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EspañolWATERBURY, CONNECTICUT
(Redirected from Waterbury)
'Waterbury' is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, 33 miles (53 km) southwest of Hartford on the Naugatuck River. As of 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the city had a total population of 107,902 and was the fifth-largest city in Connecticut.
In the past, Waterbury had large industrial interests, and was the leading center of the United States for the manufacture of brassware (including castings and finishings). It was noted for the manufacture of watches and clocks. Waterbury's nickname is the 'Brass City'. Indeed, the city's motto is ''Quid Aere Perennius'', which means "What Is More Lasting Than Brass."
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. The French and Indian 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 parts 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 century. 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 1800s 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. While the brass business boomed, thousands of immigrants poured into the city seeking factory jobs, including the Italians, Irish, French-Canadians, Lithuanians, Jewish, and Slavs. Another famous Waterbury product of the mid-1800s was Robert H. Ingersoll's one-dollar pocket watch, five million of which were sold. After this, the clock industry became just 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 Scovill Brass, later renamed Century Brass. The city's brass manufacturing mills occupied more than 2 million square feet (180,000 m²) and more than 90 buildings. In 1955, a flood resulted in the deaths of 19 Waterbury citizens and 50 million dollars in property damage. Like many other cities that boomed during the manufacturing era, Waterbury began to decline in the second half of the 20th century. With the closing of the last brass shop in the 1970s Waterbury faced a grim future. Waterbury continued to decline, but has like many other cities in Connecticut been involved in many revitalization projects. Waterbury is working to revamp many of the city's unused freight yards and warehouses in order to turn them into office space. Along with this, the city has built numerous luxury hotels. Although the brass industry has since left Waterbury, metal works are still prominent to this day.
Due to its industrial prowess, Waterbury contributed greatly to the WWII cause both in production and in man power. So much so that Waterbury was chosen as one of four American cities featured in The War, a documentary about the American experience during World War II by renowned filmmaker Ken Burns. The following is an excerpt from the documentary:
Waterbury, Connecticut: A gritty industrial city of approximately 100,000, situated at the confluence of the Naugatuck and Mad Rivers in central Connecticut, Waterbury had been the center of the American brass industry since the early 19th century. By the 1920s, more than a third of the brass manufactured in the United States was made in the Naugatuck Valley, and Waterbury came to be known as the “Brass City.” Its skilled workers turned out screws, washers and buttons; showerheads and alarm clocks; toy airplanes and lipstick holders; and cocktail shakers.
Waterbury was populated by successive waves of immigrants, primarily from Italy, Ireland, Eastern Europe and Great Britain. By 1930, nearly half of Waterbury’s population was foreign born. It was a city of close-knit, ethnic neighborhoods, where many residents remained their entire lives. Families packed into triple-decker homes, factory row housing and boarding houses, surrounding lively commercial districts with ethnic markets and bakeries, churches and movie houses.
The city, like the rest of the country, endured hard times during the Great Depression, as industries imploded and thousands were thrown out of work. But all that changed when America began to gear up for World War II, and local factories retooled for war production. The Mattatuck Manufacturing Company switched from making upholstery nails to cartridge clips for the Springfield rifle, and soon was turning out three million clips a week. The American Brass Company made more than two billion pounds of brass rods, sheets and tubes during the war. The Chase Brass and Copper Company made more than 50 million cartridge cases and mortar shells, more than a billion small caliber bullets and, eventually, components used in the atomic bomb. Scovill Manufacturing produced so many different military items, the Waterbury Republican reported, that “there wasn’t an American or British fighting man … who wasn’t dependent on [the company] for some part of the food, clothing, shelter and equipment that sustained [him] through the … struggle.”
Because of its concentration of war industries, Waterbury was believed to be a strategic bombing target for the German Luftwaffe. Waterbury Clock — which would later be known as Timex — built a new plant in 1942 to accommodate the military’s demands for mechanical time fuses and other aircraft and artillery equipment. The new factory was nestled among the Middlebury hills and could be flooded and covered with water in the event of an invasion. Its roof was painted with a tromp l’oeil mural of trees, water and grass to deceive enemy bombers. In the wake of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Waterbury hurriedly appointed air wardens to coordinate a local response to an air raid. The local barbers’ association volunteered to equip the city’s barbershops as first aid stations.
More than 12,000 men and 500 women from Waterbury served in the armed forces during the war; the mayor saw them all off at the railroad station. Each man received a prayer book and a carton of cigarettes, courtesy of the Shriners; 282 of those who served lost their lives.
The civilian men and women of Waterbury contributed to the war effort in hundreds of ways, large and small. War bonds were sold from “Liberty House,” set up in the middle of the town green on the site where similar bonds had been sold to help defeat Germany during the First World War, and local residents bought $270 million worth. They also collected 68,500 pounds of rubber; 5,097,421 pounds of scrap metal; 8,255,640 pounds of paper; and 150 tons of waste fat.
