Connecticut Trust For Historic Preservation (article) Autumn 1981

Connecticut Trust For Historic Preservation (article) Autumn 1981

Article from Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation Volume IV Number III from Autumn of 1981

Dr. Herbert Janick, WCSU Professor

This article is a key source in describing how Danbury's structure at the onset of its tricentenial was represented to the public. The historical preservation of 3 key buildings, the Palace Theater, the old library, and the Martha Apartments were all selected to be reorganized into a "cultural core". The pictures included in this article portray Main Street as a social hub.

Autumn 1981

Danbury's structure at the onset of its tricentennial

Conecticut Trust for Historic Preservation

Journal

English

Text

General Audience

Secondary Education

D ANBURY — ALMOST
300 YEARS OLD AND
STILL MATURING
In 1984 Danbury w ill be 300 years old.
For almost three centuries residents
have worked w ith t he l and, w ith
machines, and w ith each other to shape
a u nique place. Every stage of growth:
frontier outpost, commercial v illage,
hat city, and currently, corporate base,
has left a stamp on the c ommunity. The
gradual blending of Yankees. Irish.
Germans. Portugese. Italians. Blacks.
Hispanics. and i mmigrants from the
Middle East have produced a distinct
human c hemistry. What we i nherit is a
priceless civic asset, a slowly assembled set of t raditions w hich d efine and
give depth to our l ives.
Main Street has always been the focus
of l ife in D anbury. The first settlers
built t heir houses and church on the
swampy south end of the street. When
the t own became a regional supply center the stores and c raft shops were
located in the same area, and often in
the same buildings. Later the railroad
and the hat i ndustry's dependence on
the S till River pulled settlement northward. Early in the 20th century a
network of roads funneled local and
long distance automobile traffic past
the b anks, stores, and offices that
flanked the street. M ain Street was the
setting for major and m inor events in
the l ife cycle of its c itizens. For generations people have come to Danbury to
work and shop; to embark on pleasure
trips or to go off to war; to enjoy a
concert or a restaurant meal; to watch
parades or to observe l ife as it pulsates
in a busy city. And despite suburban
residential patterns and the l ure of a
decentralized mall. Main Street has not
been completely drained of its energy
and animation.
Danbury boasts a distinct heritage
that is not locked in a book but is displayed in the downtown buildings that

town is the essential ingredient of a
livable c ity. Only the heart of the
community offers a wide range of economic, social, and cultural opportunities
in a physical setting that constantly
enriches our lives by r eminding us of
our roots.
In the recent past Danbury has let
others run the r isks — and reap the
rewards — of i nnovation. But t his conservatism has begun to fade. Along
with t hirty other f orward-looking
American c ities, almost a ll m uch
larger. Danbury is t aking a n ovel
approach t o urban p lanning t hat w ill
sensitively balance the need to retain
significant a rchitecture of the past w ith
contemporary social, economic and
cultural objectives. As one of the p ilot
cities in the Economics of A menity
program sponsored by Washington
based Partners for L ivable Places. Danbury is seeking to develop its a rchitectural and c ultural resources as a
stimulus t o downtown revitalization.
Danbury was selected for participation in t his three-year program for three
reasons. An important consideration
was the dangerously healthy condition
of the local economy. In the p ath of
corporate colonization of the state.
Danbury boasts high employment, a
sturdy tax base and much new construction. This vibrant economy is a mixed
blessing. Uncontrolled development
threatens the scale, f abric and traditions
of the community. With Partners'
assistance. Danbury is striving to harness growth so that it enhances rather
than damages the quality of life in the
area.
In the last few years a new breed of
leader, less provincial and more aware
of the importance of professional
advice, has emerged in the community.
Organized in 1978. the Danbury Preservation Trust has convinced many of
the wisdom of making the preservation
of the large stock of 19th century
commercial buildings on Main Street, a
tangible reminder of Danburv's era of

present. Youthful Mayor James
Dyer concluded that $30.000 from private sources over a three year period, in
order to gain accesss to Partner's network of experts, was a b argain.
Finally. Danbury faced a set of
issues that dovetailed w ith Partners'
emphasis on the arts as a planning tool.
Historically dependent on New York
City f or cultural enrichment, t he city
lacks quality museums, galleries and
theaters. Such factors as the energy
shortage, the proliferation of local arts
organizations and the expansion of
Western Connecticut State College's
music and drama departments called
for an upgrading of area arts facilities.
Frightened by the prospect that an
immense shopping m all would soon be
constructed at a nearby suburban site.
the city is searching for a strategy that
will induce people to continue to patronize the downtown.
The third ingredient in t his mix is the
presence of two under-utilized historic
structures on Main Street that have
potential as arts facilities. The larger
building, the 2,000 seat ornate Palace
Theater ( 1928). has recently been purchased along with the adjacent Martha
Apartments by Portuguese immigrant
Joseph DaSilva. the city's major property owner. Further to the north on
Main Street is a Victorian brownstone
masterpiece, the 1878 former library.
that is l anguishing as an overflow for
city offices.
The immediate task of the DanburyPartners collaboration was to explore
the feasibility of giving t his pair of
buildings, which make such a pointed
statement about the heritage of the
community, a fresh life as a cultural
core t hat would animate the downtown
and. in the process, spur satellite retail
activity. T he Downtown Council,
appointed by Mayor Dyer to be the
local liaison with Partners, raised
$ 10.000 in contributions from local
industries to engage Ralph Burgard.
an arts planning consultant. In January

graphic scope of the study, it became
clear t hat w ithout sizable clientele t he
two cultural centers, no m atter how attractive, would be f inancially impractical. Consequently the study expanded
into a f ull scale arts plan t hat w ould
seek new ways of b ringing the arts and
people together.
Presently, the d owntown arts effort
is e ntering a second phase. A sophisticated market analysis that w ill
measure t he d rawing power i n the
region of all types of arts offerings is
being undertaken b y E conomics
Research Associates of W ashington.
D. C. The architectural firm of Hardy.
Holzman. P feiffer w ill provide engineering analysis and a range of design
options for both buildings.
During t he second six-month stage.
Mr. Burgard w ill continue h is efforts t o
strengthen the arts groups in the region.
Contemplated tasks are the inauguration of a regional arts council directed
by a professional s taff, and the establishment of a corporate fund for the
arts. If this vision materializes, the
preserved Palace Theater and library will bring t he f inest educational a nd
cultural programs to the region and
strengthen the local character of M ain
Street. The animation and vibrancy
brought by people enjoying down town's
diverse activities w ill ensure the celebration of Danbury's architectural
heritage and c community identity in 1984
and for years to come. Dr. Herbert
Janick, Professor, Western Connecticut State College.

The a rchitectural f abric of Main Street, despite losses from neglect, natural disasters, and misguided renovation,
embodies Danbury's past.



Projected plans for the Palace Theater have been
fostered by the cooperative efforts of Drew Painter,
Joseph DaSilva, and Herbert Janick.
Library, Danbury