New Britain herald., 1921-08-26
CROCODILE CLUB
 IN 45TH REUNION
Wakelee Again President Of
 Unique Organization

Over generous portions of roast sheep and glasses of near beer, sev- eral hundred members of the Croco- dile club gathered yesterday after noon for the forty y-hfth reunion O. that organizat tion at Lake Compounce, reminiscently went over the activi- ties of nearly half century in the life of one of Connecticut's oldest or sanizaticns.
 Officers Reelected.
 The club again honored Gideon M. Wakelee by election to the presidency, it being the seventh time that the Shelton man had been selected to lead the Crocodiles. John P. Lewis of Pennington, who last year was named president, was elected to ill the same office for another year. l. Edward Pierce was named treas urer, and George A. Beers was re- elected secretary. Few officers of any organization enjoy the distinction held by MT. Beers. he having been secretary of the Crocodile club for the past 20 years, succeeding Edward E. Newell, who held the office of secre rary for quarter of century.
 Secretary Beers Presides.
 Secretary Beers presided over the post prandial exercises as toastmaster. After welcoming the club members, IOas stmaster Beers read several ap propriate poems composed by Charles ". Brown, a charter member of the club. Among the speakers intro duced by MT. Beers were Attorney Noble E. Pierce of Bristol, William A. Gillette Of Waterbury, and Post master Thomas $. Rourke of Union- vile. The speakers discussed the life, activities, aims and past success of the organization and expressed a de- sire to be among the Crocodiles as- senbled at many future gatherings.
 In answer to inquiries and misap- prehensions regarding the origin and object of the Crocodile club, the fol- lowing explanation is made:
 History of Club.
 In 1875 Mr. Cad Norton petitioned to be set off, from the town of Southington to the town of Bristol. Members of the legislature influential in securing the granting of the pc tition, were by him invited with their friends to a sheep roast at Com bounce Lake. At dinner a permanent | organization was effected and the | name Crocodile adopted, and in this | informal and unpremeditated man | ucr the club began. It meets an | nually and has several hundred mem. | Ders. It is simply a social organiza | ion and not political as many have | supposed. Requisites for member l ship: An invitation from a member l Sentlemanly conduct and the price o | ne dinner. On September 5, 1901, i l was voted that the annual meeting b. | held in the future on the last Thurs day in August.
 Carter First President. l Burwell Carter, a former bras founder with a business in Plainville
 was the first president of the clut
 serving for more than 20 years. AS 1 republican, he represented the tow of Plainville in the legislature for tw | terms. He was succeeded as pres
 nent by Samuel l.. Bloss, a democra
 member of the legislature in the earl seventies.
 Julius B. Savage was the first treas
 urer of the organization, serving frol l1276 until his death in 1894.
 e. l.. Frisbie and c. H. Bramley this city, James H. Miner, J. l Goodrich and H. c. Thompson (
 Flainville were among those in a tendance