| Waterbury | ||
| City | ||
|
Waterbury skyline from west, with Union Station clock tower at left
|
||
|
||
| Name origin: From junction of creeks with Naugatuck River | ||
| Motto: Quid Aere Perennius ("That More Lasting Than Brass") | ||
| Nickname: Brass City | ||
| Country | USA | |
|---|---|---|
| State | Connecticut | |
| Region | Naugatuck Valley | |
| County | New Haven | |
| Landmark | Waterbury Union Station clock tower | |
| River | Naugatuck | |
| Center | Waterbury Green | |
| - elevation | 270 ft (82 m) | |
| - coordinates | ||
| Highest point | Long Hill | |
| - elevation | 820 ft (250 m) | |
| - coordinates | ||
| Lowest point | S boundary along Naugatuck River | |
| - elevation | 220 ft (67 m) | |
| - coordinates | ||
| Area | 28.9 sq mi (75 km2) | |
| - land | 28.6 sq mi (74 km2) | |
| - water | 0.3 sq mi (1 km2) | |
| - metro | 97.9 sq mi (254 km2) | |
| Population | 110,366 (2010) | |
| - metro | 210,000 | |
| Density | 3,773 / sq mi (1,457 / km2) | |
| - metro | 2,145 / sq mi (828 / km2) | |
| Chartered as town | 1686 | |
| - City incorporated | 1853 | |
| - City and town consolidated | 1902 | |
| Government | Mayor-council | |
| - location | City Hall | |
| - elevation | 290 ft (88 m) | |
| - coordinates | ||
| Mayor | Michael J. Jarjura (R) | |
| Timezone | Eastern (UTC-5) | |
| - summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) | |
| ZIP Codes | 06701–06719 | |
| Area code | 203 | |
| FIPS code | 09-80000 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0211851 | |
|
Location of Waterbury within Connecticut
|
||
| Wikimedia Commons: Waterbury, Connecticut | ||
| Website: http://www.waterburyct.org | ||
Waterbury (nicknamed the "Brass City") is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, on the Naugatuck River, 33 miles (53 km) southwest of Hartford and 77 miles (124 km) northeast of New York City. As of 2010 Census Bureau estimates, the city had a total population of 110,366 and is the ninth largest city in New England, the fifth-largest city in Connecticut and the second largest city in New Haven County.[1]
Throughout the first half of the 20th century Waterbury had large industrial interests and was the leading center in the United States for the manufacture of brassware (including castings and finishings), as reflected in the nickname the "Brass City" and the city's motto Quid Aere Perennius? ("What Is More Lasting Than Brass?"), which echoes the Latin of Horace's Ode 3.30. It was noted for the manufacture of watches and clocks.
The city is located along Interstate 84 and has a Metro North railroad station. It is also home to Post University and a regional campus of the University of Connecticut.
The original settlement of Waterbury was in 1674 as a Town Plot section. In 1675 King Philip's War caused it to be vacated but the land was returned to in 1677, this time west of the first settlement. Both sites are now marked. The Algonquin name for the area was "Matetacoke" meaning "place without trees." Thus the settlement was named as "Mattatock" in 1673. The name changed to Waterbury on May 15, 1686, when the settlement was admitted as the 28th town in the Connecticut colony. It then included all or parts of the later towns of Watertown, Plymouth, Wolcott, Prospect, Naugatuck, Thomaston, and Middlebury. The name Waterbury was chosen because of all the streams flowing into the Naugatuck River. Growth was slow during Waterbury's first hundred years. The lack of arable land discouraged new settlers and the residents suffered through the great flood of 1691 and the great sickness of 1712. After a century, Waterbury's population numbered just 5,000.