The end of the war spelled the beginning of a sharp decline of Waterbury’s manufacturing base. Military contracts were cancelled in the months leading up to the Allied victory; within a week of V-J Day, 10,200 employees had been let go from Waterbury factories. Many would be rehired when the factories re-tooled for civilian production, but thousands of jobs were permanently lost. By the 1950s, plastic and aluminum had replaced brass for many uses, and cheaper labor overseas competed for the remaining jobs in brass manufacturing. By 1980, there were fewer than 5,000 workers remaining in the Naugatuck Valley’s brass plants. [1]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 74.9 km² (28.9 mi²). 74.0 km² (28.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.9 km² (0.3 mi²) of it (1.21%) is water.
As of the census² of 2000, there were 107,271 people, 42,622 households, and 26,894 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,449.7/km² (3,754.7/mi²). There were 46,827 housing units at an average density of 632.8/km² (1,639.0/mi²). 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 neighborhood and the Brooklyn section. It has been said that 6 in 10 voters in Waterbury is of Italian decent and they often prove to be a decisive voting block in city elections. In addition 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 Jewish Orthodox population.[2]
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 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 is 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 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 century.[3]
Three recent mayors have been indicted while in office. In 1988, Mayor Edward "Mike" Bergin was arrested on a charge of taking a bribe over towing contracts. He was acquitted three years later. His successor, former Mayor Joseph Santopietro, and six others were convicted in 1992 of conspiring with bankers and developers to trade favors for bribes and kickbacks disguised as loans.[4] Most recently Mayor Philip Giordano, was indicted while in office and later convicted on sexual abuse charges discovered by the FBI while they were investigating corruption in City Hall.[5] 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 consective 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.[6]
The city's schools are operated by Waterbury Public Schools.
The five public high schools in Waterbury are Crosby, Kaynor Technical, 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. The Waterbury Arts Magnet School recently opened across from the University of Connecticut's Waterbury campus.
Waterbury is also home to Post University, a private liberal arts college, and Naugatuck Valley Community College.
:''See also here.''
★ Waterbury is one of four American cities featured in The War, a documentary about the American experience during World War II by renowned filmmaker Ken Burns.
★ Waterbury's Post Office was once known for its fancy stamp cancellations.
★ In 1957, Waterbury's George Metesky, AKA "The Mad Bomber" was arrested. Metesky's reign of terror from 1940-57 was provoked by the denial of his Workmen's Compensation claim by Con Edison after a gas accident in the plant caused him chronic lung problems. Fifteen people were injured by Metesky's bombs, and he spent sixteen years in jail. The bomb sites like Macy's, Radio City Music Hall, and the subway, were linked because they all used Con Edison electric power.
★ Waterbury's Fr. Michael J. McGivney founded The Knights of Columbus in New Haven, Connecticut on February 2, 1882.[7] Though the first councils were all in Connecticut, the Order spread throughout the United States in the following years.
★ Massive metal sculptures by Alexander Calder were fabricated in Waterbury at the Waterbury Iron Works and Segre Iron Works.
★ Waterbury is the number one jurisdiction in Connecticut for juries handing out death sentences, 6 out of 7 of the prisoners on death row coming from Waterbury.
★ The movie ''Stanley and Iris'' (1990), starring Jane Fonda and Robert De Niro was filmed in Waterbury.
★ 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.
★ Five thousand people lined the streets on May 12, 1984, as Waterbury residents Joseph Carrah, Thomas Fava, Frank Fulco, Gary Coles, Richard Boutot, Bob Wesson and others carried the Olympic Torch through Waterbury on its way from Greece to California for the 1984 Summer Games.
★ Waterbury was rated as one of the "10 Worst Places to Live in America" in the 1999 Places Rated Almanac.
Nationally renowned architect Cass Gilbert won a competition to design Waterbury's City Hall building, which was completed in 1915. Gilbert was then hired to design an office building for the Chase Companies (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.
Constructed by the world famous architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White of N.Y., this structure resembles the Torre Del Mangia at the Palazzo Publico in Siena, Italy. It cost $332,000, at the time. The clocktower is 240-feet high and has 318 steps. The clock was made by Seth Thomas Co. with a dial 16-feet in diameter with 5-foot tall Roman numerals. The eight she-wolf gargoyles are a reminder of the myth of Romulus & Remus. The Tower opened July 12, 1909. Union Station is now the home of the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper, which services over 120,000 subscribers in the Greater Waterbury area.
Holy Land USA is an 18 acre 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 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 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.
In November of 2002, Comedy Central's news show "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" spoofed Holy Land in a segment satirically comparing the park to Israel.
