Archives Posts – Lyme Public Hall & Local History Archives

Archives Blog

Special Awards Celebrated at the New Year’s Day Festivities

February 2, 2026

The Lyme Public Hall and Local History Archives rang in 2026 by recognizing longtime contributors Bill Denow and Ann Brubaker at our traditional New Year’s Day celebration. First Selectwoman Christy Zelek was with us to help bestow our highest honors to these two special LPHLHA members. Bill Denow received the Public Hall’s merit award for Major Donors, in his case recognizing not only financial support but specifically his extraordinary contributions of time, care and energy.

We remember past President Ruth Young

December 30, 2025

Our condolences to the family and friends of Ruth Elizabeth Young of Beaver Brook Rd., who died on December 9 at age 99. Ruth taught grades 4-6 at Lyme Consolidated School and Lyme Old Lyme Middle School for 30 years. She was President of the Lyme Public Hall in the 1990’s, President of Grassy Hill Church in Lyme, and was a fierce advocate for the initial construction of the Lymes’ Senior Center, subsequently serving as

Thanks to All for a Successful 2025 Chowder Dinner!

November 21, 2025

Thank you to everyone who came out to enjoy our traditional Chowder Dinner in early November! We served over 100 dinners over the course of the evening to many happy friends and neighbors, many of whom lingered to talk and enjoy the evening together. Much appreciation also for our brigade of generous volunteers: chopping potatoes, onions, garlic and assorted veggies, baking apple crisps, helping to set up the Hall and serving line, ladling out chowder

Lyme in World War II Discussion with Rowland Ballek, Les Cone, Bill Hawthorne, Lee Rhodes and Audrey Wayland

July 30, 2025

On Wednesday, June 15 the Lyme Public Hall hosted a very special evening with invited guests Rowland Ballek, Les Cone, Bill Hawthorne, Lee Rhodes and Audrey Wayland, who discussed memories of growing up in Lyme during the years of World War II. What was it like to be a young person, on the home front, going to school together and experiencing the local events of those memorable years? If you missed this fascinating conversation, moderated

Notice anything unusual driving by the Public Hall lately?

December 28, 2024

If you drive frequently along Route 156 through Hamburg Cove, you may have noticed some unusual equipment in the driveway of the Public Hall recently: a large dumpster and a temporary storage unit parked in front of our Undercroft garage doors. What has been going on? Long-time member and valued volunteer Bill Denow had noticed some cracks and the start of some slight bowing of the concrete block walls of the Hall’s foundation. These walls

New Donation from Parker and Diana Lord offers glimpse into Belle Lord’s life & wit in 1913

August 26, 2024

Here’s a peek into a box (one of six) of Ely and Lord family photographs, diaries, letters and other goodies donated to the Lyme Local Archives in August 2024 by Parker and Diana Lord! This box is filled with materials related to Isabel “Belle” Ely Lord (1871-1959). She’s second from the right in the photo. Belle appears to have been quite the character, keeping a detailed record of every book she read and producing yearly

Thank you to Essex Bank Members for 2024 Voting in Community Investment Program!

June 24, 2024

The Essex Savings Bank has distributed funds from a $120,000 charitable budget to 84 local charities participating in its Community Investment Program according to the wishes of bank customers, expressed through ballots in a February promotion. Customers were able to select up to three charities on their ballots, and the bank tallied up the votes to determine what percent of the funds each organization would receive. We are pleased to report that the Lyme Public

Artist Thomas W. Nason’s home on Joshuatown Road in Lyme

April 6, 2024

One of the advantages of living in a former artists’ colony is that these creatives have left their stamp on a number of local houses. One is the famous wood engraver and printer Thomas W. Nason’s custom built home at 282 Joshuatown Road. We know a lot about this house, designed by accomplished local architect Alberta Pfeiffer in 1938, because former owner Charles L. Hatton recently donated original correspondence, photographs, and other materials to our

Wishing you had saved that old Lyme-Old Lyme High School Yearbook? We can help.

January 23, 2024

The Lyme Local History Archive now has Lyme-Old Lyme High School yearbooks from 1958 through 1998! Gloria M. Maddocks, the Principal’s secretary for 42 years, originally collected these yearbooks, which were generously donated by her nephew, Peter Evankow. Gloria clearly had a close connection with the students, writing each graduating class a congratulatory letter (some of which were found tucked into their respective yearbooks). Thanks to Gloria and Peter, anyone who wants to look up

Tiffany Farm photo features Leon Tiffany using latest technology

December 29, 2023

Archives don’t just store physical documents; they also take responsibility for digital items like this fabulous scan given by the Tiffany family. In this striking image Leon H. Tiffany, Sr. (1903-1982) surveys the iconic outline of Tiffany Farms from his tractor, while holding the microphone of a Vocaline JRC 400 radio transceiver also known as an AM radio telephone or, in modern parlance, a CB radio. That radio came out in 1956, helping to date