1
10
8
-
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Danbury_s_Third_Century_Research_Collection_MS058/1329/ms058_dyer.mp3
4b1e075ffeb935ac755fb79379938949
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Danbury's Third Century Research Collection, MS058
Subject
The topic of the resource
Danbury (Conn.) -- History.
Has Version
A related resource that is a version, edition, or adaptation of the described resource.
<a href="https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/findingaids/ctdbn_ms058_danbury300.xml">Link to finding aid.</a>
IIIF Collection Metadata
UUID
88a3df65-0ed7-4f38-9509-b4bad7ed20e1
Oral History
A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge.
Duration
Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.)
1hr, 48mins
Time Summary
A summary of an interview given for different time stamps throughout the interview
<p>0-10 mins: What Dyer was trying to accomplish; City at odds with itself; Education not funded properly; 1979 in bottom 25 % of cities; Spent one million dollars on pavement in the first year; Fired timothy Sullivan and city planner; Danny Garmello from Henry Abbott Tech was great with public works; Dyer professionalized the city, said he wanted to “awaken the sleeping giant known as Danbury”; Past mayors; Division within Republican Party; Help from WestCONN and Trinity volunteers; Why he left the Democratic Party;</p>
<p><br />10-20 mins: Kenosia Diversion for drought; Reopened wells on Rosewell Street; 6 million feet of corporate retail went up in 10 years; Construction of the mall; Driving around the city and going to all events; Downtown problems starting in the 50s; The Mall’s construction and what it meant to Danbury; Founding of downtown tax district; Requests from constituents for retail;</p>
<p>20-30 mins: NewsTimes praise and condemns; Historic Preservation Form at Palace Theater; The Nolan Plan; Taxes and revenue growth; 5 year plan - boosted education budget; Fallout from redevelopment a mess; Loses in 1987;</p>
<p>30-40 mins: Jerry Spyre came up and looked at plans; Louis Di Febrenez suggested to make it a park; A looking down at downtown; Raised the rate in the landfill, started out-of-town landfill ordinance and installed security cameras, Jimmy Galante brought Brewster’s trash to Danbury's landfill, Dyer had Galante arrested, landfill fee became dedicated fund; Landfill fire; Dirt supplier shortage, 300,000 in damages;</p>
<p>40-50 mins: Used to have a staff meeting with department heads, chief of police, and chief of fire; Brought neighborhood crime watch to city; Joseph Bertalis Fire Department; Brought in new in from outside;</p>
<p>50-60 mins: Danbury prosperity; Catching up and embracing any project in exchange for revenue; Leadership Danbury with Boughton; What makes Danbury different from other cities in Connecticut - the hospital, WestCONN, corporate sector, etc.; Danbury contributes 10 percent of all tax revenue in the state; Supporting economic development and investment in the community; Racial tension in city, Klu Klux Klan flyers, rally supposed to come to Danbury, Dyer called religious leaders to teach about the history of the klan, Dyer receives death threats, community rallied;</p>
<p>60-70 mins: First ordinance Dyer signed for Martin Luther King Day; Promoting Danbury; Ethnicity in Danbury; When a company leaves a city; Tax abatement; Responding to complaints to build credibility;</p>
<p>70-80 mins: Election night, ’79; His strength with Republican constituents; Debates with Boughton; Dyer’s speeches; Fire services and resources; Being a legislator versus being an administrator; Why he did not run for congress;</p>
<p>80-90 mins: Dyer talks about his father; Dyer and WestCONN; Dyer meets with Ruth Haas; Ruth Haas nominates Dyer as trustee;</p>
<p>90-100 mins: Working on the Board; Rape at Southern; Dyer and his appointment as legislator; Chairman of Higher Education Subcommittee; Student trustees; Forums;</p>
<p>100-108 mins: Speaking in front of an audience; The media and Danbury; The NewsTimes and Dyer’s engagement; Dyer and Boughton;</p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
James Dyer Interview
Subject
The topic of the resource
Danbury (Conn.)--History
Politics and culture--United States
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
William Devlin and Herbert Janick interview James Dyer about his time as Danbury Mayor, and the prosperous developments he oversaw, such as the construction of Danbury Fair Mall. Dyer also discusses his time as a student at WSCU, meeting Ruth Haas, and being on WSCU's Board of Trustees.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Devlin, William E., 1949-
Janick, Herbert F.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2010
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Sound
IIIF Item Metadata
UUID
2a9d7dd7-6b9a-4c89-a4e2-c7f94dc594a1
Audio
Boughton Family
Danbury
-
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Danbury_s_Third_Century_Research_Collection_MS058/1361/20080220_janick_jon_chew_HVCEO_group.mp3
de3e503a2995b3fe5137ce2113ed78e9
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Danbury's Third Century Research Collection, MS058
Subject
The topic of the resource
Danbury (Conn.) -- History.
