor, one of Haddam’s original proprietors, according to the Haddam Historical Society.