|
Thomas Lee House c. 1660 |
|
East Lyme Historical Society |
|
Founded 1897 |
|
Created by Barbara Jo McGrath, 2007-9 All Rights Reserved |
|
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.
|
|
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 :
|
|
East Lyme is also home to the Smith-Harris House, a c. 1845 farmhouse and museum. For more information, visit:
|
|
Home |
|
About Us |
|
News and Events |
|
Organization |
|
Publications |
|
President's Message |
|
The Lee Family |
|
About East Lyme |
|
Business Directory |
|
Interesting Links |
|
Contact Us |
|
Membership Form |
|
4th of July Market |
|
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. |
|
Where can you learn about:
historical museums nature trails wine trails odd street names and a whole lot more around Connecticut?
Check out
|
|
Lee Family Gathering
The East Lyme Historical Society will be celebrating the 350th birthday of the Thomas Lee House with a gathering for descendants of Thomas Lee and his family, tentatively scheduled for September 11-12, 2010. Activities currently being planned include discussions on Lee family history, cemetery tours, roleplayers, and children’s activities. A cocktail social and dinner, with live period music, will take place on Saturday night. A new book on the Lee family, by East Lyme Town Historian Wilbur Beckwith, will be published in time for the gathering. We also look forward to forming a Thomas Lee Descendant Association. The planning committee is putting together a mailing list of Lee family members. If you would like to be included on this list, please let us know at: |
|
Dedication of the Thomas Lee House, 1914 |
|
Local Landmarks |
|
Churches |
|
Cemeteries |
|
Also visit: |
|
July 4th-5th are the dates for our Annual Flea Market. As always, there will be an assortment of vendors, and the museum will be open for tours throughout the weekend. Donations for the Society tag sale will be accepted Wednesday, July 1 through Friday, July 3 between 1 and p.m. For more information, please call Liz at 739-6651 or Doris at 739-8401. Volunteers are welcome! People are needed at the food table, to help with parking, and to serve as tour guides for the Lee House. Contact us at: info@eastlymehistoricalsociety.org If you are interested in being a vendor for this weekend, or for our Labor Day Market, please visit: |
|
Your Support is Important!
The East Lyme Historical Society owns and maintains the Thomas Lee House and Little Boston School House, offers educational programs to the community throughout the year, works to provide access to historical materials through its publications, archives, and website, and is always ready to work with other groups to help foster understanding and appreciation of the history of our town. And we do it all as volunteers! The generosity of our town and our members is greatly appreciated. Time, energy, and dollars donated are put immediately to work. If you are currently a member, THANK YOU! If not, please consider joining us. The Membership Form can be printed and mailed in, or you can contact us at: info@eastlymehistoricalsociety.org Donations are always welcome. And please remember: all of our programs are open to the public, free of charge. We welcome your participation! |
|
Business Owners
Become a Business Member of the East Lyme Historical Society for only $50 a year. Members receive a free listing on our Business Directory page, with a link to their own sites, as well as being mentioned in our newsletters. Our website received over 95,000 hits in our first year, and is growing stronger every month. People visit the site from all over the country, and from around the world. Many of them are in the process of planning trips to our area, and would be interested in the services you provide. Local residents will recognize your generosity, as well. For more information, contact us at: info@eastlymehistoricalsociety.org |
|
The East Lyme Historical Society is collecting photos for two projects: a 2010 calendar, and a second volume of Scallop Shells & Granite Too. If you have photos that we have not used before, and would like to share them, please contact Betty Murphy at 739-2732. Photos will be copied and returned to you within a week. |
|
Dockside, Niantic River Courtesy Anne S. McGrath |
|
Smith-Harris House Society Road, Niantic |
|
News from Our Neighbors |
|
Oral Histories
We are searching for oral histories, videos, or photos related to the town’s history. We would like to make copies of these to keep in a central location as part of our growing archive of East Lyme history. Please contact Norm Peck at 447-9570 ext. 1333, or email us at: |
|
Newsletter Archive
Beginning with the current (Summer 2009) issue, we will be making our East Lyme Historical Society Newsletters available online.
Take a look at:
|
|
Custom House Maritime Museum Tuesday, July 7, 6 to 7 pm First Tuesday Heritage Workshop A History of American Postcards
Collector J.D. Diaz-Saavedra will discuss and display examples from his collection of New London postcards illustrating the evolution of eight eras of American postcards, from the 1890s to the present. In conjunction with his talk, JD has assembled a special display: 53 Postcards of New London Harbor Light, which will remain on view through September. Custom House Maritime Museum is located at 150 Bank Street, New London. Call them at 447-2501, or visit: |
|
Fort Trumbull Sunday, July 19, 3 p.m. Brother Against Brother: Songs, Tales and Tunes from and about The Civil War. The Friends of Fort Trumbull will present a free concert by Tom Callinan, an award-winning singer/songwriter and storyteller. This concert will culminate the Lincoln Bicentennial Events at the Fort by the 8th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Encampment. For more information, call 444-7591, or visit: |
|
Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center Tuesday, July 28, 5 to 7:30 p.m. Eco Evening Garden Party at Ender’s Island The intriguing rock gardens and colorful flower beds of this 11-acre island situated in Fisher’s Island Sound provide a unique and wonderful setting for a summer fund-raiser. The event will feature fresh locally grown vegetables and fruits of land and sea, wine, beer, organic teas and tastings. Admission is $25 for adult members of DPNC, and $30 for non-members. For more information, call 536-1216, or visit: |