A visit to New London, Connecticut in 1929

Let's time-travel back to 1929, and go to New London, Connecticut. I really know nothing about these places and times personally, so I'll just look around, and give you my impressions. By the way, the photo is from the Duke University site ROAD (Resource of Outdoor Advertising Descriptions) and the exact location was scouted out by my expert history adventurer, who prefers to remain anonymous.

We're on Bank Street looking northeast towards State, and Water. On the left is the Civil War Monument (which is still there as of this writing), and on the right is the train station (also still there). The rest of the buildings, of course, are gone, but since this is a journey of imagination it really doesn't matter to me. Let's go!

According to the nice people at Duke, the exact date for this photo is May 20th, 1929. And that's important, because the stock market wouldn't crash until October, and everyone seemed to think that there would be prosperity forever, especially the people who were selling liquor (which was illegal at the time). This is the "Roaring Twenties", the "Days of the Mob", and I have to admit that it's hard for me to imagine an ordinary day, but I'm going to try.


I want to start with the group of men there on the right. I'm sorry, but just the way they're dressed, and the cars there, reminds me of "the Untouchables" or "Bonnie and Clyde". They're watching that man going into the Manhattan, and here's what I imagine they're saying:

"Nyaaa (I don't know how to spell it, but it's a sound Edward G. Robinson always made), Mugsy, are you hungry for lunch?"

"I dunno, Norm (you also have to imagine a Connecticut accent here), do you suppose they have good clam chowder?"

"Of course they do, Mugsy, this is New London, Connecticut! What do you think, Steve?"

"I've heard that they serve an excellent clam chowder, but I can see from here that they're closing in just a few minutes. Do you want to walk over to the Neptune Building and see if they're a place to eat there?"

"Sure!"

By the way, check out the cool sign for the Neptune Building. I think that's a trident, although some people would call it a "fish fork"


Note the overhead wires for the electric trolley. This intersection has been changed around, but it must have been kind of confusing back then, and the traffic cop would be a big help. I wonder what the little platform was for?


Looks like there was a barber shop there, but I don't see any signs for a restaurant, so I suppose the guys will have to go hungry. The river is only about a block away, so they could get out their fishing poles, I suppose.

Thank you for visiting New London in 1929 with me!





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