Knock on the door this October and say "Trick or
Treat" and there will be no answer. While walking through the now
abandoned village of Johnsonville is East Haddam, CT you can help but think to
yourself "Where is everybody?". Johnsonville was once a thriving Mill
Town in the 1800's with twin mills creating powers from the villages pond.
Raymond Schmitt purchased the 52 acre property in the 1960's with intention of
turning it into a Victorian tourist attraction, he transported most of the
building that lay on this quiet piece of land from near by communities. The
horse stable was used for weddings and fundraising functions but in 1994 this
all ended when Schmitt got into a dispute with the town permanently closing the
village to the public.
As of October 2014 the village remains abandoned but is to
be put up to bid for $800,000 which raises the question... Wouldn't it be cool
to be a Mayor of your own town?
Inside the General Store
Photos taken by Michael Parisi and Michael Ackler of Abandoned CT