File #6722: "ms039_05_19.pdf"

Form 1 0·300
( July 1969)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

S TATEt

N ATIONAL R EGISTER OF HISTORIC P LACES
I NVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM

( Type a ll e ntries - complete a pplicable s ections)

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0

....

( Cheek O ne)

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0

D istrict

IJt

B uilding

S ite

0

S tructure

0

P ublic A cquisition:
0 In P rocess

0

O bject

0
0

B eing C onsidered
I n p rogress

Y es:
R estricted
U nrestricted

~No

u
; :)

P ark

a:::

P rivate R esidence
R eligious

1- .

0
0

T ron1portotlon

0

Comments

Other ( Speclly)

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c
-i
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C ongressional D istrict;

5th

R onald S arasin

( Check O ne)

CONDITION

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E xcellent

IJC

0

Goacl

0

F air

0

D eterioratecl

R uins

lXI

A ltered

0

U nexpoaed

( Check

( Check O ne)

0

0

U naltered

Moved

C ESCAIBE T HE P RESENT A NC O RIGINAL ( il k now..V P HYSICAL A PPEARANCE

\ S omething o f a n a .rohi t ectural c uriosity, t his octaJZonal h ouse i s p erhaps
t he b est e xample o f t he d ozen o r s o o f t he s tyle e xtant i n t he s tate.
T his o ne i s composed o£ t hree .floors~ s urrounded b y a g race.ful i ron
veranda~ e xtending t he f ull t hree s tories. S upports a re f inished w ith
s crolled b rackets.
The n early f lat r oof h as w ide o verhanping e aves. Atop t he r oof a t t he
c enter i s a c upola, a lso o ctagonal, w ith t he sa-ne w ide e aves. The two
chimneys a re i ncorporated i nto t he o utside w alls.
The w alls a re o f c oncrete, t welve i nches t hick, c overed w ith s tucco,
p ainted ' White. A t t he c enter o f t he b uilding i s a n e nclosed s piral ·
s taircase. Windows a re l arge, o pening o nto t he v eranda o n a U s ides.
A ll t riDl i s v ery p lain; a t e ntrys a nd m .ndows t here i s s inP-le b oard
f raming.

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The h ouse i s v ery p,rand a nd i ts l ocation b ack f rom t he r oad i n a
r esidential a rea i s f ortunate £ or i t c an b e more e asily s een.

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( . FEB -2•1 •1973
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0 1 8th Century
[ Jt 1 9th Century
A REAS O F S IGNIFICANCE

( Check O tle

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0

A bor lginol
0 P rehistoric
0 H letorle ·

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liCJ
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0
0
0

A grlcultuN
A rehltecture
Art

0
0

Commerce
C ommunications
C onservation

o r M ore

2 0th Century

a s A pPrfJprlale)

E ducation
E ngineering

0
lJ

I ndustry
I nvention

P olitical
R oliglon/Phl.

0

Urbon P lanning

[ 1 O ther ( Specify)

l osophy
S cience

L andscape

0
0

A rchitecture
L iterature

0

S ocia 1/Human-

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T heater

Military

0 Music:

S culpture
it arion
T ransportation

T ATEMENT O F s i GNIFICANCE

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T his e xcellent example o f t he o ctagonal s tyle house was b uilt i n 1852
b y D aniel S tarr a s h is own ho;ne. Orson S quire F owler, a p hrenologist
and p rolific w riter on h ealth a nd h a:ppiness, desir._:ned t he s tyle. I ts
p rime a dvantage, h e s aid, was t hat i Yenclosed one f ifth more f loor
a rea t han a s quare w ith t he same t otal l ength of' \ 'lall. " Scarcely l ess
i.IIlportant, 11 s tates FoW'l.er, i s i ts b eauty, th:l.s due t o i t a pproaching
t he s phere, 11 the p redaninant o r g oveming f'onn i n N ature." The p erfect
m aterial, ~owler f elt, was a m iXture o f l ime, s tone, a nd s and - concrete.
One s uspects t hat h e would b e p leased wi.t."l t he Danbtu:y e xanple.
The h ouse i s w ell-cared f or and a ppreciated b y t he o lmero. However, i t
i s i n a n a rea s lated f or a s econd phase a faredevelopnent pror.;ram, and
t he 01Vllers a re c oncerned f or i ts f uture. They f eel t hat l isting on t he
N ational R egister would a t l east p revent ~olition f or r edevelopment
and g ive t he h ouse t he p ossibility f or a p ositive f uture.