Has Version
A related resource that is a version, edition, or adaptation of the described resource.
<a href="https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/findingaids/ctdbn_ms058_danbury300.xml">Link to finding aid.</a>
IIIF Collection Metadata
UUID
88a3df65-0ed7-4f38-9509-b4bad7ed20e1
Oral History
A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge.
Time Summary
A summary of an interview given for different time stamps throughout the interview
1-10 mins: HVCEO; Danbury and regionalism; Danbury 1950 postwar; Economic development and Manhattan commuter-ship; NAFTA.
11-20 mins: Joe Taylor; Manufacturing and factories; Where Danbury is Today; Income; Regionalism; Industrial Development, taxes, and the middle class; Danbury’s boundaries.
21-30 mins: Economic development plan; I90; Growth of towns; Middle class living; Taxes; Health Department and sewage.
31-40 mins: The Hatting industry; Water systems; Change in Danbury after WWII; Balance housing and jobs; Commuting, 1970-2000; The RT7 completion; the railroad; Danbury housing market; Water supply.
41-50 mins: What Danbury has become; Economic development; Typical Danbury worker; Danbury hospital; The towns around Danbury; Danbury and New Milford suburbs; Danbury housing; Demographic maps; Building the community; I84.
51-60 mins: WWII and a diversified manufacturing base; Factory town; Demogaphic factors; Taxes; Sewer treatment plants; Everything online; Where Danbury is today compared to other nearby cities; Danbury as middle-class community.
61-70 mins: Construction; Factors of why Danbury maintained prosperity; Geographic isolation; Weschester workers live in Danbury; Rt. 7 completion; Danbury as factory city.
71-80 mins: Bridgeport, 1945; Danbury gentrification; Taxes; Central sewer system.
81-90 mins: Ports; Commuters; Railroad; Watersheds; Economic development; Typical Danbury worker.
91-100 mins: Danury and its suburbs; NewsTimes circulation; Change in the paper; Demographic factor maps; Cultural differences; Candlewood Lake and its impact on Danbury; Danbury's image;
101-110 mins: 202 sidewalk/bus stop plan; Bethel retrofit for Rt.6; Homes in Danbury; Trains and transportation; Homeless shelters; Cultural differences.
111-120 mins: Interstate spoke; Hudson system; Danbury's resevoir; Water supply increasing; Water resources in Brookfield; Agriculture.
121-126 mins: Danbury in the present.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Jon Chew Interview
Subject
The topic of the resource
Danbury (Conn.)--History
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Janick, Herbert F.
Devlin, William E., 1949-
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2008-02-20
IIIF Item Metadata
UUID
b82ab30e-09b7-4e88-8aaa-867134397d8f
Audio
Danbury Redevelopment
-
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Danbury_s_Third_Century_Research_Collection_MS058/1362/devlin_americo.mp3
a13d3428e7291115f1415091ae3c0e87
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Danbury's Third Century Research Collection, MS058
Subject
The topic of the resource
Danbury (Conn.) -- History.
Has Version
A related resource that is a version, edition, or adaptation of the described resource.
<a href="https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/findingaids/ctdbn_ms058_danbury300.xml">Link to finding aid.</a>
IIIF Collection Metadata
UUID
88a3df65-0ed7-4f38-9509-b4bad7ed20e1
Oral History
A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Americo Ventura Interview
Subject
The topic of the resource
Danbury (Conn.)--History
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Devlin, William E., 1949-
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2008
IIIF Item Metadata
UUID
250ac362-aa2b-44c0-898e-164f382196d1
Audio
Danbury Redevelopment
-
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Danbury_s_Third_Century_Research_Collection_MS058/1367/devlin_groff.mp3
d7253641076d7e605b73de955967acbd
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Danbury's Third Century Research Collection, MS058
Subject
The topic of the resource
Danbury (Conn.) -- History.
