![Senate Republican Leader and 2014 gubernatorial candidate John McKinney speaks...]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
Senate Republican Leader and 2014 gubernatorial candidate John McKinney speaks at the Crocodile Club Friday, Sept. 13.
![U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, right, speaks with Southington Town Council...]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, right, speaks with Southington Town Council members Dr. Stephanie Urillo and Chairman John Dobbins Friday afternoon at the 132nd Crocodile Club meeting.
![Attendees of the 132nd Crocodile Club enjoyed a picnic style...]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
Attendees of the 132nd Crocodile Club enjoyed a picnic style dinner of lamb and fried corn in the Lake Compounce Ballroom Friday. Sept. 13, as local politicians and community leaders attempted to joke about each other on stage.
![]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
![Attendees of the 132nd Crocodile Club enjoyed a traditional picnic...]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
Attendees of the 132nd Crocodile Club enjoyed a traditional picnic style dinner of lamb and fried corn in the Lake Compounce Ballroom Friday. Sept. 13.
![U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal listens to a speech at the...]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal listens to a speech at the Crocodile Club.
![Senate Republican Leader John McKinney, right, helps emcee and Crocodile...]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
Senate Republican Leader John McKinney, right, helps emcee and Crocodile Club President Ray Dunaway find his place in his speech Friday.
![]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
![]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
![]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
![]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
![]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
![Radio personality Ray Dunaway emceed the Crocodile Club meeting Sept....]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
Radio personality Ray Dunaway emceed the Crocodile Club meeting Sept. 13.
![]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
![]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
![Attendees of the 132nd Crocodile Club enjoyed a traditional picnic...]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
Attendees of the 132nd Crocodile Club enjoyed a traditional picnic style dinner of lamb and fried corn in the Lake Compounce Ballroom Friday. Sept. 13.
![]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
![]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
![Representative Whit Betts Republican Majority Leader John McKinney and former...]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
Representative Whit Betts Republican Majority Leader John McKinney and former State Rep. Bill Hanzy, left to right, pose for a picture at the 132nd Crocodile Club Meeting Friday afternoon.
![Mary O'Neil of Bristol, left, says hello to Carolyn Norton...]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
Mary O'Neil of Bristol, left, says hello to Carolyn Norton at the Crocodile Club meeting Friday. Norton's family started the club 138 years ago.
![Representative Whit Betts, left, says hello to guests of the...]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
Representative Whit Betts, left, says hello to guests of the 132nd Crocodile Club meeting Friday.
![World War Two combat veteran Al Prece of Hamden holds...]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
World War Two combat veteran Al Prece of Hamden holds his hand over his heart during the pledge of allegiance at the 132nd Crocodile Club meeting Friday afternoon.
![Representative Frank Nicastro plays the trumpet at the beginning of...]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
Representative Frank Nicastro plays the trumpet at the beginning of the Crocodile Club meeting Friday afternoon.
![]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
![Attendees of the 132nd Crocodile Club enjoyed a picnic style...]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
Attendees of the 132nd Crocodile Club enjoyed a picnic style dinner of lamb and fried corn in the Lake Compounce Ballroom Friday. Sept. 13, as local politicians and community leaders attempted to joke about each other on stage.
![]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
![U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal at the Crocodile Club.]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal at the Crocodile Club.
![]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
![Attendees of the 132nd Crocodile Club enjoyed a traditional picnic...]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
Attendees of the 132nd Crocodile Club enjoyed a traditional picnic style dinner of lamb and fried corn in the Lake Compounce Ballroom Friday. Sept. 13.
![Attendees of the 132nd Crocodile Club enjoyed a traditional picnic...]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
Attendees of the 132nd Crocodile Club enjoyed a traditional picnic style dinner of lamb and fried corn in the Lake Compounce Ballroom Friday. Sept. 13.
![]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
![Guest bow their heads as Father Ed Przygocki of Terryville(not...]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
Guest bow their heads as Father Ed Przygocki of Terryville(not pictured) says a prayer before the start of the 132nd Crocodile Club meeting Friday afternoon.
![]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
![U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal makes speech poking fun at Congress...]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal makes speech poking fun at Congress Friday, Sept. 13, at the Crocodile Club.
![Crocodile Club President Ray Dunaway, left, bows his head as...]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
Crocodile Club President Ray Dunaway, left, bows his head as Father Ed Przygocki of Terryville says a prayer before the start of the 132nd Crocodile Club meeting Friday afternoon.
![Lake Compounce General Manager Jerry Brick, left, and Southington Town...]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
Lake Compounce General Manager Jerry Brick, left, and Southington Town Council Chairman John Dobbins poses for a picture at the 132nd Crocodile Club.
![Attendees of the 132nd Crocodile Club enjoyed a traditional picnic...]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
Attendees of the 132nd Crocodile Club enjoyed a traditional picnic style dinner of lamb and fried corn in the Lake Compounce Ballroom Friday. Sept. 13.
![]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
![]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
![Attendees of the 132nd Crocodile Club enjoyed a traditional picnic...]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
Attendees of the 132nd Crocodile Club enjoyed a traditional picnic style dinner of lamb and fried corn in the Lake Compounce Ballroom Friday. Sept. 13.
![Radio personality Ray Dunaway emceed the Crocodile Club meeting Sept....]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
Radio personality Ray Dunaway emceed the Crocodile Club meeting Sept. 13. Here Dunaway loses his place during his speech due to "poor handwriting."
![U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal speaks with a guest at the...]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal speaks with a guest at the Crocodile Club.
![Jayde Rose Blanchette sings the national anthem at the start...]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
Jayde Rose Blanchette sings the national anthem at the start of the 132nd Crocodile Club meeting Friday.
![]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
![]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
![]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
![]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
![]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
![Bristol Mayor Art Ward speaks to attendees of the 132nd...]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
Bristol Mayor Art Ward speaks to attendees of the 132nd Crocodile Club Friday.
![]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
![Representative Whit Betts says hello to guests of the 132nd...]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
Representative Whit Betts says hello to guests of the 132nd Crocodile Club meeting Friday.
![Rep. Edwin Vargas and his wife admire a Husky statue...]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
Rep. Edwin Vargas and his wife admire a Husky statue carved for the New England Carousel Museum. The Husky carousel ride was on display at the Crocodile Club meeting which was sponsored by the New England Carousel Museum.
![Representative Edwin Vargas, left, and Rep. Frank Nicastro pose for...]()
Alex Syphers | Special to Courant.com
Representative Edwin Vargas, left, and Rep. Frank Nicastro pose for a picture in front of Siberian Husky statue carved by a master carver for the New England Carousel Museum.
The Crocodile Club celebrated its 132nd meeting Friday, Sept. 13, at the Lake Compounce Ball Room in Bristol. The club was formed in 1875 when Gad Norton, a former legislator, who also started the amusement park in 1846, brought together politicians from all parties for some lighthearted joking and fun. The traditional dinner dating to 1875, of lamb and fried corn with all the trimmings, was served as politicians poked fun at each other and their respective towns.
![Dust off your finest hats—it’s Derby day. This year marks the 150th Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The horse race has occurred annually on a Saturday in May since it began on May 17, 1875, with the only exceptions being 1945 due to World War II and 2020 because of […]](https://www.courant.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/202405040611TMS_____FASTCOMP_19685_ctnfc_media.jpg?w=620 "Dust off your finest hats—it’s Derby day. This year marks the 150th Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The horse race has occurred annually on a Saturday in May since it began on May 17, 1875, with the only exceptions being 1945 due to World War II and 2020 because of […]")