The 'Mattatuck Museum' is the only museum in Connecticut dedicated to collecting and exhibiting Connecticut artists and sculptors. 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. Previously housed in the historic Kendrick house on the other side of the Green, the museum relocated to the former Masonic Temple in 1986. The renovation and construction was done in 1986, designed by noted Argentine-born architect Cesar Pelli. Recent additions to the art collections include a gallery display about Alexander Calder and a "Giant Critter" by Calder in the museum's courtyard.
Another educational landmark of Waterbury is the TIMEXPO Museum. The museum opened to the public in May of 2001. There are three floors of exhibits that explore the heritage of the world-famous Timex Corporation, tracing back to its early days as 'Waterbury Clock'. 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.
Main articles: 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., Brookstone, Barnes & Noble, Chili's, and TGI Friday’s, Macy’s, JCPenney, Sears, Burlington Coat Factory, and Steve & Barry’s University Sportswear.
Originally opened in 1922, the Palace Theater was home to movies 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 theater reopened on November 12,2004.
The Chase Collegiate School is a private day school formerly known as Saint Margaret's-McTernan established in 1865.
The oldest remaining store in downtown Waterbury. Minicucci's is owned today by Arnold Minicucci who inherited the store from his father, Erasamo Minicucci. The store was founded in the early 1900s and still exists on Bank Street.
★ Michael Bergin, first male supermodel
★ Joe Cipriano, Television Announcer, he was known as Tom Collins on WWCO in Waterbury and today is the voice of the Fox and NBC TV Networks and the announcer for Deal Or No Deal and 1 vs. 100.
★ 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)
★ Deirdre Imus, Waterbury-born actress with appearances on The Cosby Show, Regis and Kathie Lee, a French perfume commercial that won a Cannes Award and star of a one-woman show, Gorgeous Mistakes. Married famed radio personality Don Imus in 1995.
★ Roger Connor, major league baseball player in the Baseball Hall of Fame[8]
★ Bob Crane, actor, of Hogans Heroes fame was born in Waterbury and had a radio program on WATR.
★ Stan Freeman, nationally known composer, lyricist, musical arranger, conductor, and studio musician.
★ Mordechai Gifter, One of America's leading Torah Scholars, served as rabbi of Waterbury's Jewish community from 1941 - 1945. He then moved to Cleveland where he ultimately became the Dean of the Rabbinical College of Telshe, also known as Telz Yeshiva.
★ 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. In 2003, he was convicted and sentenced to 37 years in federal prison.
★ Ryan Gomes, Minnesota Timberwolves forward, was born in Waterbury and attended Wilby High School.
★ Porter Goss, former Director of the CIA, was born in Waterbury.
★ Shirley Grey began her acting career with Sylvester Poli's stock theater company, The Poli Players', in 1921 and performed in more than 45 films during her brief movie career from 1930 to 1935.
★ George P. Harlamon, Mayor[4] 1968-1970. Elected to Waterbury Hall of Fame 2003.
★ Julius Hotchkiss (1810-1878) was a United States Representative from Connecticut and Mayor of Waterbury.
★ One of the greatest woman athletes of all time, Joan Joyce made her name as an All-American softball player but also excelled in basketball, bowling, and golf, and struck out baseball legends Ted Williams and Hank Aaron with her 110+ mph pitches in exhibition games.
★ Billiards champion Edwin Kelly was inducted into the Billiards Congress of America Hall of Fame in 2003.
★ Annie Leibovitz, celebrated portrait photographer, was born in Waterbury in 1949.
★ Richard A. Mastracchio, a NASA Astronaut who was a member of the Atlantis shuttle crew in 2000 and is currently a member of the Endeavour crew which launched on August 8, 2007.
★ Paul Matasavge, Superior Court Judge[5], Parade Football All-American, All-State Tackle[6], Penn State[7][8]and Holy Cross Football Star[9].
★ Dylan McDermott, actor and star of the acclaimed television series The Practice, was born and raised in Waterbury.
★ Ravenna Miceli, radio and television personality
★ Father Michael J. McGivney, Catholic priest and founder of The Knights of Columbus
★ Arnold Minicucci, Owner of the oldest remaining mens clothing store in Waterbury. The store still exists today and is located on 31 Bank Street.
★ V. James Onalfo, Deputy Commissioner & Chief Information Officer of the New York City Police Department.
★ Jimmy Piersall, professional baseball player, who battled bi-polar mental illness and was portrayed by Anthony Perkins in the movie "Fear Strikes Out"
★ The Playmates, a pop music group, consisting of Donny Conn, Morey Carr, and Carl Chicchetti. The Playmates had two hit songs, "Jo Ann"; and their biggest hit, "Beep Beep" (a song about a Nash Rambler)[9] in 1958
★ John G. Rowland, Waterbury native and former Governor of Connecticut, (R) resigned from office on July 1, 2004 after prolonged investigation for corruption. In April, 2005 he began serving a one year sentence.[10]He has been released from prison and now resides in Middlebury.[11]
★ Rosalind Russell, actress, grew up in Waterbury.