Has Version
A related resource that is a version, edition, or adaptation of the described resource.
<a href="https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/findingaids/ctdbn_ms058_danbury300.xml">Link to finding aid.</a>
IIIF Collection Metadata
UUID
88a3df65-0ed7-4f38-9509-b4bad7ed20e1
Oral History
A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge.
Interviewer
The person(s) performing the interview.
Devlin, William E., 1949-
Interviewee
The person(s) being interviewed.
Roche, Kevin, 1922-
Time Summary
A summary of an interview given for different time stamps throughout the interview
0-10: Viewing slides or pictures from the construction of the Union Carbide headquarters in Danbury, 1976, Union Carbide site, topographic map, wetlands, areas had been farmed, Power lines, area we picked, trees most prevalent, oaks and maples, hierarchical design of the Union Carbide Headquarters
11-20: Various features of the Union Carbide building discussed, modules become community, way ahead of the curve in terms of ecology,
21-30: One road from the north and one from the south, gym, tailor shop, minimum disturbance to the water table by adding to the top of the ridge, natural light, each person selected the furniture for their office, interior design, cafeteria, low-key approach of UC, significant building in terms of its relation to the human element, not much of a connection with Danbury,
31- : Chose Danbury to attract person who would be reticent to locate to NYC, finished 1982, press unfair to UC after Bhopal disaster, end of UC, not a lot going on in Danbury, productivity increased by moving to Danbury,
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Kevin Roche Interview
Subject
The topic of the resource
Danbury (Conn.)--History
Description
An account of the resource
39 min
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Devlin, William E., 1949-
IIIF Item Metadata
UUID
93290fd8-b4b6-4bc9-8c72-223ca31b91d2
Audio
-
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Herb_Janick_Papers_MS012/3075/MS012_09_03_SCollins_sideA.mp3
7413cce4006a350ea7461266ff4c9c88
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Herb_Janick_Papers_MS012/3075/MS012_09_03_SCollins_sideB.mp3
0f4c8baaf5d8835477210f55ba58f406
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Herb Janick Papers, MS012
Description
An account of the resource
The Herbert F. Janick, Jr. Papers spans the years 1889-2002 and consists mainly of Janick’s research for his book on the centennial history of Western Connecticut State University.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Janick, Herb
Has Version
A related resource that is a version, edition, or adaptation of the described resource.
<a href="https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/findingaids/ctdbn_ms012_janick.xml">Link to finding aid.</a>
IIIF Collection Metadata
UUID
f32271cc-b16e-4921-8776-db43f2dc8a6f
Oral History
A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge.
Duration
Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.)
60 min
Time Summary
A summary of an interview given for different time stamps throughout the interview
Side A:
0-10 min: political background of Danbury, background of Sunderland, emergence of the democrats in ’27, history of Danbury election process
10-20 min: mayoral families and involvements with Danbury, KKK involvement in Danbury, Democratic Party at turn of 20th century, Keating’s involvement in Danbury
20-30 min: conflict with traffic court and peace court, Keating’s involvement with Danbury school board, Cunningham in the election, hiring first colored member of office, Previty election, utility costs under Previty
Side B:
0-10 min: tax information for Danbury, Danbury land grabs under Sunderland, cost of water department, distribution of European families, conflicts of Prevety trying to leave mayorship
10-20 min: flood management, town politics, Sweeney elected in ’41, promotions in various town departments, lack of merit system in town politics, faults of general town meetings
20-30 min: challenging petitions failing, town legislature not honoring protests because it was under private charters, Keating against bills that challenged his power, impossible to write consolidation for new charter, news times explaining why tax payers paying 96% of town expenses, consolidation of new charter carried over, mayor endorsing consolidation, outcomes of consolidation
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Steve Collins (interview)
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Janick, Herbert F.
