Waterbury, Connecticut

"Waterbury" and "Brass City" redirect here. For other uses, see Waterbury (disambiguation) and Brass City (disambiguation).

Waterbury
City
Waterbury skyline from west, with Union Station clock tower at left
Seal
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	41°33′22″N 73°2′29″W
Highest point	Long Hill
- elevation	820 ft (250 m)
- coordinates	41°34′12″N 73°1′0″W
Lowest point	S boundary along Naugatuck River
- elevation	220 ft (67 m)
- coordinates	41°30′52″N 73°3′17″W
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	41°33′14″N 73°2′37″W
Mayor	Neil O'Leary (D)
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.

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.

History

St. Anne's Church, Waterbury

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.

South Main Street, about 1910

Downtown on East Main Street in 1954

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.

Notable historic events

• Waterbury's Fr. Michael J. McGivney founded The Knights of Columbus in New Haven, Connecticut on February 2, 1882. Though the first councils were all in Connecticut, the Order spread throughout the United States in the following years.
• Established in 1894, St. Joseph's Church holds the distinction of being the first Lithuanian worshiping community in Connecticut.
• The first Unico Club was founded in Waterbury in 1922. It now has 8,000 members and 150 regional groups. The membership is composed of business and professional people of Italian lineage or those who are married to an Italian-American. The clubs sponsor educational, cultural and civic programs.
• Sacred Heart was the first Catholic High School in Connecticut, September 6, 1922.
• One of the first full-length sound motion pictures was made in the 1920s at the studios of the Bristol Co. at Platts Mills by Professor William Henry Bristol, who experimented for years with sound pictures.
• The Waterbury Clock Company produced the Mickey Mouse watch in 1933 under the Ingersoll brand. The watch was so popular that over 11,000 were sold the first day, and it saved the company from bankruptcy.
• W1XBS in Waterbury was one of only four radio stations in the country that began experimental high fidelity broadcasting in 1934. The station broadcast at 1530 kc, and joined the CBS Radio Network on December 1, 1938. They moved to 1590 kc and changed the call letters to WBRY in 1941, in accordance with the North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement. The station's broadcasting license was cancelled in 1998 to allow New York's WWRL to be upgraded; at the time it had been known as WQQW.
• Victor Zembruski started his Polish Eagles show on Waterbury radio station WATR in 1934. It is now the oldest continuously broadcast show on American radio.
• The Chase Dispensary, a medical clinic for employees of the Chase Brass & Copper Co., opened one of the first birth control clinics in the country in 1938.

Geography

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.

Demographics

As of the census 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.

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.

Economy

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. Waterbury was also rated as one of the "Worst Places for Businesses and Careers in America" by Forbes Magazine in April 2008.

According to the City's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, 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

Government

Mayor	Neil O' Leary (D)
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)

Gregory Hadley (D)

Anne Phelan (D)

Ronald Napoli, Jr. (D)

Joseph Begnal, Jr. (D)

Ernest Brunelli (D)

Ryan Mulchahy (D)

Lysa Margiotta (R)

Carlo Palladino (R)

Federick Luedke (R)

Frank A. Burgio Sr. (R)

George Noujaim (R)

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 (2001) and former mayor Michael Jarjura (2001–2011) managed the city without major controversy since 2001. Democrat Neil O'Leary was elected the 46th Mayor of Waterbury on November 9, 2011.

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.

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.

Consulate Office

Waterbury is also home to Connecticut's Consulate General Of Portugal which has its office Downtown on East Main Street.

Education

The city's schools are operated by Waterbury Public Schools under the leadership of superintendent Dr. Kathleen Ouellette and a board of education that consists of ten elected members and the city mayor, who acts as the chairman ex-officio.

Joanne D'Amelio (R) Gregory Harkins (D)

Board of Education (10)

Charles Stango (R - President)

Coleen Flaherty-Merritt (D)

Karen Harvey (D)

Jose Morales (D)

Charles Stango (R)

Jason Van Stone (R)

Ann Marie Sweeney (I)

Elizabeth Brown (D)

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.

Waterbury also has a number of Catholic elementary schools including: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, St. Mary's, Blessed Sacrement, and Sts. Peter & Paul.

In addition, Waterbury is home to the Yeshiva Gedolah School of Waterbury, 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)

Emergency services

Fire department

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

Police department

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.

Neighborhoods

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.

Downtown Waterbury Waterville Town Plot Washington Hill Hopeville Brooklyn East End Bunker Hill Hillside Bucks Hill South End Fairmount

East Mountain Overlook Pine Hill Fair Lawn North Square Robinwood West Side Country Club North End/North Side WOW/Walnut-Orange-Walsh Long Hill Crownbrook Gilmartin

Local media

• Waterbury Republican-American - A Waterbury based independent daily newspaper.
• Macaroni Kid - An events calendar and parenting information resource for parents in Bridgewater, Roxbury, Bethlehem, Woodbury, Southbury, Oxford, Watertown, Middlebury, and Waterbury.
• WWCO - Radio station broadcasting at 1240 AM with a news/talk format.
• WATR - Radio station broadcasting at 1320 AM with an oldies and news/talk format.
• WWYZ - Radio station broadcasting at 92.5 FM with a country format.
• WMRQ - Radio station broadcasting at 104.1 FM with an alternative rock format.