★ Joseph Santopietro, former mayor, (R) had been convicted for corruption in 1992.[12]
★ Well known in music circles, guitar historian James Shine, Jr. was born and raised in the North End of Waterbury.
★ John Sirica, Watergate judge, was born and raised in Waterbury. He was Time magazine's Man of the Year in 1973.
★ Peter Stangl, Chairman and CEO of New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) from 1991 to 1995.
★ 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.
★ Waterbury Republican-American
★ WTXX
★ Pontelandolfo Community Club
★ Hop Brook Lake
1. [1] The War Pressroom PBS
2. Waterbury Republican-American Article
3. "Publisher vs. Politician: A Clash of Local Titans"
4. Giordano Case Adds To Waterbury's Rocky Political Landscape
5. "Guilty: Jury Finds Giordano Guilty On Sexual Abuse Charges." (March 25, 2003). NBC30.com.
6. Waterbury Republican-American article
7. History, Knights of Columbus Supreme Council, url accessed June 1, 2006.
8. The Baseball Encyclopedia, , , , Macmillan Publishing, 1979, ISBN 0-02-578970-8
9. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,864549,00.html? Time Magazine "Rambler in High Gear" December 8, 1958. Retrieved on June 20, 2007.
10.
Rowland Begins Serving a Yearlong Prison Sentence
11. Rowland now a homeowner in Middlebury
12. Metro Briefing | Connecticut: Waterbury: Convicted Mayor May Run Again. (January 6, 2003). ''New York Times.'' Viewed October 27 2006 at [10]
★ Official Waterbury, CT Home Page
★ GreaterWaterbury.com A comprehensive source of family and local history information for the Greater Waterbury region.
★ Points of Interest
★ Waterbury Time Machine - Vintage Views & Memories Of The Brass City (This is a free website with a monthly bandwidth usage limit. If you get a "site temporarily frozen" screen, try again on or after the 4th of the month when the bandwidth usage is reset.)
★ Brass City Life: At Home in Waterbury Photos and memories of Waterbury neighborhoods presented by the Mattatuck Historical Society.
★ 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.
★ Old Waterbury Pictures 1860 – 1959
★ Vintage Views & Memories of The Great Flood of 1955 A Waterbury Time Machine site page.
★ The Great Flood of 1955 A collection of newspaper and personal photos of the 1955 flood and the destruction it left behind. Photos can be viewed individually or in a slideshow.
★ Black Friday – Aug. 19, 1955 Flood photos from a personal collection.
★ 1951 & 1955 USGS Topographic Maps of Waterbury
★ Holy Land USA Postcards and personal photos showing Waterbury’s greatest tourist attraction in its heyday.
★ 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.
★ The Country Club of Waterbury - Est. 1899
★ Pontelandolfo Community Club
★ Waterbury Information Technology Zone includes historical information.
★ Waterbury American Graffiti: The Crosby High School Class of 1959(This is a free website with a monthly bandwidth usage limit. If you get a "site temporarily frozen" screen, try again on or after the 2nd of the month when the bandwidth usage is reset.)
★ Waterbury Republican-American newspaper website
★ History’s Mysteries and Scenes From The Past A photo quiz about old Waterbury and photos from Waterbury’s past presented by the Waterbury Republican-American
★ Waterbury Observer Issues, People, Events - Waterbury’s Independent Newspaper
★ WATR 1320 AM Waterbury's Radio Station since 1934. Listen to their news, talk, and "Good Times Oldies" online.
★ Galaxia 1380 AM - Waterbury's Latino Radio Station.
★ Northwest Connecticut Convention & Visitors Bureau
'Waterbury' is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, 33 miles (53 km) southwest of Hartford on the Naugatuck River. As of 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the city had a total population of 107,902 and was the fifth-largest city in Connecticut.
In the past, Waterbury had large industrial interests, and was the leading center of the United States for the manufacture of brassware (including castings and finishings). It was noted for the manufacture of watches and clocks. Waterbury's nickname is the 'Brass City'. Indeed, the city's motto is ''Quid Aere Perennius'', which means "What Is More Lasting Than Brass."