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Correspondence w tth s on o f o wner.

The News-Times, a rticles £rom September 7, 1968 and J anuar,v 21, 1973.
\ 'lhiffen, Marcus. American A rchitecture S ince 1 780. l.UT P ress, C ambridge,
Mass. 1 969. - - - -

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STATE:

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A s t he d esignated S tate L iaison O fficer £or t he N ational H istoric P reservation A ct o f 1 966 ( Public L aw

1 h ereby c ertify t hat t his p roperty i a i ncluded i n t he

8 9-665), l h ereby n ominate t his p roperty f or i nclusion

N ational R egister.

i n t he N ational R egister a nd c ertify t hat i t h as b een
e valuated a ccording t o t he c riteria u nd p roccdu r es s et
f orth b y t he N ational P ark S ervice. T he r ecommended
l evel o f a lgni£icance o f t his n omination i s:
N ational

~ State

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state

D ate

l i'ebruary

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L iaison O fficer

l b, 1973
GP 0 II 0 S . 0117

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sacred h eart academy

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OCTAGON HOUSE & ADDITION

s ite: l ocation

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1 "::200' _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ ,__ _ _ _ _ , __,
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S TRADA, F USARO, S CHERBAN S V ENTRE
C OUNSELLORS A T L AW

W ILLIAM

S UITE I D

E . S TRADA, . JR

? SO S UMMER S TREET

. JOHN C . F USARO
. JACK S . S CHER B AN

P . 0 . B OX 2 99

T HOMAS R . V ENTRE

S TAMFORD, C ONNECTICUT 0 6904

G ERALD .J . P ORRICELLI 0

( 203) 3 2?-0420

O F" C OUNSEL
• ALSO A DMITn;:c I N N EW Y ORK

O ctober 1 5, 1 981

H erbert J anick, P h.D.
H istory D epartment
W estern C onnecticut S tate C ollege
D anbury, C onnecticut 0 6810
Re :

O ctagon H ouse
21 S pring S treet
D anbury, C onnecticut

D ear D r. J anick:
As y ou may r ecall, I h ad b een a ppointed b y t he C ourt t o
s ell a t p ublic a uction t he a bove-referenced h ouse i n M arch,
1 980. A lthough t he a uction was d elayed, i t h as nmv b eenrescheduled f or J anuary 2 3, 1 982.
S ince y ou h ad p reviously e xpressed some i nterest i n t he
p roperty, I am j ust w riting t o l et y ou know t he s tatus.
F ormal n otice o f t he a uction w ill b e p ublished i n t he
D anbury N ews-Times a nd Newtown Bee i n e arly J anuary, 1 982.
I f y ou-have a ny q uestions, o r i f I c an b e o f a ny a ssistance,
p lease f eel f ree t o c all me.

aklli!J~
Thomas R. V entre
TRV:dp

F orm A pproved
O MB N o . 42-A1765

1 0- 168o

U NITED S TATES D EPARTMENT OF THE I NTERIOR

I l t 81

N ATIONAL PARK SERVICE
W ashington D.C. 20240

HISTORIC PRESERVATION CERTIFICATION
APPLICATION - PART 2
l natructlon•: A ppl1cant s hould r ead t he m structmns c Rrofully b afore c omplellllU R ppllcRtlon N o C ertdicllion m ay b e m ade u nltu.•" c ornpletBd a ppl,catton f orm h8J b oon reco1vfld U!t8 t ype·
w nter o r p nnt c l,tJrly m d ark i nk t o c omplete t he a pplicatiOn f orm f f add1l1onal s psce ' ·• n Beded t o c omplete P art 2. 1 ft1ch a ddltiOntJI b f,.nk " "'"'" P ttrt 2 ol th1s a ppltcltlon m 1y b e c ompleted a nd
s enr t o t he a ppropnal8 S tate H tsiOfiC Proservat1on O il t ear a t a ny 11me d urrng t he yo111

P art 2

DESCRIPTION OF REHABILITATION

1. N AMEOFPROPERTY: _ _~Q~c~ ~~~O~O H~oL~~L-------------~-------------------------------------------t~a
u_~
Address o f p roperty : Street __ _.2J__~_Qr
c11y ____
If loco1ted

In

i ng

Qa. n_
'b_ury___ __ ___

N aiiOilJI Register

hl~tonc

S_ tl:ili~:.__ ________ ________________ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ __
_ ________ _ eountv

___.. F____.a. ._._j_._r_f. ____..i____.e.___.._l_. d_______ State

d lslnct. lor. a I or State dOSI<jnaled d ls!nct. s pecify :

C onn .

