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Students from East Lyme and Ledyard High Schools combined under the instruction of teachers James Littlefield and Dr. John Pfeiffer have been studying the original site of the Little Boston School House. The study has had a concentration in field and laboratory archaeology, archival document review, and informant survey. There is an important hands-on component to the study and the past has become real and significant for students. |
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This site is along Rt. 156 (Rope Ferry Rd.) and on the present grounds of the Womens Correctional Facility in East Lyme. Archaeological evidence indicates the presence of two episodes of school house construction. Historic artifacts generated from two years of excavation date from 1728 to the early 1900's. Document review illustrates an initial organization in 1734 and a removal to the Thomas Lee grounds in 1925. Between these dates the school served as a local educational facility as well as a local meeting house in the evenings serving various community associations.The first public document that suggests the construction of theLittle Boston School house appears within the ecclesiastical society records of Lyme. Under date of January 9, 1734 we find reference to the terms and location of at least one of the schools: "Voted to keep schoole 1/2 of ye year and to keep it in two places-keep the school three months in the school house(location not given) and 3 months on the west side shall be sett: midway between Dea. Thomas Lee and Quality Smiths in the highway." This is presumed to be the Little Boston School and it's |  |
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former location on Route #156 near the entrance to Connecticut Correctional Institution. By 1744 a vote directed that school should be held in 3 places for 3 months in each place:"...at the schoole house near Elisha Millers (presumably at Niantic Hill) and 3 months near John Champlins and 3 months Mr.Stephen Beckwiths..."(Chendali, East Lyme: Our Town and How It Grew pg. 130) | |
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