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
The original settlement of Waterbury was in 1674 as a Town Plot section. The French and Indian 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 parts 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 century. 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 1800s 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. While the brass business boomed, thousands of immigrants poured into the city seeking factory jobs, including the Italians, Irish, French-Canadians, Lithuanians, Jewish, and Slavs. Another famous Waterbury product of the mid-1800s was Robert H. Ingersoll's one-dollar pocket watch, five million of which were sold. After this, the clock industry became just 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 Scovill Brass, later renamed Century Brass. The city's brass manufacturing mills occupied more than 2 million square feet (180,000 m²) and more than 90 buildings. In 1955, a flood resulted in the deaths of 19 Waterbury citizens and 50 million dollars in property damage. Like many other cities that boomed during the manufacturing era, Waterbury began to decline in the second half of the 20th century. With the closing of the last brass shop in the 1970s Waterbury faced a grim future. Waterbury continued to decline, but has like many other cities in Connecticut been involved in many revitalization projects. Waterbury is working to revamp many of the city's unused freight yards and warehouses in order to turn them into office space. Along with this, the city has built numerous luxury hotels. Although the brass industry has since left Waterbury, metal works are still prominent to this day.
World War II
Due to its industrial prowess, Waterbury contributed greatly to the WWII cause both in production and in man power. So much so that Waterbury was chosen as one of four American cities featured in The War, a documentary about the American experience during World War II by renowned filmmaker Ken Burns. The following is an excerpt from the documentary:
Waterbury, Connecticut: A gritty industrial city of approximately 100,000, situated at the confluence of the Naugatuck and Mad Rivers in central Connecticut, Waterbury had been the center of the American brass industry since the early 19th century. By the 1920s, more than a third of the brass manufactured in the United States was made in the Naugatuck Valley, and Waterbury came to be known as the “Brass City.” Its skilled workers turned out screws, washers and buttons; showerheads and alarm clocks; toy airplanes and lipstick holders; and cocktail shakers.
Waterbury was populated by successive waves of immigrants, primarily from Italy, Ireland, Eastern Europe and Great Britain. By 1930, nearly half of Waterbury’s population was foreign born. It was a city of close-knit, ethnic neighborhoods, where many residents remained their entire lives. Families packed into triple-decker homes, factory row housing and boarding houses, surrounding lively commercial districts with ethnic markets and bakeries, churches and movie houses.
The city, like the rest of the country, endured hard times during the Great Depression, as industries imploded and thousands were thrown out of work. But all that changed when America began to gear up for World War II, and local factories retooled for war production. The Mattatuck Manufacturing Company switched from making upholstery nails to cartridge clips for the Springfield rifle, and soon was turning out three million clips a week. The American Brass Company made more than two billion pounds of brass rods, sheets and tubes during the war. The Chase Brass and Copper Company made more than 50 million cartridge cases and mortar shells, more than a billion small caliber bullets and, eventually, components used in the atomic bomb. Scovill Manufacturing produced so many different military items, the Waterbury Republican reported, that “there wasn’t an American or British fighting man … who wasn’t dependent on [the company] for some part of the food, clothing, shelter and equipment that sustained [him] through the … struggle.”
Because of its concentration of war industries, Waterbury was believed to be a strategic bombing target for the German Luftwaffe. Waterbury Clock — which would later be known as Timex — built a new plant in 1942 to accommodate the military’s demands for mechanical time fuses and other aircraft and artillery equipment. The new factory was nestled among the Middlebury hills and could be flooded and covered with water in the event of an invasion. Its roof was painted with a tromp l’oeil mural of trees, water and grass to deceive enemy bombers. In the wake of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Waterbury hurriedly appointed air wardens to coordinate a local response to an air raid. The local barbers’ association volunteered to equip the city’s barbershops as first aid stations.
More than 12,000 men and 500 women from Waterbury served in the armed forces during the war; the mayor saw them all off at the railroad station. Each man received a prayer book and a carton of cigarettes, courtesy of the Shriners; 282 of those who served lost their lives.
The civilian men and women of Waterbury contributed to the war effort in hundreds of ways, large and small. War bonds were sold from “Liberty House,” set up in the middle of the town green on the site where similar bonds had been sold to help defeat Germany during the First World War, and local residents bought $270 million worth. They also collected 68,500 pounds of rubber; 5,097,421 pounds of scrap metal; 8,255,640 pounds of paper; and 150 tons of waste fat.
The end of the war spelled the beginning of a sharp decline of Waterbury’s manufacturing base. Military contracts were cancelled in the months leading up to the Allied victory; within a week of V-J Day, 10,200 employees had been let go from Waterbury factories. Many would be rehired when the factories re-tooled for civilian production, but thousands of jobs were permanently lost. By the 1950s, plastic and aluminum had replaced brass for many uses, and cheaper labor overseas competed for the remaining jobs in brass manufacturing. By 1980, there were fewer than 5,000 workers remaining in the Naugatuck Valley’s brass plants. [1]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 74.9 km² (28.9 mi²). 74.0 km² (28.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.9 km² (0.3 mi²) of it (1.21%) is water.