Waterbury hit its stride as an industrial power in the early 19th century when it began to make brass, using a technology taken from the British. Not content with exploiting the know-how, these Yankee entrepreneurs lured talented craftsmen from across the sea to set up shop in Waterbury.As the "Brass Capital of the World," the city gained a reputation for the quality and durability of its goods. Waterbury was incorporated as a city in 1853. Waterbury supplied brass and copper used in Boulder Dam in Colorado. Waterbury brass was used for many other things in the United States such as minting disks for nickels, but the brass also went into South American coins.
Another famous Waterbury product of the mid-19th century was Robert H. Ingersoll's one-dollar pocket watch, five million of which were sold. After this, the clock industry became as important as Waterbury's famed brass industry. Evidence of these two important industries can still be seen in Waterbury, as numerous clocktowers and old brass factories have become landmarks of the city.
At its peak during World War II, 10,000 people worked at the Scovill Manufacturing Co, later sold to Century Brass. The city's metal manufacturing mills (Scovill Manufacturing, Anaconda American Brass, and Chase Brass & Copper were the largest) occupied more than 2 million square feet (180,000 m²) and more than 90 buildings.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 28.9 square miles (74.9 km²), of which, 28.6 square miles (74.0 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.9 km²) of it (1.21%) is water.
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 107,271 people, 42,622 households, and 26,894 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,754.7 people per square mile (1,449.7/km²). There were 46,827 housing units at an average density of 1,639.0 per square mile (632.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 67.14% White, 16.31% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 1.51% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 10.91% from other races, and 3.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.77% of the population.
Waterbury is probably the most heavily Italian-American large city in Connecticut today. The Italian influence is especially strong in the Town Plot, Brooklyn, and North End neighborhoods. It has been said that 6 in 10 voters in Waterbury are of Italian descent and they often prove to be a decisive voting block in city elections. Additionally, the city is home to thriving French-Canadian, Portuguese, Lebanese, Lithuanian, and Albanian communities. Waterbury has strong Irish roots as well, especially in Washington Hill which is home to the city's annual St. Patrick Day's Parade. At the beginning of the 21st century, Waterbury had a growing Orthodox Jewish population.[5]
There were 42,622 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.8% were married couples living together, 19.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,285, and the median income for a family was $42,300. Males had a median income of $35,486 versus $27,428 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,701. About 12.7% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.6% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.
Waterbury’s economic decline in the 1970s and 1980s resulted in it being ranked as having the worst quality of life of 300 U.S. metropolitan areas by Money Magazine in 1992. Waterbury was rated as one of the "10 Worst Places to Live in America" in the 1999 Places Rated Almanac.[6] Waterbury was also rated as one of the "Worst Places for Businesses and Careers in America" by Forbes Magazine in April 2008.[7]
According to the City's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[8] the top employers in the city are:
| # | Employer | # of employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Waterbury | 3,811 |
| 2 | Waterbury Hospital | 1,541 |
| 3 | St. Mary's Hospital | 1,279 |
| 4 | State of Connecticut | 1,225 |
| 5 | AT&T | 400 |
| 6 | Naugatuck Valley Community College | 384 |
| 7 | United States Postal Service | 270 |
| 8 | Webster Bank (HQ) | 256 |
| 9 | Republican-American | 252 |
| 10 | MacDermid (HQ) | 217 |
| Mayor | Michael J. Jarjura (R) |
| Town Clerk | Antoinette C. Spinelli (D) |
| City Sheriff | Stephen M. Conway (D) |
| City Clerk | Michael J. Dalton (D) |
| Aldermen (15) |
| Paul K. Pernerewski, Jr. (D - President) |
| Anthony T. Piccochi (D – Majority Leader) |
| Joseph Begnal, Jr.(D) |
| Joyce Petteway (D) |
| Francis Caiazzo, Jr. (D) |
| Ronald Napoli, Jr. (D) |
| Ernest Brunelli (D) |
| Alberto Negron (D) |
| Anne Phelan (D) |
| Cicero B. Booker, Jr. (I – Minority Leader) |
| Lawrence DePillo (I) |
| Frank A. Burgio Sr. (I) |
| Ryan Mulcahy (I) |
| Steven Giacomi (R) |
| Jerry Padula (R) |
Waterbury has about 52,000 registered voters, of whom about 24,000 are Democrats. There are about 7,800 registered Republicans and the balance are largely unaffiliated, with a smattering belonging to minor parties.
