The existence of one John Reed in Lyme is established by Burr (pp.137, 157) and he did own land "at the place commonly known by the name of Eight Mile River near unto _?_ the landing place" in 1708 (LLR 2/363), but the exact location is not clear.
The newspaper article apparently was based on Harding's two books and Harding may have known of the above references, although he gives no sources. The Lyme Library librarian and the Lyme Town Clerk believe that Harding mixed imagination with his history.
LLR 25/308, 24/505. In the cases of all properties, at about the year 1800 the last grantor fails to appear in the grantee index, or the last grantor is listed in the grantee index with so many entries that it is impractical to check that all, or the last grantor was a group, suggesting acquisition by probate, and the group is not listed in the grantee index.
LLR 22/213.
The painting is signed George F. Bottume but is not dated. As Bottume had a studio in nearby Norwich, Connecticut in the 1850s, it may date from that decade. Bottume was primarily a portraitist but produced some landscapes. The remark about him that "He paints rapidly, having nearly completed some of his best pictures in a single day..." is not reassuring with respect to the question of the accuracy of his Hamburg Bridge scene See French, p.136.
LLR 31/495. According to local tradition, this structure was moved to Route 156 and is now part of the house on lot No. 34.
Because of its gravel and rock bottom, local residents along the river consider it to be unlikely that the water ever was deeper. One older resident cites the fact that the depth has not changed during his lifetime which spans the 20th century.
According to local tradition, the 2-1/2-story section of the store was moved to Route 156 at the end of Joshuatown Road where it is now the rear section of a house.
Trowbridge, p. 411.
Kelly, p. 72. The other example was the Tuttle House in West Hartford.
Trowbridge, p. 411.
Conversation March 12, 1981 with Les Cone, lifelong resident of Lyme who received the information from his grandmother, a Bigelow.
References
Joan Chandler Burr, comp. & ed., Lyme Records, 1667-1730, Stonington: Pequot Press, 1968.
H.W. French, Art and Artists in Connecticut, New York: Kennedy Graphics, 1970 (reprint of 1879 first edition).
James E. Harding, Lyme As It Was and Is, Lyme Bicentennial Commission, 1975.
James E. Harding, Lyme Yesterday, Stonington: Pequot Press, 1967.
May Hall James, The Educational History of Old Lyme, Connecticut, 1635-1935, New Haven: Yale University of the New Haven Colony Historical Society, 1939.
J. Frederick Kelly, Early Domestic Architecture of Connecticut, New York: Dover Publications, 1963 (reprint of 1924 first edition).
James Moran, The Gazette (Old Lyme), October 26, 1978, 2:1.
Bertha Chadwick Trowbridge, ed., Old Houses of Connecticut, New Haven: Yale University Press, 1923.
Water and Water Rights, A Treatise on the Law of Water and Allied Problems, Indianapolis, Allen Smith Co., 1973.
‡ Adapted From: David F. Ransom, Architectural Historian and John Herzan, Connecticut Historical Commission, Hamburg Bridge Historic District, Lyme, CT, nomination document, 1981, National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places, Washington, D.C.
Street Names
Joshuatown Road • Old Hamburg Road