Due to an illness, our scheduled speaker for the April general meeting wasn’t able to make it, but lucky for us, Brigid Guertin filled in at the last minute and gave us the opportunity to learn about Danbury’s rich history. Brigid is Executive Director of the Danbury Museum and Historical Society Authority, where she serves as Danbury’s local historian. Brigid holds a master’s degree in Museum Studies from George Washington University and received her undergraduate degree from Marymount College. She grew up in Danbury, graduating from Immaculate High School, and has a strong connection to the city.
Brigid started off by talking about the Danbury Museum, which houses its main campus at one of the city’s oldest structures, at 43 Main Street, also known as the Rider House. In 1941 there was a plan to demolish the building and replace it with a gas station, but some concerned citizens intervened and were able to raise enough money to purchase the property. The Danbury Museum and Historical Society was formed in 1947, when the Scott Fanton Museum and the Danbury Historical and Arts Center merged together. The museum is composed of seven historic buildings, including the John Dodd Hat Shop, the Ward House, the Charles Ives birthplace, two one-room schoolhouses and Huntington Hall, where other exhibits are displayed. Brigid told us that most historic houses are maintained by volunteers, however the Danbury museum is unusual and has a paid staff of 24 people.
Next, Brigid told the story of how the town of Danbury was founded in 1685 by eight men who traveled north from Norwalk and Stamford and planted a flag declaring the new town. Many of the streets, including Hoyt, Gregory, and Taylor, are named after the original founders. There was a debate over what to call the town, the settlers preferred the name Swampfield, but the court of Connecticut ordered that the town be named Danbury, after a city in England.
Brigid explained that in 1770, Danbury was equally split between the Patriots who wanted independence and the Loyalists who supported the British Crown. During the American Revolution, Danbury was an important military supply depot for the Continental Army, by an order from George Washington. On April 26, 1777, the British, under Major General William Tryon burned and looted the city, destroying everything in sight. The British destruction went on for nearly a week before the Continental Army leaders found out. General Benedict Arnold, along with General David Wooster and General Gold Silliman, led a surprise attack on the British with more than 500 American troops as the British withdrew from Danbury. The American General David Wooster was mortally wounded at the Battle of Ridgefield by the same British forces that attacked Danbury and is buried in Wooster Cemetery in Danbury.
Most of us know that Danbury has been nicknamed the Hat City because of its history in the hatting industry. The first hat shop was opened in 1780 by Zadoc Benedict, where he produced a mere three hats a day. When the hatting industry took off, many different kinds of immigrants moved to the area and lots of different languages were spoken. By 1850, Danbury was producing more hats than any other city in the United States. The focus in Danbury was creating men’s felt hats which were less expensive to manufacture since, unlike women, it didn’t bother men to wear similar hats.
Throughout history people wore hats as a necessary part of their wardrobe since they needed protection from the rain, snow, and sleet. After World War II there was a slow and steady decline and by 1950, men’s felt hats were no longer fashionable. People began spending more time in cars and less time outside, so they no longer needed hats to keep warm. The last Danbury hat factory closed down in 1981. The Danbury Hatting exhibit located at the John Dodd Hat Shop is one of the Danbury Museum’s premier exhibits and gives you the ability to look at the beautiful hats up close.
Brigid told us that one of the favorite parts of her job is going out and speaking to students at local schools, church groups, and senior groups. Brigid spends a lot of her time in the Danbury Public Schools, especially the 3rd grade classes which focus on local history. Brigid shares vintage photos with the students showing them how the architecture of the buildings on Danbury’s Main Street has changed over time. The 5th graders learn about the Revolutionary War and Brigid teaches them Danbury’s role in it. She also talks to students at WestConn and encourages them to get involved in National History Day.
Brigid said that the museum is currently in the process of digitizing all of Danbury’s historical records, but it is a constant struggle due to all the changes happening with technology. The museum houses a wealth of collections spanning the city’s history and growth from colonial times to the present day. Danbury newspapers are on microfilm, there are minutes from the Common Council meetings, early city directories, cemetery and burial records, early maps, and business ledgers. Brigid’s favorite collection is of the photos that contain all kinds of gorgeous images, each telling a different story. The museum uses the photos in a way that is enticing, but respectful to the sensitive nature of the content.
Over the years hundreds of people have donated all kinds of memorabilia to the museum such as wills, hats, and textiles. The museum has handwritten city records going back to the 1700’s so you can see which businesses were successful in the past. Brigid mentioned that many of Danbury’s residents are interested in genealogy and the museum is constantly adding to these records. They have a collection of city directories which are the early versions of the phone book. They offer information about the status of individuals, which is useful if you are looking up information on your family history.
Brigid said that they are always looking for new items to add to the museum such as historical pamphlets or old photographs that show people living in Danbury, so please keep them in mind the next time you clean out your attic. The museum is constantly creating new programs and exhibits and it certainly sounds like a place worth a visit. If you would like to learn more about what the Danbury Museum has to offer you can check out their website at DanburyMuseum.org.