Thomas Avery House

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name =Thomas Avery House

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caption =
location = East Lyme, Connecticut
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lat_direction = N
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long_direction = W
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built = 1845
architect =
architecture = Greek Revival
added = August 22, 1979
refnum =79002637
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governing_body = [http://www.smithharris.org Friends of the Smith-Harris House]

As a private home

The Thomas Avery House, also known as the Smith-Harris House, is a historic home on Society Road in East Lyme, Connecticut. It sits on property that is adjacent to the East Lyme Library and Community Center and East Lyme Middle School.

It is believed to have been built as a wedding gift for Thomas Avery and Elizabeth Griswold. [http://www.smithharris.org/house.htm#1845] The house was home to two generations of the Avery family, then sold to William H. H. Smith, who sold it to his brother and nephew, Herman Smith and Frank Harris. It is this transaction that gave the house its alternate name, the Smith-Harris House. It is by this name that it is locally known.

The wives of Smith and Harris, sisters born Lulu and Florence Munger, lived in the home for many years after their husbands' deaths.

As a museum

In 1974, after years of being boarded up and neglected, the town of East Lyme purchased the home. It was saved from demolition by a group of citizens who restored the house. It was officially dedicated as a museum on July 3, 1976. [http://www.smithharris.org/house.htm#1845]

The house is now open to the public on weekends during the summer months, and by appointment at other times. Admission is free. [http://www.smithharris.org/tours.htm] On the property is a small herb garden and a nature trail.

External Links

* [http://www.discovereastlyme.com/things_smith.php East Lyme Tourism]
* [http://www.smithharris.org Official Site]