John S. Monagan, who was a prolific author in addition to his political responsibilities, served as Waterbury's mayor from 1943 to 1948. He also served as its district's congressional representative from 1959 to 1973. George Harlamon, a member of the Waterbury Hall of Fame, was the city's 40th mayor. He served from 1969 to 1970 during a period of racial tension. The City is known for its hard nosed political culture compared locally to Cook County, Illinois, close elections, and a number of scandals. This reputation is so solidified that U.S. Senator Joseph I. Lieberman once joked that upon his death, he hoped to be buried in Waterbury so he could remain politically active.
Waterbury's scandalous past dates back to 1940 when Mayor T. Frank Hayes and 22 others were convicted of conspiracy to defraud the City of Waterbury. Hayes received a 10-15 year sentence and served six years. Ironically, the massive corruption scheme was exposed with the help of then comptroller Sherwood Rowland, grandfather of Gov. John G. Rowland, who was convicted on corruption charges in 2004. The recently published book, Publisher vs. Politician: A Clash of Local Titans, by author William A. Monti is an account of the rise and fall of T. Frank Hayes and focuses on his election campaigns, his bitter fights with William J. Pape, publisher of two local newspapers, and his ultimate trial, conviction, and sentencing for corruption. Ironically, what appeared to have been a defeat for Hayes was not really a victory for Pape, and the stage was set for further corruption in Waterbury in the second half of the 20th century.Waterbury was in serious financial straits due to years of mismanagement resulting in the city's finances being take over by the State of Connecticut. The State Oversight Board oversaw city business for several years and have since left following consecutive years of balanced budgets. The successors to Giordano, former Acting Mayor Sam Caligiuri and present and 45th Mayor Michael Jarjura have managed the city without major controversy since 2001.
A number of Presidential candidates have campaigned in Waterbury due to its pivotal role in statewide elections. The most famous was the election eve visit on the Green by John F. Kennedy in 1960. Forty thousand people waited until 3 a.m. on the Green to greet Presidential Candidate John F. Kennedy, Sunday, November 6, 1960. Sen. Kennedy spoke to them from the balcony of the Roger Smith Hotel (now called the Elton). Pierre Salinger later said it was the greatest night of the campaign. In September 1984 Ronald Reagan held a huge noontime election rally at the same location. In July 2006 former President Bill Clinton made a campaign appearance at the Palace Theatre for Senator Joe Lieberman during his campaign for re-election to the U.S. Senate. Shortly after the Democratic primary, Tom Swan, campaign manager for Lieberman's opponent Ned Lamont, described Waterbury as a place where "the forces of slime meet the forces of evil" after a large majority of the town's voters backed Lieberman. Swan claimed he was referring to former Mayor Philip A. Giordano and former Governor John G. Rowland.[9]
Governor John G. Rowland served ten months in a federal prison until February 10, 2006. He was released from federal prison with the stipulation that he serve four months house arrest with an electronic ankle bracelet monitor until June 2006.
In January 2008 Waterbury Mayor Michael Jarjura announced that he would hire Rowland as a economic development advisor for the city. Rowland began work in February and is receiving an annual salary of $95,000 as the city's economic development coordinator.[10][11]
Waterbury is also home to Connecticut's Consulate General Of Portugal which has its office Downtown on East Main Street.[12]
The city's schools are operated by Waterbury Public Schools under the leadership of superintendent Dr. David L. Snead and a board of education that consists of ten elected members and the city mayor, who acts as the chairman ex-officio.
