East Lyme — The town voted Wednesday to purchase the Samuel Smith house.

The town voted in favor of appropriating $425,000 from a capital nonrecurring fund to purchase the property on 82 Plants Dam Road.

Any sales or grants the town receives for the property will be used to reimburse the fund. The town is applying for a historic preservation grant to pay for part of the purchase.

First Selectman Paul Formica has said the 17th century house is of historical significance to the to the community.

The Niantic Sportsmen's Club previously said it would buy 9½ acres of the property for $125,000 to use as a buffer zone.