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About BROOKSIDE FARM MUSEUM, Friends of

Location:

33 Society Road, New London, CT 06320, US

Mission Statement

The Brookside Farm Museum is the town museum for the Town of East Lyme. It presents the household and agricultural history of East Lyme during its 100 year period from 1854-1954 when it operated as a 130-acre dairy farm. Today, the house and grounds are preserved and maintained as an educational and event space for the people of the region to enjoy. The Friends of Brookside Farm Museum exists to support and help maintain the Brookside Farm Museum.

Description

On July 3, 1976, the Smith-Harris House was dedicated as a town museum in East Lyme, CT. The Greek Revival style farmhouse is believed to have been built in 1845 for Thomas Avery and his bride, Elizabeth Brace Griswold. In 2018, members of the Commission and the Friends of the Smith-Harris House, requested and received approval by the Town Selectmen to change the name of the Commission and ultimately the house to Brookside Farm Museum, which better aligned with a recent strategic plan and renewed vision.

On June 8, 2019, members of the Brookside Farm Commission and Friends of the Brookside Farm Museum revealed their new logo to members of the East Lyme Community.

While it is on the National Register of Historic Houses as the Thomas Avery House, the Avery family eventually sold the property to William H. H. Smith, a distant cousin, who in turn, sold it to his brother Herman Smith and nephew Frank Harris in 1921. These gentlemen, married to sisters Lula and Florence Munger, ran a dairy farm on the property for many years known as Brookside Farm.

Today, Brookside Farm Museum offers an historical and educational view of agricultural and domestic life from 1845-1955. Managed by the Brookside Farm Museum Commission and the Friends of Brookside Farm Museum, a variety of events are offered throughout the year that convey the family stories of the people who resided in the house and worked the farm. Rotating exhibits are also displayed to demonstrate agricultural history in Southeastern Connecticut during this time period.