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 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 house stayed in the Avery family until 1877. Then, William H. Smith bought it. Later, his brother Herman W. Smith and nephew Frank A. Harris managed the farm. In 1900, they both married sisters, Lula and Florence Munger, and lived in the house together.
In 1955, the house was sold to the Town of East Lyme. The Munger sisters continued to live there until they needed a nursing home. Local citizens saved the house from being torn down and helped restore it. On July 3, 1976, it opened as a historic house museum. It is now run by the Smith–Harris House Commission and the Friends of Smith–Harris House. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 22, 1979.
Contents
A Look Back: The House's Story
The Smith–Harris House might have been built on the site of an older home. The Avery family had lived in this area since at least 1751. Abraham Avery, Jonathan Avery's son, brought together the land that became the farm.
Records and an old newspaper found in a wall suggest the house was 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.
By the 1890s, William H. Smith's younger brother, Herman W. Smith, and his nephew, Frank A. Harris, were running the farm. In 1900, both Herman and Frank married sisters, Lula and Florence Munger. They all lived together in the house. In 1921, William H. Smith officially gave the house to his brother and nephew.
William H. Smith passed away in 1951. His widow and Frank Harris, just before he died, sold the house and its 103 acres of land to East Lyme for $34,000. The two widows continued to live in the house until they moved to a nursing home. The land was used as a farm by the Avery family. It included a dairy farm and cattle. The Harris family also continued the dairy farm. Later, parts of the land were used to build Interstate 95. Two East Lyme schools, East Lyme Middle School and Lillie B. Haines Elementary School, were also built on the land.
What the House Looks Like
The Smith–Harris House is a two-and-a-half-story building. It is covered with horizontal wooden boards called clapboards. The front of the house has a triangular shape at the top, called a pedimented gable. This is a common feature of Greek Revival style homes.
The main part of the house is about 23 by 45 feet. There is also a smaller, one-story kitchen wing. The original clapboard siding is still on the house. The front of the house has three sections, which is typical for its style. The main entrance has decorative flat columns called pilasters on each side. The entrance porch you see today is not the original one. It was replaced during the restoration, based on old photographs.
The house's foundation is made from large granite slabs found nearby. It also has a full basement. The square windows in the gable (the triangular part of the roof) have small glass panes. Most of the windows still have their original double-hung sashes. These are windows where both the top and bottom parts can slide up and down. The kitchen wing has a roof that slopes down on one side, called a lean-to roof. During the restoration, an open porch was added, replacing an older section. The roof is covered with cedar shingles.
Inside, when you enter, you find a stair hall. The stairs are on the right, and a door to the living room, called a parlor, is on the left. At the back of the stairwell, there is another room that connects to a side room and the kitchen. The kitchen has access to other rooms, a back door, and a separate pantry. The inside of the house shows the clean lines and moldings typical of the Greek Revival style. The fireplace has a simple mantelpiece. The walls are plain and plastered. The back chimney was rebuilt to meet fire safety rules. It now includes a large bake oven, just like the original. The second floor is similar to the first, but the back rooms are now bedrooms. Some of the wood used for the attic stairs might have come from an older house on the property.
Visiting the Museum
After the last widows living in the house passed away, the house was closed up. Sadly, it was damaged by vandals many times. The Town of East Lyme thought about tearing the house down. But, local citizens spoke up and successfully asked for it to be saved and restored.
The Smith–Harris House officially opened as a historic house museum on July 3, 1976. During its restoration, artists from the Connecticut Society of Decorative Painters added special murals. These murals are painted in the style of an artist named Rufus Porter. The museum's website explains that these murals show visitors a popular decorating style from the mid-1800s. They are not meant to be exactly what was in the house back then.
Today, the Smith–Harris House Commission, which is a group created by the town, takes care of the property. They work with the Friends of Smith–Harris House. The house is open to visitors from June through August. You can also visit at other times of the year by making an appointment. The Smith–Harris House was added to the National Register of Historic 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
