- The Museum in the Streets -

— Danbury, Connecticut —

The artificers, who produced and distributed goods for the army during the American Revolution, may have fueled the start of Danbury's early manufacturing activities. During the years following the war, Danbury began its transition from a primarily agricultural economy to a regional industrial center.
Turnpikes developed as supply routes during the war and water power from the Still River were important to the arrival of mills for producing flour, lumber, fulled woolen cloth and linseed oil for paint. Local paper mills fueled the publication of books with a Danbury imprint.
In the 1790s, the newspaper was filled with ads touting locally made clocks, carriages, and tailored clothing. The town even had a ?peruke' or wigmaker.
In the early 1800s, Nathaniel Bishop owned the largest comb making firm. He produced high-backed, ornately carved combs popular throughout Latin America. Cut and wrought nails, shirt manufacturers , straw board boxes, boot and shoe factories were growing businesses.
The arrival of the railroad, coal necessary to power machinery and the introduction of hat forming machines ushered in the industrial age. Manufacturers of hatting machinery such as the Turner Machine Company and the Doran Brothers were an important industrial base.
Foresight and initiative helped push the growth of Danbury's industrial strength.
In the early 20th century, the Danbury Business Men's Association secured state aid for roads and World War I initiated an effort to diversify. In 1918, a group of Danbury businessmen formed the Danbury Industrial Corporation; the first of its kind in the U.S., a vehicle in providing modern accommodations and facilities for welcoming new industries to our city.

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