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[NINETEENTH CENTURY AMERICAN MANUSCRIPT]. [“MOODUS NOISES”]. An 1841 manuscript account of the famous “Moodus Noises” phenomenon near East Haddam, CT. [E. Haddam, 1841]. 12 pp., 4to (6 leaves, with text on rectos and versos; 250 x 200 mm) on white paper written in black ink, string-bound at left margins (pages a bit toned, and rubbed, each page with 2 horizontal creases, some creases at left margin, some areas of text a bit faint, some occasional smudging, several later pencil notes (penciled notes are fairly faint, first leaf with a small embossed stamp near the upper corner)). The “Moodus Noises” near East Haddam, CT have caused consternation for centuries, starting with the Wangunk Native American tribe, and continuing with the Puritans (both groups attributed these underground noises to angry gods). This manuscript account contains a brief history of this phenomenon, as well as the efforts to “stop” the noises by various charlatans (“It appears that somewhere between 1760 and 1770, a transient person calling himself Doctor Steele from Europe came into the town and spent some time examining into the cause of the noises, having no other ostensible business. He ascribed them to carbuncles, and spent his nights in exploring the country, frequently attended by inhabitants of the town…”) Steele removed the “carbuncle” he claimed was the source of the noises (of course, the noises pretty much continued unabated). It was later discovered that these noises were most likely caused by underground tremors. It is generally believed that H. P. Lovecraft (1890-1937) based his story, The Dunwich Horror (1929) at least partially on the “Moodus Noises”.