Lyme - There is much in this town, part of one of the country's earliest settlements, that reflects its history and New England's roots, pointed out local archivist Carolyn Bacdayan.

Along the Connecticut River, Lyme is home to centuries-old houses, natural environs with coves and acres of forest and farmland, and a trove of preserved artifacts and documents.

"We have an ability from our area to see and feel things that are from the earliest part of our country's development," said Bacdayan in an interview at her Lyme home.

And Bacdayan, who recently became Lyme's town historian, wants to help share that past.

Bacdayan created the Lyme Local History Archives of the Lyme Public Hall Association and will soon oversee the archives in a more accessible venue at the newly constructed library. She has long acted as the town's de facto historian.

In stepping up to the official position, Bacdayan will become the town's third historian since the enactment of a 1987 state law that encouraged municipalities to appoint a town historian to preserve the community's history.

The late Elizabeth Plimpton, who acted as municipal historian from 1988 to 1992, amassed a collection of early documents, later donated to the archives. The late Hiram Maxim, who served the town until 2008, wrote newsletters and developed in-depth reports on the origins of homes in town.

Bacdayan said she is honored to be the town historian, an extension of her existing role in the community that she hopes will raise awareness of the accessibility of the archives.

History at Lyme's center

Bacdayan, a former history teacher, said she enjoys having visitors and researchers at the Lyme Public Hall, which hosts the local archives and exhibits, such as a recent event on Lyme's quilts.

The archives attract both researchers, from as far as California and Oregon, and local residents, who peruse photographs, early maps, books with vital statistics, newspaper clippings and original documents, from accounting books to contracts. Bacdayan said one of her favorite aspects of hosting visitors and researchers at the archives is that she often learns from them as well.

Her appointment to town historian was met with applause from residents at the Lyme's annual town meeting in May, where First Selectman Ralph Eno praised Bacdayan for her work on behalf of the town.

In an interview, Eno said the selectmen felt Bacdayan has a unique skill set and has contributed to the town by writing cover articles for town reports and being primarily responsible for the Lyme Public Hall Archives for years.

"She was a natural fit, and we're just delighted she decided to do it," said Eno.

Bacdayan has been involved with the archives since their inception and is well-known by residents as approachable, an asset which makes residents willing to come up to her and also share items that could be of interest to the town's local archives, he said.

Her new position comes at a time when the Lyme Local History Archives, an entity of the Lyme Public Hall Association, will move this fall from the public hall building down the road to the new Lyme Public Library.

"It will be in an area that is at the center of town activity," Bacdayan said about the archives collection.

Within one building, library patrons will now be able to not only read about history in books, but also access original documents.

"Having the Lyme Public Hall Archives located in the new library will be a great help in assisting patrons in finding local history and genealogy information," said Theresa Conley, the director of the Lyme Public Library, in an email interview. "The Library's local history collection has been limited for many years by space considerations, and the Archives will provide a wealth of information that was not previously accessible within our building. With both collections in the same building, patrons will no longer have to travel to access the information they seek."

Lyme roots

Bacdayan resides with her husband, Albert, in their 1740 Sterling City home, adorned with local paintings and a garden full of organic produce. She retired to Lyme after serving as a director of planning at the University of Kentucky's teaching hospital.

Bacdayan's mother was a Sterling, a well-known local family whose progenitor, William Sterling, is buried in the Sterling Cemetery in town. The home, in which Bacdayan resides, is the former residence of Sarah Sterling, a family friend of Bacdayan's parents.

While Bacdayan grew up in New Haven, her family visited Lyme during vacations and holidays, and Bacdayan enjoyed time at Lake Uncas and the Hamburg Fair.

Bacdayan said her family instilled in her an appreciation of history by taking the time to learn about the history of each place they visited and talking about their family genealogies. History continues to be her passion.

"Carolyn is an invaluable asset to our community," Conley said. "She has painstakingly compiled a unique record of Lyme's history over the years and has expertise in the preservation of archival materials. Her vast knowledge and passion for Lyme history are evident to all who know her."

k.drelich@theday.com

Twitter: @KimberlyDrelich