Changes in Architectural Styles

Within the last twenty-five years there have been several efforts to survey and document  Lyme’s historic houses. In 1976 the Lyme Bicentennial Commission produced a map showing the standing pre-Revolutionary period houses. In 1980 a survey was initiated by the Connecticut Historical Commission which documented structure, age, historical and architectural significance of 115 houses built before 1850. The late Municipal Historian, Hiram Maxim, researched Lyme Land Records for the ownership history of 75 homes built before 1850. The most recent undertaking was in 2010 when architectural historian, James Sexton, produced the “Town of Lyme Cultural Resources Survey”. A combined  total of 280 houses, a few barns and public buildings in Lyme built before 1951 is now documented.

Both the “Town of Lyme Cultural Resources Survey” and Maxim’s house research reports are available at the Lyme Local History Archives.

A chart of the oldest houses in Lyme, by date, location and architectural style, is downloadable below. Data are from James Sexton’s 2010 Survey which considered the  1981 survey and Maxim’s research in his findings. The survey funding did not afford completion for all parts of town; thus some old houses may not appear on the chart. It is hoped that future funding will be sought to complete the Survey.

Click here, Oldest Houses of Lyme, CT chart. (It opens in Excel—Rows 2 and 3 are blank). To view a PDF copy of the Oldest Houses list, click here.