Mohican memories

Carol W. Kimball

Mohican Hotel, corner of State and Meridian streets, New London
Mr. and Mrs. George Garvey's dancing classes
Frank A. Munsey's publishing empire
Mohican Market, grocery business
elderly housing

Kim11-080

Scrapbook

8: Communication Artifact

Documentary Artifact

The Day

New London, CT

04/07/2008

Carol W. Kimball

New London's eleven story Mohican Hotel at the corner of State and Meridian streets has been a city landmark for over a century. Once a glamorous hotel where elite social occasions were held and Saturday night ballroom dancing classes were taught by the Garvey's. However, it did not begin as a hotel. New York magazine publisher and newspaperman Frank A. Munsey bought the lot in 1895, planning a printing plant. Munsey, born in Maine in 1854, where he created a publishing empire, hoped to move his presses into the new building in New London in 1896 but all did not go as hoped. Left with an empty building, Munsey created a first-class hotel giving it the Indian name Mohican. On the first floor he opened a large grocery store, the Mohican Market, which became the model for his chain of similar stores throughout southern New England. He was able to lower prices by offering a large variety of stock on a cash and carry basis. Munsey died from appendicitis in December 1925. The Mohican remained New London's leading hotel for decades. In the 1960s, it was converted for elderly housing.

Garvey, George (Mr. & Mrs.)
Munsey, Frank A.

Mohican Hotel
New London
ballroom dancing
publishing empire

Mohican Market
grocery business
cash and carry
elderly housing
Indian