Z ip C ode

0 6BJ 0

I nrt i v ..idual.l.)l___ l _is_te.i a n Na t i . mal

H egister
2 . D ATA O N EXISTING STRUCTURE:
Dale o f c onstruCtiOn
O riginal use

__ _!
g

__l
_

e5 J - -

Ex1s11ng f loor area:

1 J 1 /~

_ s q feel

R eside ng_e__ _-- ------l~t.hi.c_k__c_ancr ate____beil r j n,o; wa 1 I s .

Type of c onslruciiOn _ _

0 c t ag a na]

s hape

3. D ATA O N R EHABILITATION P ROJECT:
P rotect s tartmg d ate ( est)

.ffiE:t-.- _l9Btl>ro,ect completion dale (est ): __,i..:JVlu:a...,y¥--fo~_.....,9;u..o8,J.~---__________ _ _______
l

E sttmated c ost o f r ehabtlitalion

·~__5_ 0 0 Q_ ___ Proposed use: ·---'A a r_t rnue;;.,nLLlt'--'" '-- - -- -- - - - -- - - - - -- - - .
~p.t.:.::!:..!. ~
S

NumberofhoustnguMslobecreated(lfappllcabtel

_Rei}(!Qili t ate a nd u pgrade e x i _sting u nits

Has the p roperty rece1ved F ederal o r S late hnanc1al assistance? [ ] yes:Kl n o
I f yes. spec1fy s ource:

Are a rchitectural p lans a nd s pecifications a vailable for rev1ew? 11 yes~ n o
A rchite c t's o r d eveloper's n ame and address

f nlnpllontl NumbtH

- - - - - -·--

4 D ETAILED D ESCRIPTION OF REHABILITATION/PRESERVATION WORK --mciudos ~11e w ork. n ew c onslrucl10n o11tor~t1ons e tc C omplete b locks b elow

NUMIIER

R oof

Re nlace J ()j~
o f r oof r afters. m atching e xistfr n g ,.
Approx1ma1e d ate o f f ealurt! C • 1 f3 5 J __ ____ _ - ---------_
R eplace d amaged a sphalt w ith d ouble
0escr~beemt1ngteature O ctagonal l ow p itch h ip
r olled o verlaoping r oll a sphalt
r oof, r oll a spaalt c overing. S agging
R oof t o m atch e xisting appe~rance.
d ue t o d amage t o r afters, c hiefly c ausec R enlace r otted w oode1 gutt~rs w: t h
b y b lockage o f g utters• Wooden g utters
w hite se~mless a luminum g utters.
r an u nder e aves w ith s ownspouts a t c or- I mpact o n o verall a onearance
ners. B locked f or l ong p eriod, b adly
m inimal.
r otted a nd u nrestoreable.

1

.

Ph.oto n o

A rr;htlec:lural lt!ature

____2_ Orawtng no _ _

DeSCribe worl< and tmpacl u n e<~SIIflg l t!,llures

2

Archotectural feature

C>L'.s::eui~o..l.I....Li.Ln1$g;.si:1.__ _______

Appro•omate date ol feature _

_Q_._

_lB_SJ_. 1 9 0 0

Oescrobe e•osling lealure: p laster c eil i_ n gs' l s t a nd
2 nd f loors, p atched w ith s heetrock.
S heet r ock ceilin~ i n b asement, wh~ch
w as c onverted t o a partment c . l ?OO.
C ondition: l st q nd.2nct f loor-fair,
Photo no.~ Drawong n o-- Base.- bR.d l y w ater