Devlin, William E., 1949-
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1983-12-27
IIIF Item Metadata
UUID
2265f83f-1f8e-49ef-b374-5382ce409a40
1955 Flood
Danbury Redevelopment
-
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Danbury_Preservation_Trust_Records_MS_039/4207/dpt_04_56_main_001.jpg
275205d664d6667d285645e3edd0bb17
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Danbury_Preservation_Trust_Records_MS_039/4207/dpt_04_56_main_002.jpg
f8f0a12d485bb0340d96d6e9815ac0e5
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Danbury_Preservation_Trust_Records_MS_039/4207/008_18a.jpg
651ebef9efb5c8fb8af3d537bf0fea38
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Danbury_Preservation_Trust_Records_MS_039/4207/149Main.jpg
4920fec1585a8adffd264c833f204eb0
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Danbury_Preservation_Trust_Records_MS_039/4207/001_25a.jpg
99c8f2d914d0bce5364e8fd407415286
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Danbury Preservation Trust Records, MS 039
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
summary: The Danbury Preservation Trust had its beginnings in 1978 during a faculty developed summer course entitled Living History, Reading the Connecticut Landscape, taught by Dr. Herbert F. Janick, Professor of History at Western Connecticut State College. After formal incorporation in January 1979, he became the Trust’s first president. The records of the Danbury Preservation Trust span the years 1978-1997. The collection includes surveys to identify structures that might be included on the National Register. The bulk of this collection consists of Architectural and Historic Resources Inventories that were conducted by the Trust between 1979 and 1986. The majority of the surveys contain a small black and white photograph of the structure.
Has Version
A related resource that is a version, edition, or adaptation of the described resource.
<a href="https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/findingaids/ctdbn_ms039_dpt.xml">Link to finding aid.</a>
IIIF Collection Metadata
UUID
cbbc59b4-ab23-48c2-8fed-30100c2e4b06
Still Image
A static visual representation. Examples of still images are: paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type "text" to images of textual materials.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
101-181 Main St., Danbury, CT
Subject
The topic of the resource
Danbury (Conn.)--History
Description
An account of the resource
2, 3.5 x 5" b&w prints
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
Northeast side of Main street with good view of 143 Main St. and 155 Main (a building that has been replaced).
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Devlin, William E., 1949-
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Danbury Preservation Trust Records, MS 039, Box 4/56
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1980
IIIF Item Metadata
UUID
8e2ca108-a97b-40f6-815c-f0b22661385b
CRM
Main Street - Danbury
-
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Danbury_Preservation_Trust_Records_MS_039/5885/ms039_08_22_001_1.3.jpg
5aed921f2dee0290f574d563ee8d3b55
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Danbury_Preservation_Trust_Records_MS_039/5885/ms039_08_22_001_2.3.jpg
fc34067195f9f7242c31385a734fbc65
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Danbury_Preservation_Trust_Records_MS_039/5885/ms039_08_22_001_3.3.jpg
9ea6e0fe9128dae6faf21ea7a175162b
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Danbury Preservation Trust Records, MS 039
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
summary: The Danbury Preservation Trust had its beginnings in 1978 during a faculty developed summer course entitled Living History, Reading the Connecticut Landscape, taught by Dr. Herbert F. Janick, Professor of History at Western Connecticut State College. After formal incorporation in January 1979, he became the Trust’s first president. The records of the Danbury Preservation Trust span the years 1978-1997. The collection includes surveys to identify structures that might be included on the National Register. The bulk of this collection consists of Architectural and Historic Resources Inventories that were conducted by the Trust between 1979 and 1986. The majority of the surveys contain a small black and white photograph of the structure.
Has Version
A related resource that is a version, edition, or adaptation of the described resource.
