East Lyme, in New London County, is located in the southeastern part of the state on Long Island Sound. Formed from parts of Lyme and Waterford and incorporated as a town in 1839, East Lyme includes two villages, Flanders in the northern part of town and Niantic along the coast. Fishing, shipyards, and quarries were the major industries until the railroad came through in 1851 and East Lyme’s shoreline and beaches became attractive places for summer homes and recreation—an attribute the area still retains today. Rocky Neck State Park and a portion of Nehantic State Forest lie within East Lyme’s borders.
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Abundant Wildlife Drives the History of Rocky Neck State Park
Consisting of 710 acres of camping and recreational areas, Rocky Neck State Park is located on Long Island Sound in East Lyme. …[more]
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Places
“East Lyme Historical Society,” 2017. Link.
Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. “Nehantic State Forest,” 2016. Link.
Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. “Rocky Neck State Park,” 2016. Link.
“The Smith-Harris House,” 2016. Link.
“Thomas Lee House and Museum,” 2017. Link.
Documents
“Broadside: Black Point Is Full of Glorious Spots on Which to Build Your Cottage.” Jas. Jay Smith Co., ca. 1920s. Connecticut History Illustrated, Connecticut Historical Society. Link.
Connecticut State Library Digital Collections. “East Lyme - WPA Architectural Survey,” 2016. Link.
“East Lyme Collection.” Connecticut Digital Archive, n.d. Link.
“Map: South Part of New London Co. Connecticut - Page 188 and 189 of Town and City Atlas of the State of Connecticut.” Boston, MA: D. H. Hurd & Co., 1893. University of Connecticut Libraries - Map and Geographic Information Center - MAGIC. Link.
Books
Marshall, Benjamin Tinkham, ed. A Modern History of New London County, Connecticut. Vol. 1. New York, NY: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1922. Link.
McCain, Diana. Connecticut Coast: A Town-by-Town Illustrated History. Guilford, CT: Globe Pequot Press, 2009.
Burton, Kathryn. East Lyme. Chicago, IL: Arcadia, 2003.
Chendali, Olive. East Lyme: Our Town and How It Grew. Mystic, CT: Mystic Publications, 1989.
East Lyme Historical Society, and Jane Smith. Last of the Nehantics. East Lyme, CT: East Lyme Historical Society, 1900.