| Board of Education (10) |
| Patrick Hayes, Jr. (D - President) |
| Coleen Flaherty-Merritt (D) |
| Karen Harvey (D) |
| Neil O'Leary (D) |
| Jose Morales (D) |
| Mary White (D) |
| Charles Stango (R) |
| Jason Van Stone (R) |
| Ann Marie Sweeney (U) |
| John Thereault (I) |
The four public high schools in Waterbury are Crosby, Kennedy, Waterbury Arts Magnet and Wilby High Schools. Private high schools include Chase Collegiate (formerly St. Margaret's-McTernan), Holy Cross High School, and Sacred Heart High School. W. F Kaynor Tech, the city's only tech school, is operated by the state and has gone under renovation. The Waterbury Arts Magnet School opened in 2004 across from the University of Connecticut's Waterbury campus.
Waterbury also has a number of Catholic elementary schools including: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, St. Mary's, Blessed Sacrement, Sts. Peter & Paul, St. Joseph's, St. Lucy's, St. Francis Xavier, and St. Margaret's.
In addition, Waterbury is home to the Yeshiva Gedolah School of Waterbury,[13] which provides Orthodox Jewish education from kindergarten to post-High School students. It is operated by the Yeshiva Community of Waterbury.
Waterbury is also home to Post University, a private liberal arts college, and Naugatuck Valley Community College.
Waterbury Christian schools:Lighthouse Christian Academy;Waterbury Christian academy;Alpha & Amega Academy. Trinity academy (closed 2004)
The city of Waterbury is protected 24/7, 365 by the professional firefighters of the City of Waterbury Fire Department(WFD). The Waterbury Fire Department operates out of 9 Fire Stations, strategically located throughout the city, and also operates a front-line fire apparatus fleet of 8 Engines, 3 Trucks, 1 Rescue, 1 Haz-Mat. Unit, 1 Collapse Unit, and numerous other special, support, and reserve units.
Fire stations and apparatus
| Engine Company | Truck Company | Rescue Company | Special Unit | Command Unit | Address | Neighborhood |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine 1 | Truck 2 | Rescue 9 | Haz-Mat. 9, Collapse 9 | 1979 N. Main St. | North Side | |
| Engine 2 | Truck 3 | 519 E. Main St. | Downtown | |||
| Engine 4 | 823 Baldwin St. | South End | ||||
| Engine 5 | 1956 E. Main St. | Fair Lawn | ||||
| Engine 6 | 431 Willow St. | Overlook | ||||
| Engine 7 | Battalion 2 | 315 Walnut St. | Long Hill | |||
| Engine 8 | Battalion 1(Temporarily) | 197 Bunker Hill Ave. | Bunker Hill | |||
| Truck 1 | Battalion 1 | 26 Field St. | Downtown | |||
| Engine 11 | Truck 1(Temporarily) | 740 Highland Ave. | Town Plot |
The Waterbury Police Department(WPD) is Waterbury's only police force since being founded in 1853. Headquarters is at 255 East Main Street, while the Waterbury police academy is located at the Waterbury Police Department Annex at 240 Bank Street. The 2010 force is composed of 300 officers, and the current Chief of Police is Michael Gugliotti.[14]
Waterbury is a city of neighborhoods. Their distinctive character, shaped by the history and geography of the city, has led residents to form an unusual loyalty to their neighborhood.
Vibrant ethnic communities distinguished the city neighborhoods. Clusters of shops at the street corners offered neighborhood residents everything they could desire, creating villages within the city. For many people, home, work and community life was contained within their neighborhood. Downtown, a short walk away, was “the city”, offering live theater, fancy stores, parades and spectacles.[15]
|
|
Constructed by the world famous architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White of N.Y. for the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company, the Union Station on Meadow Street was modeled after the Torre del Mangia at the Palazzo Publico in Siena, Italy. It cost $332,000 to build in 1909. The clocktower is 240 feet (73 m) high and has 318 steps. The clock was made by Seth Thomas Co. with a dial 16 feet (4.9 m) in diameter with 5-foot (1.5 m) tall Roman numerals. The eight she-wolf gargoyles are a reminder of the myth of Romulus and Remus. The tower opened July 12, 1909. Union Station is now the home of the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper, and the city's Metro-North railroad station is on a platform next to the building.
