Old Lyme
Connecticut
Town of Old Lyme
Old Lyme was set off from Saybrook, which is on the west bank of the river mouth, on February 13, 1665. Old Lyme occupies about 27 square miles of shoreline, tidal marsh, inland wetlands and forested hills. Our neighbor to the north is the Town of Lyme; to the east, East Lyme.
Our town hosts a number of small service businesses and a growing number of high technology design and production companies. We have become a bedroom community for people who work in New London, Groton, New Haven, Hartford, and even outside Connecticut Many residents work at General Dynamics Electric Boat and Pfizer, Inc., or with numerous spin-off businesses associated with the U.S. Navy.
The 14 weeks of summer bring seasonal residents and visitors to more than double our year-round population. The town's famous public beach on Long Island Sound is Sound View. Old Lyme is also home to a lakefront park (Rogers Lake at Hains Park), and several smaller parks and boat landings on the Connecticut River and tidal estuaries.
The town is part of the Lyme-Old Lyme Regional District #18, which consists of three elementary schools, a middle school, and high school. The town is also home to the LymeAcademy College of Fine Arts, an accredited college which draws on the roots of the town as a center for Barbizon and, later, American Impressionism painting at the turn of the century.
Miss Florence Griswold first opened her doors in 1899 to a group of artists known as the Lyme Art Colony: Childe Hassam, Henry Ward Ranger, Willard Metcalf and others. Today, the Florence Griswold Museum's doors are open to the public for a wide range of educational programs and nationally recognized exhibitions.
Our community has a strong commitment to volunteerism, evidenced by dedicated fire and ambulance departments, Friends of the Library, town boards and commissions, and community organizations such as High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, the Lymes' Youth Services Bureau, Lyme Art Association, Lyme Historical Society, Chamber of Commerce, Lyme Art Association, active Girl and Boy Scout programs; the Masons, Lions, Junior Women, and garden clubs, among others. Memorials in the Old Lyme Memorial Town Hall pay tribute to residents who served in the armed forces during two World Wars and the Korean and Vietnam conflicts.
The year 2000 was a banner year for Old Lyme. The Roger Tory Peterson Wildlife Area at Great Island was dedicated in honor of the late naturalist/artist. Elisabeth Gordon Chandler, sculptor and founder of the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, was a recipient of the prestigious Governor's Arts Award in 2000. And our Lyme/Old Lyme Little League Team won the State championship and came within one game of capturing the New England title.
Old Lyme's new Town Seal, designed in 2000 by Old Lyme resident and Lyme Academy of Fine Arts student Catherine Christiano, pays tribute to the characteristics that make Old Lyme unique: the influence of Roger Tory Peterson is represented by an osprey; our history as both a sea captains' hometown and an artist colony are represented by a sailing ship and a palette.
Recent News
Town of Old Lyme Unveils Municipal Website Upgrade
An improved user experience is the driver for a newly updated Town of Old Lyme website being unveiled Tuesday afternoon, February 14. Visitors to the existing www.oldlyme-ct.gov site will automatically see the new site, once unveiled. The website…
Read More »Town of Old Lyme Weekly Update From The First Selectman - February 10, 2023
Feb. 14, 2023: Beginning Tuesday afternoon, our Town website will have a different look. A team at Town Hall has been hard at work with our website host, CivicPlus, to upgrade and improve our existing site. Although the website will have at the…
Read More »Town of Old Lyme - Titanic Exhibit Trip
Join the Lymes' Senior Center for a great trip to see a limited-time Titanic exhibition in NYC! We will leave from the Lymes’ Senior Center at 7:15 a.m. on April 5th. Please sign up before Wednesday, February 15th as we need to make sure we…
Read More »Town Of Old Lyme : Weekly Update From The First Selectman - February 3, 2023
Governor Ned Lamont announced that, due to a weather forecast indicating that Connecticut will experience extremely cold air and strong winds, he is directing the state’s severe cold weather protocol to go into effect beginning at 12:00 p.m.…
Read More »Town of Old Lyme Weekly Update from the First Selectman: January 27, 2023
CITIZEN OF THE YEAR & ANNUAL TOWN REPORT During the Annual Town Meeting on January 23rd, we announced our 2022 Citizen of the Year - the talented Edie Twining. Edie is an active volunteer who has served the Town for many years. She is Chair of…
Read More »Town of Old Lyme Weekly Update from the First Selectman: January 20, 2023