Landmarks

The Union Station Clocktower is Waterbury’s most prominent landmark

Union Station Clocktower

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.

Municipal Stadium

See also: :Category:Defunct baseball venues

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.

Exchange Place, the transportation and business center of Waterbury, in the early 1950s.

The Apothecary Building

The Apothecary Building, 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.

Carrie Welton Fountain

The 2,500 pound statue on the Carrie Welton Fountain on the east end of The Green is in memory of Caroline Josephine Welton's black stallion, Knight, and her love of animals. The fountain was dedicated November 10, 1888.

Soldiers' Monument

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 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!

Veterans' Monument

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.

The Hotel Elton in the 1940s

Hotel Elton

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.

Cass Gilbert Historic District

Main article: Cass Gilbert National Register District

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.

Christopher Columbus statue

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 is made of granite and weighs 12,000 pounds. Standing in front of City Hall, this statue was dedicated October 12, 1984. The Christopher Columbus Time Capsule, closed October 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

Ben Franklin statue

The Ben Franklin statue 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.

Waterbury Courthouse

The Waterbury Courthouse 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.

Waterbury Clock Co. buildings

Waterbury Clock Company

Main article: Timex Group USA

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. The company was renamed the United States Time Corporation in 1944 following its wartime success. 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.

Harrub Pilgrim Memorial

Harrub Pilgrim Memorial

The 175 ton, 60-foot (18 m) long Harrub Pilgrim Memorial 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 Laboratory

Chief Two Moon Meridas built his laboratory building on East Main Street 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.

The Holy Land USA sign and cross in 1960

Holy Land USA

Main article: Holy Land USA

Holy Land USA 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.

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.

Mattatuck Museum

Main article: Mattatuck Museum Arts and History Center

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.

Timexpo Museum

Main article: Timexpo Museum

Another educational landmark of Waterbury is the Timexpo Museum. 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.

Looking east on East Main Street in Waterbury, Sacred Heart Church in center

Naugatuck Valley Shopping Center

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.

Brass Mill Center

Main article: Brass Mill Center

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.

Palace Theatre

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.

Warren Fox Kaynor Technical High School

W.F Kaynor Tech 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.

Chase Collegiate School

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

Minicucci's Men's Clothing store

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.

On the National Register of Historic Places

• George S. Abbott Building
• Bank Street Historic District
• Benedict-Miller House
• Beth El Synagogue
• Bishop School
• Downtown Waterbury Historic District
• Elton Hotel
• Lewis Fulton Memorial Park
• Hamilton Park
• Enoch Hibbard House and George Grannis House

In popular culture

• Waterbury radio station WWCO and disk jockey Les Davis were featured in an article in the April 25, 1955 issue of Life Magazine.
• The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, the most famous of James Thurber’s short stories, is set in Waterbury in 1939.
• Waterbury-born John Fusco, noted screenwriter and novelist, wrote "Paradise Salvage" (Simon and Schuster 2001), a novel set in Waterbury. The novel, an Italian-American coming-of-age story, was inspired by several incidents of civic corruption in the Brass City.
• Gladys Taber's romance novel, "Give Me the Stars" (1945), was set in Waterbury and in the Chase Brass & Copper Company's factory, giving vivid depictions of factory life during World War II.
• The Today Show on NBC was broadcast from the Hotel Elton on August 18, 1955 to cover the festivities for the world premiere of Waterbury native Rosalind Russell’s movie The Girl Rush at the State Theater that evening. A major flood on August 19, 1955 caused over 50 million dollars in property damage and the deaths of 29 Waterbury residents; The Today Show provided live coverage of the flood to the country.

