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The “black magic”witches were from Haddam and the “white witches” of Moodus. Beneath Mt.Tom lies a cave. This cave is known as the famous Moodus Cave. According to legend, the White Witches “challenged” the Black Witches to test thier powers deep in the Moodus cave. By light of a glowing carbuncle attached to the ceiling the witches brewed eviel potions and spells. On a stormy October night, rage and jealousy was upon the witches. That night horrendous and terrifing sounds came from the cave. Due to the October night, the great spirit King of Machimoodus had enough of the fighting and scrreams coming from the cave. The King went to the cave, blew out the burning carbuncle witha wave of his hand, sent a gust of cold air into the cave. The witches were feared of the King’s actions and scattered. One witch escaped, took form of a bird and flew to the Devil’s Hopyard. She landed on the highest branch of an oak tree. Screaming at her enimies, the tree trembled and shook below. All the leaves fell, twigs curled up and the sap stopped running through the tree. From this day the tree never grew sap, accorns or leaves again. Some say they can still hear the terrifing noises at night coming from the cave of that October stormy night. From the battle of “Black Witches verses White Witches” these sounds became known to the natives as the “Moodus Noises”.
A man named Blakslee was a farmer who worked in the area. The neghbors called him a brave man. Many times he voices his contempt for witches and the devil. One night while working his fields, he was startled by the harsh sound of flapping wings. Blakeslee looked up and saw this bird like creature. He fired his gun his gun many times point blank at the creature. The first time the bird flew to a tree. Blakslee fired again, this time making the bird angry. Feeling desperate, Blakeslee rememered that a witch could not survive a silver bullet. Quickly Blakeslee fired at the creature using a silver button he pulled from his shirt pocket. The witch-creature fell to the ground. The same time the witch was shot, an old woman stood from her spinning wheel, fell to the floor and died. The day befoe, the same woman was worned by the town leaders for associating with the Devil. This episode brought peace to the village. There are no other stories about witch troubles in the village. For many years the Moodus Noises were even silent.
There are many legends of the Hopyard left by the early settlers. In the days and cold nights of October, the month of the witches battle, Devil’s Hopyard tests the courage of the non-believer. Devil’s Hopyard isn’t the only place for mysterious things to happen. There have been unsolved murders in East Haddam and Moodus. Back in those days, it was not proper for the time to report bad things about your neighbors. Someone in the town would keep notes about the goings on.
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