Oescrobe work and ompecl on e•ostong lemures P atch c racks i n
ceilin~s, l st a nd 2 nd f loor w here n Heded
w ith p laster t o m atch e xisting. I nstall
n ew 1 /2" s heetrock c eiline i n b asement
a partment.

d amag

Architectural leature~P'-o~r~c"-'hL.U<eco;SL-________

Oeacrobe wo·rk and ompact on e•osling reatures R eplace r ai 1 i n gs
t o m atch e xisting u sing t reated w ood f or
Appro•omate date ol leatura_..!ooCL..L.•--'-'l'-'8.L..J.5_.3L-. -- - - - lon~er l ife. R eplace b roken o rnamental
Oescrobe e•ostong reature: T wo-s t ory w ooden v erandah,
o ieces o f p orch·columns w~ere m issing,
4 ' w ide, s urround in~'. b uild i np;. O penwork t o m atch e xisting. R eplace f loor b oRrds
c oluMns, o rnamental s crollwork. S imple t o m atch e xisting, w here n ecessary.
w ooden r ailings, p ossibly a dded l ater.
C olumns a nd f loors i n e;oo.i c ond., sorfle
8 ,9,10
o r n a m • p ieces mi. s s i n J •
Photo no _ _ ctr"awong no - --- , a 1 l 1 n gs b a r ll y r o t t, e d •
R••

3

4

Archoleclural feature 0 u_'t"1._Lrl_e___-'.s_t_a i rs
Appro•omate date of reature _ _.C_:•:___..::.__S J _ _____
.::.
lR ~

Descrobe work and ompacl on e•ostong lealur~s r le p lace a ll
s tairs w her8 n ecessary t o m atch
e xisting.

Descrobee•islingleature S tairs o n n orth, S Oilth
a nd w est s irtes d eteriorated.

89
Photo no _ ,_ Orawong no _ _

5

Arch >leclur al leature . . . . .;F loor s !•'..-..=..:..:..c:....:...::___:____c_ __
:......=:....::..=-=...=... i nterior
Appro., male date of feature __ Q_• ._......;.:::....!...:0 :::_ _ _ _ _ _ __
1 ::.0

Descrobe e•oslon!l feature L inoleum f loor c overings
i n l st a nd 2 nd f loor k itchenr: i n·,poor
c ondition d ue t o w ater dama,,~e. P lywood
s ubfloor i n k itchen an~ b athroom i n b as e ment a partment t n p oor c oncttion, a lso
d ue t o w.q t er d:l.maf~f~.
Ph oro no ... -· . Dr aw>ng no ·- ..

Descrobe work and ompact on e••stono reature' R eplace l inoleum
i n l~t a nd 2 nd f loor k itchens. I nstall
n ew s ubfloor o f 1 /2" p lywood i n k itchen
a nd b athroom o f b asement a partment, a nd
i nstall m~w l inole11!p.

Continuation sheets allached: r_ktes []no
Name and mao long addreal ol owner:
Name>_ _~N~i~c k~~A~b~r h~a~m~-----------------------------------------------------------­
~
~a~
StrMI _ _...!:2~1~Ct...rLEe.f:!s.J:t~d~a~l!::..!e'"'-_R~o.s!a.!...!n'----------------~---------------'-.
City D anbury
Stat• C onn.
Z ip 0 68J Q
Telephone Number (during dayl: ( 203) 743-0354
hereby apply lor certification of rehebilitetlon work described. above lor purpo'" of the Federeltulncentlvet.l hereby elletlthet the Information I hiVe provided is, lo the besrol my
knowledge, correct, end that Iem owner of the property described above.
Social Security Number or Taxpeyer ldentlllcalion Number ----------------------:........----- - -- -- ---- I

Owner's Signature'- ------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - Oat."'-- --

----

CONTINUATION SHEET
Hlelofto PrHtrontlon CertHIDatlon
Appllcellon - Pert 2

Oc taP". o n H ; use

N~oiPro~rty : ~~~~~~~~~~----~~---------------------------------------------------

Addre11oiPro~rty:

NameoiOwner:

8

2 1 ~ p ring S treet, O anb JJr;y, C onn.

N j c k A braham

ArChitectural feature B athrooms

ApproKimate date or leature --~C"-L'--..!11...:.8'-9~0~----OescrtlleeKtstlngleature B athrooms, a dded, c . l R90l900, sho~ers a dded l ater. I n f air
c ondti.on.