<a href="https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/findingaids/ctdbn_ms039_dpt.xml">Link to finding aid.</a>
IIIF Collection Metadata
UUID
cbbc59b4-ab23-48c2-8fed-30100c2e4b06
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Danbury Preservation Trust
Devlin, William E., 1949-
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1985
Description
An account of the resource
3, 8.5 x 11", typescript
Subject
The topic of the resource
Danbury Preservation Trust
Title
A name given to the resource
Danbury Preservation Trust Brainstorming
IIIF Item Metadata
UUID
011728c5-09f5-4a75-bbbb-41ab5a787586
Danbury Redevelopment
Preservation
-
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/WestConn_publications_and_yearbooks_RG8.1/6753/clio_1985_winter_006.pdf
345ef2ac10873b5342fdba5291ad0162
PDF Text
Text
Danbury's
u N s u N
G
"Bailey's History" is how ifs generally known. A close look at the title page , though, reveals its
true title - History of Danbury, Conn., 1684-1896; From Notes and Manuscript Left by James
Montgomery Bailey Compiled with Additions by Susan Benedict Hill. New York: Burr Printing
House, 1896.Anyone who tries to use this rambling tome finds it illogical in structure, difficult to
use as a reference and ritted with apparent contradictions and inaccuracies . Despite its pitfalls , it has served as Danbury's only definitive history since its publication .
Among its more obvious faults is an index that lists only last names, which makes looking up an
individual with a common family name a formidable task . And though there is much entertaining lore about Danbury in the early 19th century, historical perspective on the growth of the city
from the mid-19th century on is entirely lacking. The only useful sections in this regard are those
devoted to topics like church, bar, medical and similar histories . On the whole , the book is more
of a mixture of entertaining nostalgia and self-congratulation than a work that makes sense of
the past .
These kinds of faults are not uncommon among local histories of the 19th century (partial
exceptions being the town histories authored by Rev. Samuel Orcutt, including New Milford,
and Ellen Larned of Windham County), but Danbury's seems even more confusing than
most.
The answer to the mystery of this problematic work is hinted at on the title page. James
Montgomery Bailey died in 1894,two years before the book was published. At the time he was a
figure of world-wide fame, acknowledged as the pioneer of journalistic humor and known
universally as "The Danbury News Man" . He apparently had begun assembling a manuscript,
perhaps to be dotted with the kind of wry commentary for which he had become famous .
It was natural, then, that after his death the committee of the Danbury Relief Society that
published the book chose to stress his connection to the project, even to implying authorship.
In reality, "Bailey's History'' had three major authors.
One was Susan Benedict Hill, descendant of one of the town's founding families and a recent
with her wealthy and successful husband she had become
interested in genealogy, and when the Danbury Relief Society chose her to complete the
manuscript after Bailey's death, she contributed a great deal of original research on old probate records and deeds.
widow. While traveling abroad
In reality
"Baily's History "
had three
major authors.
Baileyapparentlylefta
manuscript, though . The individual histories of the bar, church, etc. were
probably submitted as he was assembling it. Most of it, though, was drawn from a series of historical columns that he had begun running in the Danbury News in 1879, as the town
approached its bicentennial. Bailey gave the series the formidable name " Old Danbury, Being
A Series of Rambling Papers, Historical, Biographical and Topographical, Concerning Our
Town".
Some of the columns are recognizable as Bailey's work, particularly showing his fascination for
items in old newspapers, and leavened with the kind of puns he favored in his own journal.
Most of the "Old Danbury'' columns though, particularly the ones packed with the most useful
and interesting historical information , bear the byline "AB .H."
Thiswas Aaron Banks Hull, who was the pr incipal author of the series . He was born in Redding in
1812and was brought up there . His father had been a soldier in the Revolution , serving as a
youth in the militia, and he vividly recalled his experiences during Tryon's raid on Danbury.
In his adulthood A B. Hull came to Danbury , becoming the freight age nt of the Danbury &
Norwalk Railroad . It must have been there that he picked up the kind of stories and detailed
information that he packed into his columns. Stories about other forms of tra nsportation
especially fascinated him, as did the characters connected with them . In 1859 he wrote a
collection of stories about the stage driver Hiram Barnes, who was reno wned aroun d the western part of the state for his quick wit and withering sarcasm. The article was publishe d in the New
York Mercury.
In addition, Hull wrote whole columns of recollections of aspects of his yo uth in Redding, par-
6
�I
by William E. Devlin
HISTORIAN
•
ticularly if a reader had submitted his own recollections the previous week. Thus there are
detailed accounts of school and schoolmasters , the post riders, the anti-abolitionist riots of
1838 and other disturbances .
Hatting also drew Hull's attention and he updated WIiiiam H. Francis' 1860 History of the Hat
Trade in Danbury when it was reprinted in the News as part of the Old Danbury series.
