Monday, November 22, 2010

Griswold Inn

The Griswold Inn in Essex opened for business in 1776 and is one of the oldest continuously operating inns in America.  Essex occupies a beautiful spot on the Connecticut River.

The inn has an authentic tavern room that is crowded after sailing races (and football games and just about any other excuse for people to gather, eat, drink and tell tall tales . . . ).

I have featured the Griswold House in Old Lyme recently.  So far as I know, the Griswold Inn is not connected.  Griswold must have been a common name.

9 comments:

Sharon said...

I'd love to stop here sometime!

Stefan Jansson said...

I'm with Sharon. Looks like this is the place to stay, (and enjoy a beer or three).

Lowell said...

Griswold is indeed, a very popular name. Remember the "Vacation" movies with Chevy Chase aka Clark Griswold?

Love this place, though you don't find many like it in this country. 1776 huh? There's something familiar about that date? Hmmm...

Are you having fun yet?

cieldequimper said...

I'm hungry, I'll be right over. Just my kind of place.

Any idea as to why Essex is called Essex?

Jack said...

@Cieldequimper: Inquiring minds want to know, so I looked it up on the internet, which, as you know, is always accurate.

Like many place names in New England, the name Essex was probably borrowed from names of the places back in England where our ancestors came from. (Mine came from Ireland, but you know what I mean . . . )

But, I like an answer I found when I googled "What does 'sex' mean in place names?": Sex here means Saxons. So Wessex, Essex and Sussex were the western, eastern and southern Saxons. Presumably, the northern Saxons lived in Nosex and all died out!

Halcyon said...

This place looks so cozy! Love that old carriage in the front.

Lowell said...

I don't envy you flying this week, but I want to wish you a very happy Thanksgiving!

Randy said...

Looks like a nice place for a visit.

GeoffreyPaul said...

Thank you @Jack for the nice mention and great photos. The 'Gris', as it is affectionately known is a very special place and a CT icon. Mentioned in the book "1000 places you should see before you die" and on the series "Mad Men" , it is authentic New England. Take a look at our Facebbok page and 'like' as at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Griswold-Inn/117806418240407
Thanks again!! Geoffrey Paul (Co-Owner)