Thomas Lee House
Encyclopedia
The Thomas Lee House in the Niantic
section of East Lyme, Connecticut
, was constructed between 1660 and 1664. It is one of the oldest wood frame houses in Connecticut still in its primitive state. The original dwelling consisted of a post and beam timber frame erected on six 2-story wall posts, with the Judgment Hall below and the Chamber above. A steeply pitched roof covered a spacious attic over the chamber. A small stone walled partial cellar pit under part of the hall was reached through a trap door. A massive fireplace with timber lintel spanned most of the west wall. Around 1700, the West Parlor and West Chamber were added as a free standing structure framed on its own four corner posts. About 1765, the lean-to with the Kitchen and its adjoining rooms were added. The West Parlor was plastered, the summer beam and chimney girt were sheathed, and the paneling formerly on the plastered walls was reused in the lean-to. New paneling, with four flute pilasters was added on the fireplace wall.
Today the house is a historic house museum operated by the East Lyme Historical Society, and furnished as it would have been in the 18th century.
Niantic, Connecticut
Niantic is a census-designated place and village in the Town of East Lyme, Connecticut in the United States. The population was 3,085 at the 2000 census....
section of East Lyme, Connecticut
East Lyme, Connecticut
East Lyme is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 18,118 at the 2000 census. The latitude of East Lyme is 41.353N...
, was constructed between 1660 and 1664. It is one of the oldest wood frame houses in Connecticut still in its primitive state. The original dwelling consisted of a post and beam timber frame erected on six 2-story wall posts, with the Judgment Hall below and the Chamber above. A steeply pitched roof covered a spacious attic over the chamber. A small stone walled partial cellar pit under part of the hall was reached through a trap door. A massive fireplace with timber lintel spanned most of the west wall. Around 1700, the West Parlor and West Chamber were added as a free standing structure framed on its own four corner posts. About 1765, the lean-to with the Kitchen and its adjoining rooms were added. The West Parlor was plastered, the summer beam and chimney girt were sheathed, and the paneling formerly on the plastered walls was reused in the lean-to. New paneling, with four flute pilasters was added on the fireplace wall.
Today the house is a historic house museum operated by the East Lyme Historical Society, and furnished as it would have been in the 18th century.
See also
- List of the oldest buildings in Connecticut
- National Register of Historic Places listings in New London County, Connecticut
External links
- Thomas Lee House and Museum - East Lyme Historical Society, official site
- Thomas Lee House, East Lyme, New London County, CT: photo and supplemental material, at Historic American Building Survey
- Thomas Lee House & Little Boston Schoolhouse - local tourism information