Notable residents

• Michael Bergin, one of first male supermodels
• Darren Brass tattoo artist, reality show character, from the TLC hit show Miami Ink.
• William H. Bristol, inventor and manufacturer, was born in Waterbury. Invented the “Bristolphone” to simultaneously record voices and other sounds with motion in moving pictures.
• Joe Cipriano, television announcer (also known as Tom Collins on WWCO in Waterbury) for Deal or No Deal and 1 vs. 100.
• Deirdre Coleman-Imus, Waterbury-born actress. Married famed radio personality Don Imus in 1995.
• Roger Connor, major league baseball player in the Baseball Hall of Fame
• Bob Crane, actor, of Hogan's Heroes fame was born in Waterbury and had a radio program on WATR.
• Andre "mrDEYO" Deyo, singer songwriter, best known for writing "Jenny From The Block" for Jennifer Lopez in 2002, graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in Waterbury.
• Allie DiMeco, actress, best known for playing Rosalina in The Naked Brothers Band on Nickelodeon.
• Joe Diorio Jazz guitarist & theorist, also an author and teacher at the University of Southern California. He was also one of the first instructors for the Guitar Institute of Technology.
• Damane Duckett, born and raised in Waterbury, is an American football offensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL. Duckett has also played for the New York Giants and the Carolina Panthers.
• Peter M. Ferreira, concert violinist, recording artist and author.
• Dr. Robert Gallo, a U.S. biomedical researcher, best known for his role in identifying the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) as the infectious agent responsible for the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
• Mordechai Gifter, one of America's leading Torah Scholars, served as rabbi of Waterbury's Jewish community from 1941 - 1945.
• Philip Giordano, former mayor of Waterbury, (R) was stripped of power in 2001 after a corruption investigation revealed alleged sexual acts with a minor and other possible pedophilia charges.
• Ryan Gomes, Los Angeles Clippers forward, was born in Waterbury and attended Wilby High School.
• Porter Goss, former Director of the CIA, was born in Waterbury.
• Frank Hogan, former District Attorney of New York County.
• George P. Harlamon, Mayor [1] 1968-1970. Elected to Waterbury Hall of Fame 2003.
• David Hoadley, president of the Panama Railway.
• Samuel Hopkins, American Congregationalist and theologian.
• Julius Hotchkiss (1810–1878) was a United States Representative from Connecticut and Mayor of Waterbury.
• Joan Joyce, an All-American softball player but also excelled in basketball, bowling, and golf.
• Fred Klobedanz, Major League Baseball pitcher
• Annie Leibovitz, celebrated portrait photographer, was born in Waterbury in 1949.
• Clare Leighton, artist and printmaker, was buried in Waterbury in 1989.
• Talia Madison, professional wrestler.
• Harold Marcuse, professor of German history at University of California Santa Barbara and grandson of Herbert Marcuse.
• Richard A. Mastracchio, a NASA Astronaut.
• Dylan McDermott, actor and star of the acclaimed television series The Practice, born and raised in Waterbury.
• Father Michael J. McGivney, Catholic priest and founder of The Knights of Columbus
• Chief Two Moon Meridas lived in Waterbury from 1914 to 1933 and claimed to be a full-blooded Pueblo Indian.
• George Metesky (1903–1994), the "Mad Bomber" who launched a reign of terror in New York City in the 1940s and 1950s.
• John S. Monagan (1911–2005), Mayor, Congressman, author and biographer of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr..
• Johnny Moore (1902–1991), professional baseball player.
• David Nolan, author and historian who attended Anderson School.
• Jimmy Piersall, professional baseball player.
• The Playmates, a pop music group. in 1958
• Peter Polaco, aka Justin Credible, a professional wrestler.
• Dr. Peter Pronovost, an intensive care specialist at Johns Hopkins Hospital, named by TIME Magazine in 2008 as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
• Derek Poundstone is an American professional strongman athlete from Waterbury, Connecticut. Poundstone won the America's Strongest Man contest in 2007.
• Sheryl Lee Ralph, a Waterbury born Tony Award-nominated Jamaican-American actress and singer best known for her work in Broadway productions such as Dreamgirls (for which she was nominated for a Tony Award)
• John G. Rowland, Waterbury native and former Governor of Connecticut, (R) resigned from office on July 1, 2004 after prolonged investigation for corruption.
• Rosalind Russell, actress, grew up in Waterbury.
• John Sirica, Watergate judge, was born and raised in Waterbury. He was Time magazine's Man of the Year in 1973.
• Terry Tata, Major League Baseball umpire from 1973 to 1999. During his career, he officiated four World Series and three All-Star games.
• Actress Gene Tierney attended St. Margaret's School for Girls in Waterbury, but grew up in the Brooklyn Borough of New York City.
• Fay Vincent, the 8th commissioner of Major League Baseball from September 13, 1989 to September 7, 1992.
• Dave Wallace, Major League Baseball pitching coach, and a former General Manager and player.

See also

• Hop Brook Lake
• Pontelandolfo Community Club
• Waterbury Republican-American
• WCCT-TV

External links

• Official Waterbury, Connecticut Home Page
• Waterbury History & Genealogy
• Brass City Life: At Home in Waterbury Photos and memories of Waterbury neighborhoods presented by the Mattatuck Historical Society.
• Waterbury Time Machine An online tour of Waterbury in vintage images from the late 19th century to the 1970s.
• Brass Valley Ingenuity A narrated slideshow about the “Big 3” Waterbury manufacturing companies in the first half of the 20th century presented by the Mattatuck Historical Society.
• Waterbury History Publications
• The Great Flood of 1955 A collection of newspaper and personal photos of the 1955 flood and the destruction it left behind.
• Western Connecticut's Great Flood Disaster: August 19, 1955
• Holy Land USA Postcards and personal photos showing Waterbury’s greatest tourist attraction in its heyday.
• 1951 & 1955 USGS Topographic Maps of Waterbury
• Waterbury Hall of Fame Profiles of Waterbury natives and residents who have made a significant impact on the history of Waterbury or who have achieved recognition for their accomplishments throughout the city, state, country or world.
• Waterbury Information Technology Zone includes historical information.
• Waterbury, as covered in the PBS documentary The War