Old Lyme - Connecticut Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

As early as the 1640's settlers from Saybrook cleared and planted land on the east side of Conneticut River in what is now Old Lyme. The first recorded grant of land, in 1649 was to Matthew Griswold in the Black Hall quarter. By 1665 the inhabitants on the east bank. "...desiring to be a plantation by themselves: doe declare that they have a competency of Lands to entertaine thirty families". and agreed with those on the west bank upon a "loving parting" by which a separate community was established. Two years later the General Court of Connecticut ordered that "...ye Plantation on ye East side ye River over agt Say-brooke for ye future named Lyme." The settlement, some eighty square miles, included the present towns of Old Lyme, East Lyme, Lyme, and part of Salem. The General Court gave consent to Lyme in 1678 to found a church society, which was not formally organized for fifteen years.

Meeting House Hill, east of Duck River, was the site of two 17th century meetinghouses and one of the 18th. Samuel Belcher designed a fourth, built 1817, to face the green at the south end of Lyme Street. After it burned in 1907, a replica became as favored a subject for artists as was the original. Seaborne trade began in 1650 with exportation of barrel staves on the ship TRYALL, starting a lucrative commerce with the West Indies. In the 19th century Lyme was divided into four towns renamed Old Lyme two years late. From a summer colony of artists at the turn of this century evolved the Lyme School of Art, the Lyme Art Association, and the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts. Nearby on Lyme Street stands the Florence Griswold House of 1817., which lodged the artists and is now the headquarters of the Lyme Historical Society, where many of their works may be seen.


Old Lyme is a community of some 8000 permanent residents and an additional several thousand seasonal visitors who occupy a shoreline complex of summer residences. Located on the east bank of the mouth of the Connecticut River where it meets Long Island Sound, the town is marked by independence, volunteering, and a long-standing commitment to the arts. Fine examples of Colonial and Federal architecture line our main streets and winding country roads.


The Town of Old Lyme is governed by a Town Meeting -- Board of Selectmen structure. The spending agencies submit their requests to the Selectmen who then bring a budget proposal first to the Board of Finance and then to the Town Meeting. The Board of Finance sets the mill rate. The education budget is controlled by the Regional School District # 18 Board of Education, which includes elected representatives from both Old Lyme and Lyme, our neighbor to the north. Old Lyme does not operate under its own charter. We conduct our business in accordance with Connecticut State Statute Law.

Marker Name: Old Lyme Marker Type: In front of the Old Lyme town hall Date Dedicated / Placed: 1979 Additional Information: Not listed

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