The stadium was built in 1930 originally as a dog track which attributes to its unique, if not odd, layout. It holds 6,000 people. It is somewhat unique that it only has permanent stands along the first-base line, while bleachers lie along the third-base side.
It was home to minor league baseball for the majority of its existence, beginning in 1947 with the Colonial League and from 1966 to 1986 with the AA Eastern League as an affiliate of the Dodgers, Reds, Giants, Indians, Pirates, A's, and Angels.
In 1997 the Stadium became home to the Waterbury Spirit which spent four seasons in the Independent League.
Several future major leaguers played at the stadium, including Bobby Bonds, Paul O'Neill, Wally Joyner, Cory Snyder, and Danny Tartabull.
It is now primarily used for sporting events, primarily football and baseball, for most of the city's high schools and Little Leagues.
The stadium has been home to a few historic events also, woman's softball pitcher Joan Joyce struck out Ted Williams, Dom Dimaggio, and Johnny Pesky, in order in the stadium, and in 1947 several members of the New York Yankees including Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto, and Spec Shea, played an exhibition game against the Waterbury Timers in the stadium.
The Apothecary Building,[16] the focal point of Exchange Place in the center of Waterbury at the intersection of South Main and Bank Streets, was built in 1893 and housed the Apothecaries Hall Pharmacy for over 70 years.
The 2,500 pound statue on the Carrie Welton Fountain[17] on the east end of The Green[18] is in memory of Caroline Josephine Welton's black stallion, Knight, and her love of animals. The fountain was dedicated November 10, 1888.
Sculpted by former Waterbury resident George C. Bissell as a tribute to the whole Civil War experience, the 48-foot (15 m)-high bronze Soldiers' Monument[19] on the west end of The Green was cast in Paris and cost $25,000. It was dedicated October 23, 1884. Other Bissell works include: Memorial to Scottish American soldiers of the Civil War located in Edinburgh, Scotland, and many statues in Riverside Cemetery, including one of Waterbury Civil War hero, Col. John L. Chatfield. The poem on the Soldiers Monument, by Dr. Joseph Anderson of Waterbury history fame, was included in the Library of American Literature:
Brave men, who rallying at your country's call Went forth to fight - if Heaven willed, to fall: Returned, ye walk with us through sunnier years And hear your nation say, God bless you all! Brave men, who yet a heavier burden bore And came not home to hearts by grief made sore! They call you dead and lo ye grandly live. Shrined in the nation's love forevermore!
Designed by Luis Fucito for the City of Waterbury for about $55,000, it was intended in honor of all those who have served in the wars of our country. The 15-foot (4.6 m) star was dedicated on May 30, 1958 and is located on the west end of The Green.
Built in 1905, the Elton Hotel on the Waterbury Green was a grand hotel which served as the starting point for the "Ideal Tour". Created by the Elton's first manager, Almon Judd, this tour created a convoy of early automobiles which journeyed to New England resorts. The Elton was considered one of New England's most elegant hotels until the 1960s, when it became the Roger Smith Hotel. It is now an assisted living facility. President John F. Kennedy made a campaign speech from the balcony of the hotel on Sunday, November 6, 1960. Forty thousand people waited until 3 a.m. on the Green to greet then Senator John F. Kennedy who spoke to them from the balcony of the hotel. A plaque was later added to the building to commemorate the occasion. Also on the building is a plaque commemorating the establishment of Unico National in the city in 1922.
