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Florence Griswold
(December 25, 1850–December 6, 1937)
Florence Griswold (1850-1937) was born on December 25, 1850. She was the daughter of Captain Robert Griswold and Helen Powers Griswold. Robert Griswold was a captain for the Black X line, which was one of the first companies of packet boats carrying both passengers and goods between NY and London. The Griswolds bought the late Georgian mansion from the widow of Richard Ely in 1841. Their first child Louise Augusta (1841-1896) was born that same year.
Another daughter Helen Adele (1844-1913) was born in 1943 and Florence’s only brother, Robert Jr. (1847-1864) was born in 1947. He died at age 17. None of the girls married so there are no direct descendants from this line.
Captain Griswold retired in 1855 and the family lived off his investments in the packet company. However, with the advent of steamships, packet boats became obsolete and the family suffered financial hardships.
In 1878 Mrs. Griswold with the help of her daughters and one teacher, opened a Home School for young ladies. They taught English, French, Greek, Latin, higher mathematics, mechanical and freehand drawing, painting, music, and French embroidery, which was a subject not taught elsewhere in the area.
Capt. Griswold died in 1882. The school closed in 1892, partly because of competition from other Home Schools in the area. The Griswolds then opened a boardinghouse, which catered to people primarily from NY who wished to spend time in the country. Adele Griswold moved to Hartford. In 1899 Mrs. Griswold died, leaving her youngest daughter, Florence, as sole owner of the house and responsible for its upkeep.
That summer Henry Ward Ranger, a NY artist who had just completed studies in Barbizon in France visited Miss Florence’s boarding house. He found the landscape of Old Lyme with its farms, woodland pastures, stone walls, Lieutenant River and salt marshes idyllic. He felt it had that elusive, hard to define light that he had found in Barbizon. He decided that Old Lyme would be the perfect setting for the American Barbizon. That was the start of the Old Lyme Art Colony, which was headquartered in this house and sustained by Miss Florence Griswold through the first third of the 20th century.
In 1913 Helen Adele died and Florence sold her land to the Lyme Art Association. The Gallery of the Lyme Art Association opened in 1921.
In 1936 Florence’s financial problems worsened. She was assigned a conservator and her house was sold to Judge McCurdy Marsh. Florence Griswold was allowed to remain in the house until her death in 1937. In 1938 there was a public auction of her belongings. In 1941 the Florence Griswold Association bought the house and 3/5 of an acre of land back from Judge Marsh. It was in 1947, that the house was first opened as a museum.
(December 25, 1850–December 6, 1937)
Florence Griswold (1850-1937) was born on December 25, 1850. She was the daughter of Captain Robert Griswold and Helen Powers Griswold. Robert Griswold was a captain for the Black X line, which was one of the first companies of packet boats carrying both passengers and goods between NY and London. The Griswolds bought the late Georgian mansion from the widow of Richard Ely in 1841. Their first child Louise Augusta (1841-1896) was born that same year.
Another daughter Helen Adele (1844-1913) was born in 1943 and Florence’s only brother, Robert Jr. (1847-1864) was born in 1947. He died at age 17. None of the girls married so there are no direct descendants from this line.
Captain Griswold retired in 1855 and the family lived off his investments in the packet company. However, with the advent of steamships, packet boats became obsolete and the family suffered financial hardships.
In 1878 Mrs. Griswold with the help of her daughters and one teacher, opened a Home School for young ladies. They taught English, French, Greek, Latin, higher mathematics, mechanical and freehand drawing, painting, music, and French embroidery, which was a subject not taught elsewhere in the area.
Capt. Griswold died in 1882. The school closed in 1892, partly because of competition from other Home Schools in the area. The Griswolds then opened a boardinghouse, which catered to people primarily from NY who wished to spend time in the country. Adele Griswold moved to Hartford. In 1899 Mrs. Griswold died, leaving her youngest daughter, Florence, as sole owner of the house and responsible for its upkeep.
That summer Henry Ward Ranger, a NY artist who had just completed studies in Barbizon in France visited Miss Florence’s boarding house. He found the landscape of Old Lyme with its farms, woodland pastures, stone walls, Lieutenant River and salt marshes idyllic. He felt it had that elusive, hard to define light that he had found in Barbizon. He decided that Old Lyme would be the perfect setting for the American Barbizon. That was the start of the Old Lyme Art Colony, which was headquartered in this house and sustained by Miss Florence Griswold through the first third of the 20th century.
In 1913 Helen Adele died and Florence sold her land to the Lyme Art Association. The Gallery of the Lyme Art Association opened in 1921.
In 1936 Florence’s financial problems worsened. She was assigned a conservator and her house was sold to Judge McCurdy Marsh. Florence Griswold was allowed to remain in the house until her death in 1937. In 1938 there was a public auction of her belongings. In 1941 the Florence Griswold Association bought the house and 3/5 of an acre of land back from Judge Marsh. It was in 1947, that the house was first opened as a museum.
Artist Objects
Autograph Album 2005.8
Moonlight 1982.130