Please help us welcome Amy Bonatti as our new Social Services Coordinator. She started in this part-time position this week, and can be reached at 860-434-1605 ext. 228. The Town Clerk’s office is happy to report that Cott Systems, Inc., our…
Read More »Town of Old Lyme Weekly Update from the First Selectman - December 30, 2022
After enduring that nasty span of cold weather, we are enjoying basking in the warm temps now. It should help us ring in the New Year. Please be advised that, because New Year’s Day falls on Sunday, the Federal holiday will be on Monday and…
Read More »Town of Old Lyme Weekly Update from the First Selectman - December 23, 2022
Wow – what a weather pattern. The high tide and the southeast wind are causing local flooding – even the Duck River is flooding McCurdy Rd. at the bridge! At least we didn’t have widespread power outages. Please be aware that…
Read More »Town Of Old Lyme : Weekly Update From The First Selectman - December 8, 2022
Recognizing our Champions of Recycling Old Lyme’s Solid Waste & Recycling Committee welcomes town residents to stop by the Thank You reception for TREX volunteers and other local Champions of Recycling TONIGHT, Dec. 8, from 4 – 6…
Read More »Town Of Old Lyme : Weekly Update From The First Selectman - November 18, 2022
Holiday Closings Please note that the Town Hall and the transfer station will be closed on Thursday, November 24, and Friday, November 25, for the Thanksgiving holiday. The transfer station will be open regular hours on Saturday, November 26.…
Read More »Town Of Old Lyme : Weekly Update From The First Selectman - October 28, 2022
November 8 is Election Day For more information on the November 8 state election and Regional School District referendum, please refer to this new election information page on our website. The Old Lyme Ambulance Association has a job opening for…
Read More »Town of Old Lyme Weekly Update From The First Selectman - October 21, 2022
Help Wanted The Lymes’ Senior Center is looking to hire a part time assistant to the director. More details here. Deadline to submit application materials is Wednesday, October 26. Drug Take Back Day Turn in your unused or expired medication…
Read More »Town of Old Lyme - Weekly Update From The First Selectma
Halls Road Improvements Committee Update Please check out the Halls Road Improvements Committee’s page on the Town website to read their latest update. In addition, you can read the Halls Road Overlay District Proposal and view the…
Read More »Town of Old Lyme Weekly Update From The First Selectman - October 7, 2022
Holiday Closing Town Hall, the Lymes’ Senior Center, and the Transfer Station will be closed on Monday, October 10, in observance of the Columbus Day holiday. Free Flu Shots Saturday, October 22, 2022, for Lyme & Old Lyme residents 18…
Read More »Town of Old Lyme Weekly Update From The First Selectman - August 19, 2022
Weekly Update from the First Selectman - August 19, 2022 We have received several emails about Fall soccer sign ups. Fall Youth Soccer registration for pre-k (ages 3-4) through grade 5 is taking place now until September 2nd. You can register at…
Read More »Town of Lyme - Weekly Update from the First Selectman July 29, 2022
Tonight marks the start of Old Lyme’s Midsummer Festival! Whether you love music, art, running/walking, crafts, food trucks, or dog shows, there is something for everyone to enjoy during this family-friendly event. To view the full list of…
Read More »Town of Old Lyme Weekly Update From The First Selectman - July 22, 2022
Old Lyme’s Midsummer Festival is fast approaching! The festival will kick off with a free concert at 7 PM on the lawn at the Florence Griswold Museum on Friday, July 29th featuring the Mighty Soul Drivers. They will bring the classic Soul…
Read More »Town of Lyme - Weekly Update From The First Selectman May 20, 2022
The Open Space Commission held a special meeting on Monday, May 16th to discuss the Town’s property at 36-1 Buttonball Road. The Chairs of the Harbor Management Commission and Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission called in to the…
Read More »Town of Old Lyme - Calling all Alumni
Alumni Membership Group Dear Alumni of Lyme Academy of Fine Arts and/or Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, In early September 2021, the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts officially reopened with a renewed dedication to the mission of its founder, the…
Read More »Town of Lyme - Weekly Update from the First Selectman April 29, 2022
Today, April 29th, is the 150th celebration of Arbor Day. The Town’s Tree Commission celebrated one day earlier by planting three trees on the Sill Lane/Lyme Street Town Green. The trees (Black Gum, Columnar Cherry, and Japanese Tree Lilac)…
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