Demographics
| 'Historical population of Waterbury'[2][3] | |||||
| 1756 | 1,829 | 1774 | 3,536 | 1782 | 2,240 |
| 1790 | 2,937 | 1800 | 3,256 | 1810 | 2,874 |
| 1820 | 2,282 | 1830 | 3,070 | 1840 | 3,668 |
| 1850 | 5,137 | 1860 | 10,004 | 1870 | 13,106 |
| 1880 | 20,270 | 1890 | 33,202 | 1900 | 51,139 |
| 1910 | 73,141 | 1920 | 91,715 | 1930 | 99,902 |
| 1940 | 99,314 | 1950 | 104,477 | 1960 | 107,130 |
| 1970 | 108,033 | 1980 | 103,266 | 1990 | 108,961 |
| 2000 | 107,271 | 2005 | 107,902(est) | ||
As of the census² of 2000, there were 107,271 people, 42,622 households, and 26,894 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,449.7/km² (3,754.7/mi²). There were 46,827 housing units at an average density of 632.8/km² (1,639.0/mi²). 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 neighborhood and the Brooklyn section. It has been said that 6 in 10 voters in Waterbury is of Italian decent and they often prove to be a decisive voting block in city elections. In addition 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 Jewish Orthodox population.[2]
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.
Government
| 'Mayor' | Michael J. Jarjura (Write-in Democrat) |
| 'Town Clerk' | Antoinette C. Spinelli |
| 'City Sheriff' | Stephen M. Conway |
| 'City Clerk' | Michael J. Dalton |
| 'Aldermen (15)' |
| J. Paul Vance, Jr. (D - President) |
| Paul K. Pernerewski, Jr. (D – Majority Leader) |
| Laurie Singer Russo (D - President Pro-Tem) |
| Larry B. Butler (D) |
| Martin J. Misset (D) |
| Paul M. Nogueira (D) |
| Anthony T. Piccochi (D) |
| Sandra Ramirez (D) |
| Anne Phelan (D) |
| Cicero B. Booker, Jr. (I – Minority Leader) |
| Arthur J. Denze, Sr. (I) |
| Frank A. Burgio Sr. (I) |
| Francis J. Caiazzo Jr. (I) |
| Dennis Odle (R) |
| Paul V. Ciochetti (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 is 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 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 century.[3]
Three recent mayors have been indicted while in office. In 1988, Mayor Edward "Mike" Bergin was arrested on a charge of taking a bribe over towing contracts. He was acquitted three years later. His successor, former Mayor Joseph Santopietro, and six others were convicted in 1992 of conspiring with bankers and developers to trade favors for bribes and kickbacks disguised as loans.[4] Most recently Mayor Philip Giordano, was indicted while in office and later convicted on sexual abuse charges discovered by the FBI while they were investigating corruption in City Hall.[5] 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 consective 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.[6]
Education
The city's schools are operated by Waterbury Public Schools.
The five public high schools in Waterbury are Crosby, Kaynor Technical, 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. The Waterbury Arts Magnet School recently opened across from the University of Connecticut's Waterbury campus.
Waterbury is also home to Post University, a private liberal arts college, and Naugatuck Valley Community College.
Trivia
:''See also here.''
Portrait of Father McGivney by Richard Whitney
★ Waterbury is one of four American cities featured in The War, a documentary about the American experience during World War II by renowned filmmaker Ken Burns.
★ Waterbury's Post Office was once known for its fancy stamp cancellations.
★ In 1957, Waterbury's George Metesky, AKA "The Mad Bomber" was arrested. Metesky's reign of terror from 1940-57 was provoked by the denial of his Workmen's Compensation claim by Con Edison after a gas accident in the plant caused him chronic lung problems. Fifteen people were injured by Metesky's bombs, and he spent sixteen years in jail. The bomb sites like Macy's, Radio City Music Hall, and the subway, were linked because they all used Con Edison electric power.
★ Waterbury's Fr. Michael J. McGivney founded The Knights of Columbus in New Haven, Connecticut on February 2, 1882.[7] Though the first councils were all in Connecticut, the Order spread throughout the United States in the following years.
★ Massive metal sculptures by Alexander Calder were fabricated in Waterbury at the Waterbury Iron Works and Segre Iron Works.
★ Waterbury is the number one jurisdiction in Connecticut for juries handing out death sentences, 6 out of 7 of the prisoners on death row coming from Waterbury.
★ The movie ''Stanley and Iris'' (1990), starring Jane Fonda and Robert De Niro was filmed in Waterbury.
★ 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.
★ Five thousand people lined the streets on May 12, 1984, as Waterbury residents Joseph Carrah, Thomas Fava, Frank Fulco, Gary Coles, Richard Boutot, Bob Wesson and others carried the Olympic Torch through Waterbury on its way from Greece to California for the 1984 Summer Games.
★ Waterbury was rated as one of the "10 Worst Places to Live in America" in the 1999 Places Rated Almanac.
Landmarks
Cass Gilbert National Register District
Nationally renowned architect Cass Gilbert won a competition to design Waterbury's City Hall building, which was completed in 1915. Gilbert was then hired to design an office building for the Chase Companies (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.