Oescrtlle work and lmplct on IKIIhng lellluret I n s t:1 i l n f ' w
s hower s tall i n 1 st f loor b athroom.
W allpaper b athrooms, 1 st a nrt 2 nd
f loors, I nstall n ew b~throom d oors,
u tiliaing o ld d oors f ound s tored ~ n
b asement.

Photo no _ _ Oraw1ng no _ __

7

Arch1lecturat reature ..;P~l~u!.!.!m:!..!b~l~·~n~g.___ _______
Approx1mate date ol teature _ _...loc.._,.__...,l.....:.~o2o.l0"-----9

oescr~llee•I'Mgteeture

C opoer p ipes i nside h ouse,
f oor c ondition-leaks.

OeiCrtlle work and Impact on 8KIStlnQ lelllures He p lace 1 e:; / \i ng p ipes. w ith c opper tt-~bln!r, i ns:t · ··
h ouse, o utlet d rain w ith PVC p in···.
C over hangin~ p ines i n b~sement
w ith s heetrock.

Photo no _ _ Orawmg no _ _
N UMBI!"

Describe work and Impact on 8KiStlng featurfs l~ e r lRC e a ll
s witches. Hepl~ce a ll plu~s w ith
J -prong p lug w ith :~r < Hmd. a n r eq.
Oescr~bee•lstmgteature L i.r;ht s witches Hart O tltlets
b y c ode, [Y tSt.::lll two new o utlets
i n p oor c ondition, prenr~nt 0 11tlr>ts
p er r oom, l st a nd ~nd. f loor, n oillegal. On ly two o ut l ets i."l w ·tch r oom. c l os in~~ w i.rinrr; wi. t h mo.l •ling. I nwalls o f h ousP. a rP. l ' t hick c nncrete,
s tallinp; n ew :) utlets w ith wirin 1~
w i.th t hin l at;h o n i .ntP.rior, p l::1stered.
w lthi.n w alls w oulrt h ave rP. 1
ltlireti
o vi2 t o f prm i nterlor walt~. O rig, •Niri. ~ t he o wner t o ? ut i nto ~riginuL
PhOilno ' l), . o4
r.aw1ng no _ _ s n<1 k ed throu~h f rom , s e'lnoards a nd d 1stnrb o r1g. p l;_n:· ·-::. r
it
•
11
2 ,l):V.._
b:=Jfl(~ment.TeleohonP. w 1res
n e r1or wa s , Re move ex n =~ ·
.See n h o :,o
Architectural feature H ea '.i n t; s ys t ern
1 /l J))
9
U pgrade b oilers a nd b urner Rnd
Approx1mate date ot feature C • 1 92 0 • 1 9 J 0
p iping t o m eet c ode r eqs, Dr~in
eescr~beemlingfeature H eating u nits i n b~sement.,.
he~ting s ystem. K enlace dRm.::lg~d
w ith s team r adiators i n r ooms. 1 st f loo p arts t o p ut i n w orking o rder. t-£Eo il-fired b oiler; 2 nd f loor-modern g as
place s ections o f 9 " a luminum s,m:·Y.:'
f urnace. Bas~ment u nit-gas s tove w ith
p ipe g oing t o c himney. I nstall '1'W"·.
h eat. S ystem i n f air c ondition.
c omb. a uto f eed a nd r elief v alv•t' ()
o il b urner, p tlt i n 2 new s~uto.rt>s­
1 3,14,1S
and r eplace g alv, l ine w ith conr~r.
Photo no _ _ Oraw1ng no ._ _
F ill b oiler, p urge a ll radi~to~

8

Architectural feature E 1 e c t r Lc a l
Approx1ma1e ·dale of teature _....:.C: . . .:. •--=1:.....?~0::...0.::.__ ______

1

10

I

Ar c h o!ec l u ral le alure

A p p ro<~ m ale

d a le o f

t e r· j OJ:. wa I I s __&_ __ lri.IJI
_

"1

olr H rmp ,ICI n n ' '"'' ""I '''·'' "" "· k e- pa i. n t L:-> t a '1rl
l
2 nd f loor- rooms b~ige 8 ndtrim w hite t o
m atch e xisting c olor s cheme. M aintain
ornam~ntal t rim a s s hown i n n hotos
1 2, 1'3 a nd 1 4.

