Connecting Old Lyme’s Past with the Present
The History of the Establishment of the Old Lyme Historical Society, Inc.
Mission
THE MISSION of the Old Lyme Historical Society is to collect, preserve, interpret, and promote the rich history of Old Lyme and its environs for the benefit of residents and visitors.
In 2005 the Old Lyme Historical Society, Inc. (OLHSI) was established as a 501(c)3 non-profit to "collect, preserve, interpret and promote the rich history of Old Lyme" for the benefit of present and future generations.
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In the early years we had no building. The Society held events and "office hours" at Memorial Town Hall, the Lyme-Old Lyme Seniors' Center, the Old Lyme Grange, Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, and the Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library. The Board met at the homes of fellow Trustees, where our Archives were stored as well. We published a number of books on local history that have been well received. Among these was a work inspired by a painted stage curtain at the Old Lyme Grange that, in typical 1920s fashion, advertised local businesses. Carolyn Wakeman's The Charm of the Place (2011) is a wealth of local lore and a walk down Lyme Street in the 1920s.
Our membership grew and so did our Archives, thanks to the generosity of local donors. The Society began to look for a permanent home. In the summer of 2013, the Old Lyme Grange No. 162 had decided to turn in its charter and close. Their Steward, Norm Stitham, asked if OLHSI would like to buy their building at 55 Lyme Street. Our then Co-Chairs Tim Griswold and Mark Lander recommended a firm "yes!" By 2014 a successful capital campaign and some bridge loans from friends of the Society allowed OLHSI to buy the building we now call home.
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There was plenty of work to do to restore and update the former Grange and adapt it to the needs of the Historical Society. Over the course of ten years our volunteer “Tuesday Morning Work Crew” with the help of other local skilled trades has transformed the building into what it is today. What had been the kitchen and dining
hall in the basement is now a climate-controlled archive and reading room. An acoustic dropped ceiling in the main meeting hall was removed to reveal the original beadboard ceiling, now restored to its former beauty. We had the "grand drape" stage curtain professionally restored. Again, with the help of local donors, in 2019 we made the building wheelchair accessible with the installation of a lift.
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Our Archive continues to grow, and the work of accessioning, cataloguing, and making its contents easily searchable goes on apace. In addition to objects and documents, our Archive also holds our Oral Histories, first-hand accounts of life in Old Lyme. We continue to publish works about Old Lyme and its area, hold lectures and events at 55 Lyme Street, and participate in town events. We welcome new members and look forward to meeting all who share our love of Old Lyme's history.