The End of a Shopping Era

Once upon a time, going to the mall in December was magical. Festive decorations everywhere, stores overflowing with toys, books, clothing, housewares, furniture, everything you could ever want. Holiday shoppers left with armloads of presents, some already gift wrapped by the store where they were purchased. Shopping malls were glamorous destinations from the 1960s through the early 2000s.

When the Brass Mill mall opened in 1997, it was supposed to revitalize Waterbury. Nearly 3,000 jobs were created at a time when there were more retail jobs than workers in Connecticut. The mall’s developers expected to see more than 2 million shoppers in its first year. Seasonal workers were hired every year to help with the large influx of shoppers during the holidays. 

No Kings Rally

"No Kings" Rally on the Green, June 14, 2025

 

I’m not a big protest person. Gathering in crowds to chant slogans isn’t my thing. But I felt like I had to show my support at today’s rally on the Green. Our country is racing down a dangerous road, and if we want our elected representatives to stand up for us, we have to stand up with them.

 

Mail Theft

Last weekend, I learned some surprising things about the U.S. Postal Service after someone stole a check I put in the mail. Here's the story.

On Friday, May 2, at about 5:25 p.m., I put two checks in the mail using the blue mailbox outside the Post Office on Wigwam Avenue (next to Target). Normally, if I have to mail a check, I'll go inside the Post Office on Grand Street and put the envelope in the mail drop there. This time I was running behind on things and just wanted to get it done. 

The mailbox I used on May 2, 2025.

 

A week later, on Friday, May 9, I was wondering if the checks had cleared yet. I opened up the app for my bank account and was shocked to see that the check I wrote for $200 was processing for $4,900. I pulled out my checkbook to verify that I hadn't lost my mind -- the carbon for the check clearly showed $200.

It was late at night and the check was in process, so there was nothing I could do. 

Waterbury's Oldest Houses

I've been meaning to put together a catalog of Waterbury's oldest houses for some time now. I still haven't finished researching the buildings, but I figured I might as well get what I have posted, since there is interest in this. 

In some cases, the date of the house comes from the City Assessor's Office. In other cases, the date is based on historical records. The Assessor records aren't always accurate for houses built before construction records were kept. For some of the houses, I have done in-depth research. For others, the research remains to be done.

Please note this is a work in progress and I will add more information when possible. 

 

Some photos are new, others are from years ago.

Gaylord-Welton House
3029 North Main Street

c. 1704

This house was built for Joseph Gaylord, Jr. and later became the home of generations of the Welton family; it is quite possibly the oldest house in Waterbury, built sometime in 1703 or 1704.

3029 North Main Street, c. 1704

When "The Clansman" Came to Town

One of the greatest contradictions in United States history is the core belief that “we the people” are created equal, that we are all entitled to equal rights, to fair treatment under the law, that no one person is entitled to more rights than anyone else – and yet throughout our history, people have been denied equal rights, denied due process, and treated unjustly.

The history of our country is one in which people have always had to advocate for their rights, to protest against wrongs being committed by those in power, to protect themselves and those who need protection. Waterbury’s history is no different. There are countless stories of Waterburians standing up for what’s right, making their voices heard in an effort to make the world a better place. One such story involves The Clansman, a theatrical production that came to Waterbury in 1906, based on a book of the same name written by a Baptist minister, Rev. Thomas Dixon, Jr. The Clansman, as the name suggests, glorified the Ku Klux Klan and vilified Black men. In 1915, The Birth of a Nation, a blockbuster movie based on Dixon’s play and book, was released. Both the play and the movie were loudly protested by people in Waterbury who made it clear that racism wasn’t welcome here.

 

The Clansman, with images from the movie
(from archive.org)

  

Union Station

 The most iconic building in Waterbury is about to enter a new era in its history. The Republican-American newspaper has been sold, and now the building is being sold as well (asking price is just under $5 million). Before the sale was announced, it looked like the building was going to be converted into apartments with restaurants or other types of businesses on the first floor. Whether or not that still happens will depend on the new owner. 

The future of the building is unknown, but I can tell you a bit about its past. Although best known now as the Rep-Am building, it was originally Union Station, constructed as a station on the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad line. Construction was completed in 1909.

Postcard View of Union Station

When Union Station was built, it was the main entrance to Waterbury. Nearly everyone traveled by train, which meant that the train station was one of the most important and busiest buildings in town.