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King Street, Danbury, Connecticut

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Coordinates: 41°25′54.8″N 73°30′28.4″W / 41.431889°N 73.507889°W / 41.431889; -73.507889
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King Street, Danbury, Connecticut
Neighborhood
King Street is located in Connecticut
King Street
King Street
Location in Connecticut
King Street is located in the United States
King Street
King Street
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 41°25′54.8″N 73°30′28.4″W / 41.431889°N 73.507889°W / 41.431889; -73.507889[1]
CountryUnited States
U.S. stateConnecticut
CountyFairfield
RegionWestern CT
CityDanbury

King Street is a residential neighborhood and former district[2] in Danbury, Connecticut. Located in the northwest corner of the city, it borders the Milltown section of Southeast, New York to the west and the town of New Fairfield, Connecticut, to the north.

The name King Street is an eponym of its main thoroughfares: King, South King, West King, and East King Streets.

History

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The King Street District, as it was known at the time of its founding in 1769, was given its name by early settlers from Greenwich, Connecticut. More specifically, it is derived from King Street in Greenwich, which is similarly located in the westernmost section of town, on the border of New York.[3]

Historical marker at the original site of the First Baptist Church of Danbury

The First Baptist Church of Danbury was organized here in 1785.[2]: 36  In a now famous letter from President Thomas Jefferson, in response to the Danbury Baptists, he provided reassurance that their religious liberties shall be protected, using the phrase "wall of separation" between church and state.[4][5] The church is no longer standing. All that remains today is a commemorative stone marker within a stone perimeter, which was the foundation of the original structure. There is also a burial ground at the site.

1867 Map of Danbury (King Street District at the top left corner).

The primary congregation in the community has historically been King Street Church, located on the corner of King and South King Street. The Church was founded on August 21, 1830,[6] initially in nearby Putnam County. However, by 1846 the decision was made to put down roots at its current location. In 1931 King Street Church became affiliated with the Congregational denomination, and stands today as King Street United Church of Christ.[7] At the opposite end of South King, which is said to be one of Danbury's oldest roads,[8] is the "Little Red Chapel," built by Elind Comes in 1824. Originally known as Comes Meetinghouse, it was established as a nondenominational place of worship for members of the community.[9] In 1840 it was donated to King Street Church.[8]

In the late 19th century, the King Street District was described as "...purely an agricultural district."[2] However, only few farms remain today, including Overlook Farm, a 130-acre (53 ha) farm that has remained active for over a century,[10] as well as Winter Sunset Farm, a dairy farm at the end of West King.[11]

Like the other rural districts in Danbury of the time, King Street was appointed its own one-room school for the children in the community. The school operated from 1888 to 1939.[12] After the school had been decommissioned, it would serve as a gathering place for different community organizations, such as the local Dorcas Circle.[13] The Danbury Museum and Historical Society would acquire the school in the 1960s,[14] leading to its relocation to a property south of Rogers Park, where it is today.[15]

Despite the school's closure due to consolidation, demand for an elementary school returned to King Street. In 1962 the Danbury School Building committee announced the purchase of the future site of the elementary school,[16] and by September of that year, the official bid for construction had been received.[17] The King Street Elementary School opened in 1964. Twelve years later King Street Primary School opened and the elementary school became King Street Intermediate School.[18]

Remains of the First Baptist Church of Danbury
Overlook Farm on South King
Winter Sunset Farm on West King
King Street District Schoolhouse

Local community

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At the heart of the community is the King Street Campus, at which the students in the neighborhood attend either the public primary or intermediate school. Behind the school campus is the Drska Property (often spelt Dryska), which was previously Dryska Farm,[19] and is now a nature preserve with hiking trails that lead to Upper Kohanza Lake.[20]

The community is served by King Street Volunteer Fire Department, since 1951.[21]

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ "King Street". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ a b c Bailey, James M. (1896). History of Danbury, Conn., 1684-1896.
  3. ^ Imogene Heireth (1985). Names-Places: How Danbury Got Some Unusual Ones (PDF). Danbury: Danbury Tricentennial Committee. p. 9. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  4. ^ "The Great Awakening and the Danbury Letter". people.smu.edu. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  5. ^ "Jefferson's Letter to the Danbury Baptists". Library of Congress (LOC.gov). Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  6. ^ "Church in Danbury Plans Fund Drive". The Bridgeport Post. Bridgeport, Connecticut. February 8, 1965. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  7. ^ "Church in Danbury to Mark 130th Anniversary Sunday". The Bridgeport Post. Bridgeport, Connecticut. August 17, 1960. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  8. ^ a b DeMerell, Robin (June 7, 2004). "Little Red Chapel in need of prayers and donations". News-Times. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  9. ^ Milano, Lou (May 3, 2022). "Danbury's Historic Little Red Chapel is Deliciously Out of Place". i95rock.com. Townsquare Media. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  10. ^ Ryser, Rob (June 27, 2022). "A 130-acre farm remains untouched by Danbury's growth, and that's how it will stay if a family has its way". News-Times. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  11. ^ "Winter Sunset Farm". Candlewood Valley Regional Land Trust. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  12. ^ Hennessy, Christina (October 10, 2017). "Singular sensation: Fans of state's old schoolhouses put spotlight on remaining structures". ctpost. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  13. ^ Goodsell, Laura H. (June 14, 1970). "One-Room School Bell 'Rings' As Former Pupils Meet Again". The Bridgeport Post. Bridgeport, Connecticut. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  14. ^ Baker, Kendra (April 19, 2022). "Rarely-displayed pieces among 80 artifacts Danbury Museum will highlight for its 80th anniversary". News-Times. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  15. ^ Blau, Sybil (July 12, 2014). "Peek right into Danbury's unique past". News-Times. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  16. ^ "Danbury Buys High School Site; Previdi Heads Building Group". The Bridgeport Post. Bridgeport, Connecticut. February 17, 1962. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  17. ^ "$563,000 Bid Received On Shelter Rock School". The Bridgeport Post. Bridgeport, Connecticut. September 14, 1962. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  18. ^ Fox, Sandra Diamond (November 30, 2011). "School Opening Doors to Celebrate 35 Years". News-Times. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  19. ^ Dow, C. Rodney (May 30, 2019). "Early adventures on the land FCI gave Danbury: Op-ed". Middletown Press. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  20. ^ "Proposed Wireless Edge Telecommunications Facility, Peck Road, Danbury, Connecticut" (PDF). portal.ct.gov. May 2007. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  21. ^ Baker, Kendra (May 18, 2019). "Danbury Fire Department marks 190 years of history". News-Times. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
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