The Crocker House is a five-story luxury hotel built at 180 State Street in New London in 1872. The project was inspired by A. N. Ramsdell, president of the New London Railroad and the New London City Bank. The hotel was named for Henry Scudder Crocker, its first proprietor, who who was also the manager of the elite Pequot House summer resort. The Crocker House‘s Mansard-roofed top floor was later destroyed in a fire. An addition to the building, designed by architect James Sweeney, was erected in 1914. Playwright Eugene O’Neill could often be found in the hotel’s bar. Today the former hotel is the Crocker House Apartments.
Crocker House (1872)
I grew up in the Crocker House. My grandfather, James E. Knott bought the hotel in the 1930’s. My father, Wilson W. Fox, managed the hotel from 1939-1953. My mother (Margaret Knott Fox), father, brother Douglas, and I lived in the manger’s apartment on the North court floor. It was, to say the least, a unique place to live as a young boy.
I just found a receipt from February 1953 where my parents stayed at Crocker house on their honeymoon!
My Great Grandmother was a Crocker. The family flourished in the whole area for many generations. Back then families settled in and around same location so it pleases to know where my roots come from.