History of the Griswold Inn

Built as an inn in 1776, the Griswold is America's oldest continually operating inn. In its long history, the Gris has been owned by only six families!
That part of Essex's Main Street on which the Griswold Inn stands was originally owned by John Pratt, Jr. in 1733, according to County Recorder's records. It was sold by him in 1765 to Noah Tooker and his two brothers, Richard and Tabor. In 1767 a subsequent sale was recorded for 225 pounds, and eight years later in 1775 Sala Griswold purchased the property and began construction on The Griswold Inn. In 1776 the Inn was opened for business, promising "First Class Accommodations" to travelers. Two later sales were reported: one in 1806 for $2,200 and another in 1853, before Thomas Ladd purchased the Inn in 1833 to make it a "First Class Temperance Hotel".

From that date until 1972, the Griswold was owned by him, by his brother Frank, by Frank's daughter and son-in-law, Cora and Arthur Lovell, and by their sons Arthur, Jr. and Willard. During this extraordinary tenure spanning nearly a century, the remarkable collections of marine art, steamboat memorabilia and firearms were assembled. It was also under their direction that the Inn underwent a metamorphosis, changing from a stagecoach and steamboat stop to an important country inn catering to neighbors, yachtsmen and overland travelers.

In 1972, the Inn was sold to William G. Winterer, an investment banker from New York, and his wife Victoria. Under William and Victoria's tenure, the Inn grew into one of the outstanding historic inns in the country.

In 1995, the Winterers sold The Griswold Inn to Gregory, Douglas and Geoffrey Paul. The three brothers, each of whom grew up in Essex, are committed to preserving the atmosphere and rich tradition of the Inn for future generations.

Thus, for over 220 years of continuous operation, the Griswold Inn has been under the direction of just six families.