D · · ~crrtle w ork

feal u r~ ..._J..J~H~..:5HJ'--------

D es c rtDeex iS !Inq l e a lure I nter-ior r ooms w ith ' pla s terwalls, o rnamental c or-nice moliin~s,
r t1edallions o f p l8ster, w ooden b aseboard
w i '1dow a nd d oorway s llr r o . md s -•tii t h
s houldered a rchitrave-1st f lr., s impler
o n 2 nd. No t rim i n
P hoto l l o _ _____
_ __
1
b asement.Paint pe elin
7 ' l 2 ' l '1"+'
Or ~ "''ng ~o

NUMBER
A rchrlecluralleature

11
Appro•1ma1e

date

C entral s piral s tairc a
___:C 'L...-.;!!1~8L.,.j5c_'--------~
1

of fealur e

S piral w ooden s t 'l i r case
w inding f rom l st f loor, risin~ t o
c upola. C ondition f air, m'lny d igs a nd
c hips i n railin~.

S and down t o
d igs a nd r e-paint, matchin~
o riginal c olor.
re~ove

DP.SCrtbe e xrslrnq f eature

NUMBER

12

A rr.h olec tural l e,Jiure

i i:x t~F-i-GT-WEi.-l-lS--- ---- ----

Appro <ornate d ale o f f eatu re

_....:C o. --_.1., _8"-'5'-J ---- - - - I<...JL. ! ., '

1 ' t hick c oncrete WH l L s'
f air c ondition-cr1cks i n o uter l ayer
o f f iner g rained s tucco-like c oncrete.
Oesc:rtbeexr s lrng f eature

P hoiO n o

J l_

C racks t o b e c ut
o ut ~nd p atched w ith m ortar t o m atch
e xisting c omnostion a fter q nalysis.
H e-paint wa.L L w•1i t e t o r natch e xi3ting
s
c olor.
Oe~crt!Jewotk . llldornp;tcl u no ! KIS! III o]l"''"" "

D rawmq n o _ _..

N UMBER

A rr. '"l ec lural fe at ure _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ __
_

_ _ __

13
Ap~'o"m.11e

d ale o l f eature_

N UMBER

14

A rchdectural l c.lluro _ _ _ _ _ - - -·---- ---

A pproxrmate d ale o f l e,olurc - - - - De11crrtle e xrslrng f eature

P hoto n o _ ____ D rawrng n o _ _

- -·--- - -- _ __ _

_

O e scr~be

work and 1 mpact o n

·~• , st , nq

fe..1tu1 C'!i

8 . S ignificance
P et1od
_
prehlatorlc
_ 14Q0-1491
_ 15Q0-1599
_x_ 1 600-1699
- X- 1700-1799
- X- 1800-1899
~1900-

C riteria A, B, C,
S ee I nventory
PItem 7

s -ciflc d atea
•

Areae o f Slgnlftcanc~ e nd Juatlfr l lelew
archeology-prehlatortc _
communtty plalutfns _
_
archeoiQ9Y·hlatorlc
_
con..,._atlon
_
___x. agriculture
_
economlca
_
architecture
_x_ education
_
art
_
e ngineerlnt
L
__x_ commerce
_
exploratton/Mttlement _
- :L c ommunication•
_
I ndustry
L
_
Invention
B uilct.r,.Archltect

l andKape a rchitecture . ..L r etlglon

law
literature
m ilitary
m usic
p hlloaophy
poUtlc8igovemment

_ science
- v- aculptunt
_ A_ soclaV
humanitarian
_
t heater
_
t ran8p0rtatlon
. ..L o ther (apectty)
l ocal h j s t o qr

S ee I nventory - Item 7

S tatement o f S ignificance ( In o ne p aragraph)

