Smith–Harris House (East Lyme, Connecticut) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Thomas Avery House
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| Location | 33 Society Road, East Lyme, Connecticut |
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| Built | 1845/1846 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002637 |
| Added to NRHP | August 22, 1979 |
The Smith–Harris House, also known as the Thomas Avery House, is a historic home in East Lyme, Connecticut. It is a two-and-a-half-story house covered with overlapping wooden boards, built in the Greek Revival style. This means it looks a bit like ancient Greek temples.
People believe the house was built in 1845 or 1846. It was a wedding gift for Thomas Avery and Elizabeth Griswold. The Avery family owned the house until 1877. Then, William H. Smith bought it. Later, his brother Herman W. Smith and nephew Frank A. Harris managed the farm.
In 1955, the house was sold to the Town of East Lyme. Citizens worked hard to save it from being torn down. They helped restore it to its original look. On July 3, 1976, the house opened as a historic house museum. It is now cared for by the Smith–Harris House Commission and the Friends of Smith–Harris House. The house is open from June through August. You can also visit it at other times by making an appointment. The Smith–Harris House was added to the National Historic Register of Places on August 22, 1979.
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A Look at the Smith–Harris House History
It is thought that another house stood on this spot before the Smith–Harris House was built. The Avery family lived in this area since at least 1751. Jonathan Avery's son, Abraham, brought together the land that became the farm. The house was likely built in 1845 or 1846. It was a special wedding gift for Thomas Avery and Elizabeth Griswold. The Avery family owned the house until 1877. That year, they sold it to William H. Smith.
How the Smith–Harris Farm Changed Hands
By the 1890s, William H. Smith's younger brother, Herman W. Smith, and his nephew, Frank A. Harris, managed the farm. In 1900, Herman married Lula Munger, and Frank married Florence Munger. Lula and Florence were sisters. Both couples lived in the house. William H. Smith gave the house to his brother and nephew in 1921.
William H. Smith passed away in 1951. His widow and Frank Harris, shortly before his own death, sold the house and its 103 acres of land to the Town of East Lyme. They sold it for $34,000. The two widows continued to live in the house until they moved to a nursing home.
The Farm's Role and Later Use
The land was used as a farm by the Avery family. They had a dairy farm and raised cattle. The Harris family continued to operate the dairy farm. Later, parts of the land were used for other things. Interstate 95 was built on some of the land. Two East Lyme schools were also built there. These schools are East Lyme Middle School and Lillie B. Haines Elementary School.
Exploring the House Design
The Smith–Harris House is a two-and-a-half-story house. It is covered with clapboards, which are overlapping wooden boards. The front of the house has a triangular roof section called a pedimented gable. The main part of the house is about 23 by 45 feet. There is also a smaller, single-story kitchen wing that is about 10 feet long.
Outside Features of the Home
The house still has its original clapboard siding. The front of the house has a common three-bay design. This means it has three sections with windows or doors. The main entrance has flat, decorative columns called pilasters. These columns have square, carved panels around the door frame. The front porch is not the original one. It was replaced during the restoration. Its design came from old photographs of the house.
The foundation of the house is made from granite slabs found nearby. It also has a full basement. The square windows in the gable have small glass panes. These panes are held in place by thin wooden strips called muntins. Most windows still have their original double-hung sashes with six panes over six panes. The only exceptions are the rear windows on the second floor. The one-story kitchen wing has a pitched lean-to roof. This is a simple roof that slopes in one direction. Another part of the restoration was an open porch. This porch replaced an older extension of the house. When the house was nominated for the National Historic Register, its gable roof was covered with cedar shingles. This was also part of the restoration.
Inside the Smith–Harris House
When you enter the house, you step into the stairhall. The stairs are on the right side. A doorway on the left leads to the parlor, which is like a living room. The back of the stairwell leads to another room. This room connects to a side room on the left and then to the kitchen. The kitchen has access to other rooms, a back entrance, and a back stairway. It also has a separate pantry in the rear wing.
The inside of the house shows the clean lines and moldings of the Greek Revival style. The fireplace has a simple mantel that sticks out from the wall. The walls are plain and covered with plaster. They also have decorative cornice moldings where the walls meet the ceiling. The back chimney was rebuilt to meet fire safety rules. However, it was made to look exactly like the original, including a large bake oven. The second floor is similar to the first floor. The back rooms on the second floor have been turned into bedrooms. Some people believe that the wooden boards used for the attic stairway and part of the attic might have come from the old extension that was replaced. This extension might have even been from an earlier house on the property.
The Smith–Harris House as a Museum
After the widows who lived in the house passed away, the house was boarded up. Sadly, it was vandalized many times. The Town of East Lyme thought about tearing the house down for other town uses. But citizens successfully asked to save and restore it.
The Smith–Harris House opened as a historic house museum on July 3, 1976. During the restoration, murals were added to the house. These murals were painted by the Connecticut Society of Decorative Painters. They are in the style of Rufus Porter, a painter from the mid-19th century. The museum's website explains that these murals show visitors a popular decorative style from that time. They are not meant to be exactly what was in the house back then.
Today, the Smith–Harris House Commission helps maintain the property. This commission was created by the town. The Friends of Smith–Harris House also help care for the property. The house is open from June through August. You can also visit it at other times by making an appointment. The Smith–Harris House was added to the National Historic Register of Places on August 22, 1979.
Gallery
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The herb garden behind house
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The barn behind house
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Another view of the house
See also