Nationally renowned architect Cass Gilbert won a competition to design Waterbury's City Hall building on Grand Street, which was completed in 1915. Gilbert was then hired to design the Chase Headquarters Building (facing City Hall and now a municipal building housing the mayor's office); a bank building next to City Hall; the Lincoln House and the Chase Dispensary buildings on Field Street; the Waterbury Club on West Main Street (demolished in the 1960s); and coordinated the landscaping of Library Park with the Olmsted Brothers in the 1920s.
The statue was completed by sculptor Frank C. Gaylord of Barre, VT for the Christopher Columbus Committee and the Waterbury Unico National Club at a total cost of $45,000, $25,000 for the statue and $20,000 for the base. The 12-foot (3.7 m) Christopher Columbus statue[20] is made of granite and weighs 12,000 pounds. Standing in front of City Hall, this statue was dedicated Oct. 12, 1984. The Christopher Columbus Time Capsule, closed Oct. 12, 1992 to be opened October 12, 2092, is behind the monument.
The base of the sculpture reads:
Cristoforo Columbo 1451-1506 Discover of America October 12, 1492
The Ben Franklin statue[21] seated in front of the Silas Bronson Library on Grand Street was designed by renowned sculptor Paul Wayland Bartlett, a one-time Waterbury resident. The 1700 pound statue was made possible by a $15,000 donation from Elisha Leavenworth. After completion, it made a 22-city tour, with celebrations in each city, from Baltimore to Boston and then to Waterbury where it was dedicated June 3, 1921.
The Waterbury Courthouse[22] on the corner of Grand and Meadow Streets, with its graceful curved facade and brass-bedecked entranceway, was the headquarters of the Anaconda American Brass Company for over 50 years. A large addition was put on the building in 1998.
The Waterbury Clock Company buildings on Cherry Ave. were constructed in 1857. By the end of the 19th century, the company employed 3,000 workers and turned out 20,000 clocks and watches a day. The Great Depression sent the Waterbury Clock Co. into receivership, and the company was eventually purchased by Thomas Olsen (owner and operator of Fred. Olsen Shipping Co.) and Joakim Lehmkuhl of Norway during WWII to aid in the war effort becoming the largest producer of fuse timers for precision defense products in the United States.[23] The company was renamed the United States Time Corporation in 1944 following its wartime success.[24] Manufacturing operations here ceased when production was moved to a new factory in Middlebury, CT in 1942, and the buildings now house several small businesses. The company still operates today as Timex Group USA maintaining its headquarters in Middlebury.
The 175 ton, 60-foot (18 m) long Harrub Pilgrim Memorial[25] was carved out of French granite by Hermon Atkins MacNeil of New York. Charles Harrub, an engineer for the American Brass Company, donated the $100,000 needed for the project to honor his wife and the Pilgrims. Dedicated October 11, 1930 at its original location at the entrance to Chase Park across from the Freight Street bridge, it was moved for the construction of the Interstate Route 84 / Route 8 interchange and is now located at the corner of Highland Avenue and Chase Parkway.
Chief Two Moon Meridas built his laboratory building on East Main Street[26] in 1925 and manufactured his world famous herbal medications there until his death in 1933. The Indian Heads and two moons engraved on the front exterior walls have been retained on the building.
Holy Land USA[27] was an 18-acre (73,000 m2) park in Waterbury, CT representing a miniature Jerusalem and Bethlehem. It was one of Connecticut’s biggest tourist attractions in the 1960s and 1970s with 50,000 visitors per year. Holy Land USA was built in the 1950s by local attorney John Baptist Greco. The 50' cross was designed and built by Frank Veto Lyman. This steel cross was once lit up purple for Lent and red for the Christmas season. Holy Land USA closed in 1984 and the plaster, wire caves and structures are now in miserable shape. Some local residents wish to see the place restored while others want it razed and turned into a park.
On November 20, 2002, Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart spoofed Holy Land in a segment with correspondent Stephen Colbert satirically comparing the park to Israel.