The Main S treet H istoric D istrict i s s ignificant h istorically a s t he
f ocus o f D anbury's p ublic a nd c ommercial l ife s ince i ts f ounding i n 1 684,
a nd a s t he i nstitutional a nd c ommercial c enter f or t he s urrounding r egion
o f n orthern F airfield C ounty ( Criterion A ). T hroughout i ts h istory, i ts
e v e lopment ha s been a~so ci a ed wit h l ocal b usinessmen a nd c ivic l eaders
s ig n ifi ca nt t o t he i s t or y o f Dan bury, a nd h as a lso b een a ssociated w ith
f i g ures o f s t ate a nd natio na l pr omi ne nce, i ncluding n ewspaper p ublisher
J a m s M nt gome ry Ba i le y, t he '' Da nbury News M an," w idely known r iuring t he
o
l ate n i neteenth c en tur y a s a h umo r i st; a nd c omposer C harles E . I ves
( Criterion B ). The Main S treet H istoric D istrict i s s ignificant a rchitecturally f or i ts in~ividual b uilrtings w hich a re w ell-preserved e xamples
o f t heir p eriods, o ften t he work o f l eading C onnecticut a nd New Y ork
a rchitects, a s w ell a s f or i ts u nified s treetscapes i n w hich b uildings
o f d ifferent e ras a nd s tyles b lend ~armoniously. Of p articular n ote i s
t he c oncentration o f c ommercial ~rchitecture b uilt f rom t he l ate e ighteenth
c entury t o t he e arly t wentieth.
HISTORICAL ORIGINS AND OEVELGPMENT
M ain S treet H istoric J istrict c~n b e c haracterized a s wha t C arole R ifkind
c alls " The t hickened s pine o f a New e ngland v illage."l La i d o ut i n 1 684
a s " the Town S treet" when t he s ettlement was f ounded b y e i Bht f;-.:.mi l ies
f rom N orwalk, M ain S treet h as r emained t he f ocus o f Danbury's p ublic a nd
c ommercial l ife. The f irst f rontier s ettlement i n n orth e rn F airfield
C ounty, D anbury was f ounded a s a n a ericultural c ommunity. The Main S treet
a rea was c hosen a s t he s ite f or t he f irst s ettlement b ec au se o f i ts c entral
l ocation. D anbury b egan t o a ssume t he r ole o f r egional t r a ding c enter a s
new towns s uch a s New ~Jilford, Newtown a nd K idgefield w ere f ounded on i ts
b orders d uring t he e arly e ighteenth c entury. I ts s tr a te g ic l ocation i n
t he S till H iver v alley a t t he i ntersection o f t he e ast-we s t r oad c onnecting
t he Hudson R iver a rea w ith t he c entral r egion o f C onnecticut a nd t he n orthsouth r oute f rom Long I sland ~ound t o ~itchfield C ounty made i t t he
n atural f ocus f or commerce i n t he r egion. D uring t he A merican R evolution,
t he town s erved a s a n i mportant d epot o n t he s upply l ine t o C ontinental
f orces i n t he M iddle A tlantic c olonies, a nd a s t he s i te o f a n a rmy h ospital
a nd t he b ase o f a company o f ' 'artificers" who m anufactured n ails, w agons,
s hoes, h arnesses a nd o ther m ateriel. M ost o f t he e arly v illage was
d estroyed d uring a B ritish r aid i n A pril, 1 777, b ut i ndustries w hich
b lossomed a fter t he w ar l aid t he g roundwork f or a c ontinuing g rowth.
T he m anufacture o f m en's h ats h ad p re-existed t he R evolution b ut d uring
t he 1 780s a nd 1 790s D anbury became o ne o f t hz l eading n ational c enters f or
t he i ndustry, p roducing 2 0,000 h ats i n 1 800.
S hortly a fter t hat d ate
s everal l ocal m anufacturers e stablished r etail o utlets i n s outhern p ort
c ities, s etting up a t rade t hat r emained l ucrative u ntil t he C ivil War.

C ITY O F D ANBURY
O ntOB O J' T U M AYOB

D UBURY, C ONNECTICUT 0 6810

•

Dear H istoric P roperty Owner::
Congratulations on having your b uilding ·deaicnated a.e an
h istoric s tructure aa p art o f Danbury's National R egister
H istoric D istrict. Membership i n t his d istrict a ffords
s ignificant b enefits t o you, and t o t he C ity without i n
. any way l imiting your freedom t o use your b uilding aa you
see f it. I e nthusiaetiaally endorse t he e stablishment o f
t he d istrict, and urge you t o r ead c arefully t he m aterials
41n t his k it which e xplain the b enefits a vailable t o you.