Union Station Clocktower
Constructed by the world famous architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White of N.Y., this structure resembles the Torre Del Mangia at the Palazzo Publico in Siena, Italy. It cost $332,000, at the time. The clocktower is 240-feet high and has 318 steps. The clock was made by Seth Thomas Co. with a dial 16-feet in diameter with 5-foot tall Roman numerals. The eight she-wolf gargoyles are a reminder of the myth of Romulus & Remus. The Tower opened July 12, 1909. Union Station is now the home of the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper, which services over 120,000 subscribers in the Greater Waterbury area.
Holy Land
Holy Land USA is an 18 acre 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 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 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.
In November of 2002, Comedy Central's news show "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" spoofed Holy Land in a segment satirically comparing the park to Israel.
Mattatuck Museum
The 'Mattatuck Museum' is the only museum in Connecticut dedicated to collecting and exhibiting Connecticut artists and sculptors. 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. Previously housed in the historic Kendrick house on the other side of the Green, the museum relocated to the former Masonic Temple in 1986. The renovation and construction was done in 1986, designed by noted Argentine-born architect Cesar Pelli. Recent additions to the art collections include a gallery display about Alexander Calder and a "Giant Critter" by Calder in the museum's courtyard.
TIMEXPO
Another educational landmark of Waterbury is the TIMEXPO Museum. The museum opened to the public in May of 2001. There are three floors of exhibits that explore the heritage of the world-famous Timex Corporation, tracing back to its early days as 'Waterbury Clock'. 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.
Brass Mill Center
Main articles: 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., Brookstone, Barnes & Noble, Chili's, and TGI Friday’s, Macy’s, JCPenney, Sears, Burlington Coat Factory, and Steve & Barry’s University Sportswear.
Palace Theater
Originally opened in 1922, the Palace Theater was home to movies 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 theater reopened on November 12,2004.
Chase Collegiate School
The Chase Collegiate School is a private day school formerly known as Saint Margaret's-McTernan established in 1865.
Minicucci's Mens Clothing Store
The oldest remaining store in downtown Waterbury. Minicucci's is owned today by Arnold Minicucci who inherited the store from his father, Erasamo Minicucci. The store was founded in the early 1900s and still exists on Bank Street.
Notable residents
★ Michael Bergin, first male supermodel
★ Joe Cipriano, Television Announcer, he was known as Tom Collins on WWCO in Waterbury and today is the voice of the Fox and NBC TV Networks and the announcer for Deal Or No Deal and 1 vs. 100.
★ 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)
★ Deirdre Imus, Waterbury-born actress with appearances on The Cosby Show, Regis and Kathie Lee, a French perfume commercial that won a Cannes Award and star of a one-woman show, Gorgeous Mistakes. Married famed radio personality Don Imus in 1995.
★ Roger Connor, major league baseball player in the Baseball Hall of Fame[8]
★ Bob Crane, actor, of Hogans Heroes fame was born in Waterbury and had a radio program on WATR.
★ Stan Freeman, nationally known composer, lyricist, musical arranger, conductor, and studio musician.
★ Mordechai Gifter, One of America's leading Torah Scholars, served as rabbi of Waterbury's Jewish community from 1941 - 1945. He then moved to Cleveland where he ultimately became the Dean of the Rabbinical College of Telshe, also known as Telz Yeshiva.
★ 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. In 2003, he was convicted and sentenced to 37 years in federal prison.
★ Ryan Gomes, Minnesota Timberwolves forward, was born in Waterbury and attended Wilby High School.
★ Porter Goss, former Director of the CIA, was born in Waterbury.
★ Shirley Grey began her acting career with Sylvester Poli's stock theater company, The Poli Players', in 1921 and performed in more than 45 films during her brief movie career from 1930 to 1935.
★ George P. Harlamon, Mayor[4] 1968-1970. Elected to Waterbury Hall of Fame 2003.
★ Julius Hotchkiss (1810-1878) was a United States Representative from Connecticut and Mayor of Waterbury.
★ One of the greatest woman athletes of all time, Joan Joyce made her name as an All-American softball player but also excelled in basketball, bowling, and golf, and struck out baseball legends Ted Williams and Hank Aaron with her 110+ mph pitches in exhibition games.
★ Billiards champion Edwin Kelly was inducted into the Billiards Congress of America Hall of Fame in 2003.
★ Annie Leibovitz, celebrated portrait photographer, was born in Waterbury in 1949.
★ Richard A. Mastracchio, a NASA Astronaut who was a member of the Atlantis shuttle crew in 2000 and is currently a member of the Endeavour crew which launched on August 8, 2007.
★ Paul Matasavge, Superior Court Judge[5], Parade Football All-American, All-State Tackle[6], Penn State[7][8]and Holy Cross Football Star[9].