The cross was one of Waterbury’s most beloved and prominent landmarks. Illuminated at night, it was a beacon seen from many homes and thousands of motorists passing daily on highways below. Pilots even used it for orientation.[28]
In April 2008, workmen took down the former cross, which had become unstable from years of weathering and repeated attacks by vandals. The Religious Teachers Filippini, an order of nuns that owns the property, paid $250,000 to have it replaced with a cross that is a little shorter, a bit thinner, but more durable. In addition, the cross is not illuminated like the previous ones, instead it is lit by surrounding flood lights.
On June 18, 2008 the new 50-foot (15 m) cross was blessed and rededicated by Archbishop Henry J. Mansell. The new cross is actually the third giant cross to grace the site. The original was 32 feet (9.8 m) tall and was erected in 1956. The cross was dedicated to world peace in a ceremony attended by 1,200 people in November of that year. It was the beginning of Holy Land.
That original cross was replaced in 1968, by a cross of steel girders and plastic that housed fluorescent lights that reached 56 feet (17 m) into the sky. That cross was dedicated to peace and also to the slain John and Robert Kennedy.
Today, much of what was Holy Land is in ruins. Broken pavement lines the road winding through the property. Yellow tape blocks access to displays, many of which have been smashed by vandals. While the site is officially off-limits, people still skirt no-trespassing signs to visit.[29][30]
The Mattatuck Museum Arts and History Center is the only museum in Connecticut dedicated to collecting and exhibiting Connecticut artists and sculptors. Previously housed in the historic Kendrick House on the other side of The Green, the museum moved to the former Masonic Temple in 1986. The renovation and construction was designed by noted Argentine-born architect Cesar Pelli. Exhibits in the ground floor galleries reveal the history of Waterbury and surrounding towns. New additions to the history exhibit include an interactive display about the region's slavery history. Recent additions to the art collections include a gallery display about Alexander Calder and a "Giant Critter" designed by Calder in the museum's courtyard.
Another educational landmark of Waterbury is the Timexpo Museum.[31] The museum, which is in what were formerly factory buildings of the Scovill Manufacturing Company, opened to the public in May 2001. There are three floors of exhibits that explore the heritage of the world-famous Timex Group, tracing back to its early days as the Waterbury Clock Company. Visitors can witness the birth and growth of Timex, enjoying demonstrations of the inner workings of clock and watches. Within the museum there are a variety of hands on exhibits with craft activities, and computer interactions.
Before the Brass Mill Center Mall was built, the Naugatuck Valley Shopping Mall was the main shopping center of the area. It was located on Wolcott Street and built in August 1969. The Naugatuck Valley Mall first opened with an interior movie theater and two well known anchors in the Connecticut area: Sears and G. Fox.
The Brass Mill Center & Commons is a shopping venue built on the site of old Scovill Manufacturing Co. factory buildings near the center of Waterbury. It houses many stores and restaurants including Old Navy, American Eagle, Hollister Co., Barnes & Noble, Chili's, IHOP, Bertucci's, Macy’s, JCPenney, Sears, Burlington Coat Factory.
Originally opened in 1922, the Palace Theatre was home to films and vaudeville shows. It operated for nearly seventy years before being closed in 1987. Thanks to the financial backing of the State of Connecticut and the support of then-Governor Rowland, the theatre reopened on November 12, 2004.
W.F Kaynor Tech[32] was founded in 1954 and is Waterbury's only technical school. In 2006, the school started an extensive 53 million dollar addition and upgrade. It was finished in the summer of 2009. Robert Chatfield, the Mayor of Prospect for 34+ years graduated from Kaynor Tech in 1960.
The Chase Collegiate School is a private day school formerly known as Saint Margaret's-McTernan established in 1865.Founded by Chase Brass and Copper company
The oldest store in downtown Waterbury closed in late 2009. Minicucci's was owned by Arnold Minicucci who inherited the store from his father, Erasamo Minicucci. The store was founded in the early 20th century and was located on Bank Street.
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
