Crocodile Club is back

The Crocodile Club is back again in the ballroom at Lake Compounce! The New England Carousel Museum,a non-profit treasure in the Connecticut community, is once again bringing back the annual dinner meeting at Lake Compounce the oldest continuously operating amusement park in the country, on Friday, August 31, 2018. The Crocodile Club will celebrate its 137th reunion dinner on August 31 with its unique gathering of individuals who put aside their political differences to celebrate this important part of history. Rides will be provided from the parking lot to the ballroom and back again.

The festivities will begin with the social hour at noon (when crocodile tears are shed) with a beer and wine cash bar in the ballroom. The traditional lamb dinner will be provided and will commence promptly at 1:00 PM. During dinner, a lively program with guest speakers will follow. Remember, good speeches and bad jokes are limited to three minutes per person, and NO serious political speeches are allowed.

The Norton family that the “Crocodile Club” was formed in 1875 when Gad Norton, who was a former legislator, and who also started the amusement park in 1846, decided to thank his colleagues in the State Legislature for their help in passing a statute that changed the town line between Bristol and Southington so as to put his farmhouse in Bristol. The reason for this request was so that he could vote in Bristol where he did all his trading and knew more people. Also, in the days of horses and buggies, old dirt roads, and tough winters, the three mile ride to Bristol was a lot easier than the six miles to Southington.

Never will you see and meet so many candidates from all sides in one place in such intimate surroundings, all
having a good time kidding each other, with no serious politics allowed. That policy was dictated to the original group by host, Gad Norton himself, who said, “there will be no serious politics allowed, no postmortems from the last legislative session -- just pleasant sociability, good fun, and good food.”

For tickets phone the Museum at 860 585-5411 to put your tickets on your charge card. Upon receipt of your payment, your ticket(s) will be mailed to you. You must have your ticket with you to enter the event on Friday, August 31, 2018 at the 137th Crocodile Club Reunion Dinner where you will help preserve tradition.