The series continued to run to over 100 installments, well Into 1883. It made up most of the
Danbury section of Hurd's History of Fairfield County, published In 1882. By this time Hull was
becoming an acknowledged local historian . When the Fairfield County Historical Society
formed in Bridgeport in 1881, he was elected as Its first vice-president.
Only two years later though, on March 12,1884,he died. Although he had the satisfaction of seeing his work published in the Fairfield County history, 12years elapsed before a Danbury history
was published , and by that time AB . Hull and his contributions had been forgotten . Even though
many charters were reprinted exactly from "Old Danbury" columns which were signed
"A B. H.", nowhere in Bailey's History is there an acknowlgement of Hull or his work.
Even more interesting is information from columns he authored which was completely omitted
from the published history. Hull was careful about accuracy; he published corrections in the
following week's column if he had misstated a fact, and acknowledged statements he could
not substantiate with sufficient authority .
Among the items in A B. Hull's "Old Danbury'' columns which never made it into Danbury's
published history are the following, which shed a new light on several dark corners of the
past:
- "Tradition informs us that Capt . John Hoyt was the pioneer (of the first eight settlers who founded Danbury in 1684), having started alone on foot through the wilderness, and the first day got
as far as Hoyt's Hill, now in Bethel, and that night slept under a rock which still bears the name of
Hoyt's Rock. After viewing the land , and being pleased with its appearance, he returned to
Norwalk, and his report being satisfactory, the seven other families, with his, soon formed a settlement here ."
- " Ives & White were the first wholesale hatters in New York, and had their hats made in
Danbury. Their store was in Water Street. Deacon Isaac Ives of this firm (was founder of the well
known Ives family in Danbury). Later, Jagger & Haines kept a wholesale hat store in New York,
and these two firms were the only ones in the business there for a number of years ."
- " In 1812Jacob Fryand- ------- started classes for the instruction of colored boys and girls . The
following year the Sunday school was started ."
- "Mr . Harrison Flint came from Lowell, Mass. in 1854 and commenced the machine business
on Main Street. The next year he built a machine shop near Tweedy & White's hat forming fac tory, and remained in business there for about ten years . He built the first steam engine ever
built in Danbury, also the first complete fur blower, and made the first successful machine for
tearing up hat roundings. In 1864 Mr . Flint sold out his interest, and returned to Lowell, and with
Gen. B. F. Butler and others, purchased the Wamsutta water power, and was the first that was
ever successful in this country in making American bunting for flags. He made a contract with
the government for flags, sold out to Gen . Butler, and returned to Danbury ... he also built a
large factory on the power now used by William Merson (Merson's Pond) . Mr. Flint, who was at
one time one of our most enterprising businessmen, and who did much toward building up our
manufacturing interests, has now settled down into a quiet life, and is contented with collecting
the town taxes."
None of these statements was ever challenged by readers, and we can assume they are as
accurate as anything that appears in the History of Danbury .
AB. Hull should not be blamed for the loose structure of what appears in Bailey's. He wrote the
columns as "rambling papers", and they were meant for entertaining newspaper columns
rather than a reference work . He took pains to be accurate, and without his remarkable contribution our knowledge of Danbury's history would be slim and colorless indeed.
7
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
WestConn publications and yearbooks, RG8.1
Has Version
A related resource that is a version, edition, or adaptation of the described resource.
<a href="https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/findingaids/ctdbn_rg612_westconnPubs.xml" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link to finding aid</a>
IIIF Collection Metadata
UUID
8d1b5a3d-e3b3-49e5-b381-caa8f45ea92c
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Clio (magazine), Danbury's Unsung Historian
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Devlin, William E., 1949-
Description
An account of the resource
2 pgs
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
A short article about Bailey's History of Danbury and its authorship, specifically, the role of Susan Benedict Hill and A.B. Hull.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1985
Subject
The topic of the resource
Bailey, James M. (James Montgomery), 1841-1894
Hill, Susan Benedict
Hull, Aaron B.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
rg81_clio_1985_winter
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Western Connecticut State University. Department of History.
IIIF Item Metadata
UUID
65551db2-8c11-45a5-b0c0-98def2d9f129
Clippings
James Bailey