★ Dylan McDermott, actor and star of the acclaimed television series The Practice, was born and raised in Waterbury.
★ Ravenna Miceli, radio and television personality
★ Father Michael J. McGivney, Catholic priest and founder of The Knights of Columbus
★ Arnold Minicucci, Owner of the oldest remaining mens clothing store in Waterbury. The store still exists today and is located on 31 Bank Street.
★ V. James Onalfo, Deputy Commissioner & Chief Information Officer of the New York City Police Department.
★ Jimmy Piersall, professional baseball player, who battled bi-polar mental illness and was portrayed by Anthony Perkins in the movie "Fear Strikes Out"
★ The Playmates, a pop music group, consisting of Donny Conn, Morey Carr, and Carl Chicchetti. The Playmates had two hit songs, "Jo Ann"; and their biggest hit, "Beep Beep" (a song about a Nash Rambler)[9] in 1958
★ John G. Rowland, Waterbury native and former Governor of Connecticut, (R) resigned from office on July 1, 2004 after prolonged investigation for corruption. In April, 2005 he began serving a one year sentence.[10]He has been released from prison and now resides in Middlebury.[11]
★ Rosalind Russell, actress, grew up in Waterbury.
★ Joseph Santopietro, former mayor, (R) had been convicted for corruption in 1992.[12]
★ Well known in music circles, guitar historian James Shine, Jr. was born and raised in the North End of Waterbury.
★ John Sirica, Watergate judge, was born and raised in Waterbury. He was Time magazine's Man of the Year in 1973.
★ Peter Stangl, Chairman and CEO of New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) from 1991 to 1995.
★ 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.
See also
★ Waterbury Republican-American
★ WTXX
★ Pontelandolfo Community Club
★ Hop Brook Lake
References
1. [1] The War Pressroom PBS
2. Waterbury Republican-American Article
3. "Publisher vs. Politician: A Clash of Local Titans"
4. Giordano Case Adds To Waterbury's Rocky Political Landscape
5. "Guilty: Jury Finds Giordano Guilty On Sexual Abuse Charges." (March 25, 2003). NBC30.com.
6. Waterbury Republican-American article
7. History, Knights of Columbus Supreme Council, url accessed June 1, 2006.
8. The Baseball Encyclopedia, , , , Macmillan Publishing, 1979, ISBN 0-02-578970-8
9. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,864549,00.html? Time Magazine "Rambler in High Gear" December 8, 1958. Retrieved on June 20, 2007.
10.
Rowland Begins Serving a Yearlong Prison Sentence
11. Rowland now a homeowner in Middlebury
12. Metro Briefing | Connecticut: Waterbury: Convicted Mayor May Run Again. (January 6, 2003). ''New York Times.'' Viewed October 27 2006 at [10]
External links
★ Official Waterbury, CT Home Page
★ GreaterWaterbury.com A comprehensive source of family and local history information for the Greater Waterbury region.
★ Points of Interest
★ Waterbury Time Machine - Vintage Views & Memories Of The Brass City (This is a free website with a monthly bandwidth usage limit. If you get a "site temporarily frozen" screen, try again on or after the 4th of the month when the bandwidth usage is reset.)
★ Brass City Life: At Home in Waterbury Photos and memories of Waterbury neighborhoods presented by the Mattatuck Historical Society.
★ 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.
★ Old Waterbury Pictures 1860 – 1959
★ Vintage Views & Memories of The Great Flood of 1955 A Waterbury Time Machine site page.
★ The Great Flood of 1955 A collection of newspaper and personal photos of the 1955 flood and the destruction it left behind. Photos can be viewed individually or in a slideshow.
★ Black Friday – Aug. 19, 1955 Flood photos from a personal collection.
★ 1951 & 1955 USGS Topographic Maps of Waterbury
★ Holy Land USA Postcards and personal photos showing Waterbury’s greatest tourist attraction in its heyday.
★ 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.
★ The Country Club of Waterbury - Est. 1899
★ Pontelandolfo Community Club
★ Waterbury Information Technology Zone includes historical information.
★ Waterbury American Graffiti: The Crosby High School Class of 1959(This is a free website with a monthly bandwidth usage limit. If you get a "site temporarily frozen" screen, try again on or after the 2nd of the month when the bandwidth usage is reset.)
★ Waterbury Republican-American newspaper website
★ History’s Mysteries and Scenes From The Past A photo quiz about old Waterbury and photos from Waterbury’s past presented by the Waterbury Republican-American
★ Waterbury Observer Issues, People, Events - Waterbury’s Independent Newspaper
★ WATR 1320 AM Waterbury's Radio Station since 1934. Listen to their news, talk, and "Good Times Oldies" online.
★ Galaxia 1380 AM - Waterbury's Latino Radio Station.
★ Northwest Connecticut Convention & Visitors Bureau
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