Text Box:

Thomas Lee House c. 1660

East Lyme Historical Society

Founded 1897

Created by Barbara Jo McGrath, 2007-8

All Rights Reserved

Our Mission

The purposes and objectives of the Society shall be:

1. To engage in educational, archival, research and exploration activities and to support such activities that will increase knowledge of and engender appreciation of the history of the Town of East Lyme and its heritage.

2. To encourage the preservation and restoration of the town’s historical assets, such as houses, structures, burying grounds, early artifacts and other things associated with the town’s origin and history.

3. To  determine and develop year round historical programs and implementation of same.  These programs and activities shall include the period of colonial history and may include all periods of American history and other history.

4. To cooperate and participate with other organizations for similar purposes and objectives, both within and without the town.

5. To establish the Thomas Lee House Preservation Committee to ensure the protection and preservation of the Thomas Lee House as an American heritage, wherein books, documents, pictures, furniture, tools, implements, artifacts and other articles associated with the history of the Thomas Lee House and the family are housed.

   Thomas Lee House

   

    The Thomas Lee House (c. 1660) is one of the oldest wood frame houses in Connecticut still in its primitive state.  The Lee House is listed on the National Register of Historic Houses, and is open for tours  during the summer months.

 

Take a Virtual Tour of the Lee House.

Little Boston School House

    Little Boston School House

 

    The Little Boston School was founded in 1734.  The present building was built c. 1805 on land deeded by Elisha Lee.  It was moved to its present site on the Lee House grounds in 1931.

 

 

    Anthropology students from East Lyme  and Ledyard High Schools, under the direction of James Littlefield and Dr. John Pfeiffer, conducted an archaeological study of the site of the original Little Boston School House.  Their results can be found at :

 

Anthropology @ ELHS

To Contact Us:

   

    The Thomas Lee House and Little Boston Schoolhouse are located at 228 West Main Street in Niantic, CT, .25 miles from Exit 72 (Rocky Neck Connector) off I-95.

Telephone: (860) 739-6070

Email: info@eastlymehistoricalsociety.org

Membership

   

Your membership helps to support the Society’s programs, publications and events, as well as the preservation of its properties.  Please consider joining today.

Local History

    

    The Town of East Lyme, originally part of the settlements of Lyme and New London, was set off and incorporated in 1839.  With forests and rolling hills in the north, and embracing Niantic Bay to the south, the town has long been home to a diverse population. 

Current Happenings

   

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOURTH GRADE COLONIAL PROGRAM, May 6th,8th,  13th and 15th

      A hands-on educational program for elementary school students at the Lee House, with costumed role-players explaining aspects of daily life to students from East Lyme’s elementary schools.  There are also farm animals, courtesy of some of our town’s farmers.

 

ANNUAL MEETING, June 7 th, 6:00 p.m.

       Picnic on the grounds of the Thomas Lee House, followed by a (brief) meeting.  Come share an evening with your fellow members, hear updates on the activities of the Society, and vote for your Board of Directors.  BYOB.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPEN HOUSE, June 14th 9:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.

      Once again, the Society will be participating in the statewide Open House Day.  You can tour the Lee House and Little Boston School House, and meet the Lee family, as costumed re- enactors participate in everyday activities from the past.   Captain Elisha Lee, along with his wife Abigail and household slave Viola, will be present to talk about the French and Indian War, and Lieutenant Ezra Lee will share his experiences in the Revolutionary War.  Thomas Lee II’s daughter Pheobe will also appear.   Members of East Lyme High School’s Leo Club will help to recreate the classroom experience at the School House.

 

    Join us, and share everyday activities such as candle making and butter churning.  Farm animals will be on the grounds, and there will be a chance to ride in an oxcart.  Traditional refreshments will be available, as well.

The East Lyme Historical Society is a member of the Five Rivers Consortium, which provides an online directory of historical, cultural and educational places and events.

 

Five Rivers Consortium

East Lyme is also home to the Smith-Harris House, a c. 1845  farmhouse and museum.  For more information, visit:

 

The Smith-Harris House

 

Save the Dates!

July 5th and 6th

   

    Our ANNUAL FLEA MARKET (formerly known as the Crafts and Collectibles Sale) will be held on Saturday and Sunday, July 5-6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.   Vendor spaces are going fast, so let us know if you would like to save a spot.

     Items for the tag sale may be dropped off between 1 and 4 p.m., Tuesday  the 1st through Thursday the 3rd.  PLEASE, no clothes, computers, TVs, exercise equipment or carpets. 

    Volunteers are always welcome.  You can help sort and price tag sale items, work at the food table, help park cars, or even give tours of the Lee house.

    If you would like to take part, or need more information,  let us know at:

info@eastlymehistoricalsociety.org

Text Box: Volunteers Needed!

    Volunteers are needed to serve as tour guides this summer for the Thomas Lee  House .  The house is  open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, from June 25th to August 31st.  You can work as many, or as few, days as you choose.
    Giving tours is a fun way to get to know the property better, and to meet people from near and far.  If you are interested in participating, contact Luane Lange at llange@sbcglobal.net, or 739-6949.
Text Box: Lecture Series
May 21st, 7:00 pm.
    
    Professor R. E. Spencer, of the Hempstead House in New London, will lecture on campaign methods used in the 1856 presidential campaign, a contest between James Buchanan and J. C. Fremont.
    The lecture is free and the public is warmly invited to attend.  It will take place at the East Lyme High School on Wednesday, May 21st, at 7:00 p.m.  Our lectures are presented in conjunction with the History Club of the East Lyme High School.

Essays by Wilbur Beckwith

   

    Wilbur Beckwith is the East Lyme Town Historian, as well as the Historian of the East Lyme Historical Society.  He has been working on a series of essays chronicling the Lee family, from the time of their arrival from England in the 1640s up through the 18th century.    We are happy to be able to share the first of these essays, The First Lee in America, with you at this time.  Look for more in the future!