Danbury in Fairfield County, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)
The Danbury Court House
Danbury, Connecticut
— The Museum in the Streets® —
Photographed By Michael Herrick, December 30, 2013
1. The Danbury Court House Marker
Danbury’s first courthouse was built in 1785; complete with old stocks and whipping posts near the front entrance. These were dispensed with when the city’s second courthouse was built in 1824.
Civic events and elections were held in the courthouse and it was also iused for the display of handcrafted goods during agricultural fairs held in nearby Elmwood Park.
In September of 1848, General Tom Thumb visited Danbury with his employer P.T. Barnum. His exhibition was held at the Court House in Danbury.
In 1832, prior to starting his circus venture, Barnum was on trial for libel in the very same courtroom.. Convicted and sentenced to sixty days in the Danbury jail on the opposite side on Main Street, he continued to edit his weekly newspaper, The Herald of Freedom.
At one time, the secret, anti-Catholic, Know-Nothing party had enough local support to deny use of the town-owned courthouse to the newly organized St. Peter parish for weekly masses.
With the growth of Danbury, the original courthouse was deemed unfit for the civic needs of the town. In 1899, before a more suitable one could be built, its predecessor was auctioned off and won by Mayor Charles Kerr. The building was moved across Main Street to a lot on Taylor Lane where it became the longtime home of the Danbury
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In 2005, the property was purchased by the city and the old courthouse was razed to build the Elmwood Senior Center.
The present Court House on Main Street, built in 1899, handles Juvenile Court Matters for Fairfield County.
Erected 2010 by The Museum in the Streets®. (Marker Number 18.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Government & Politics. In addition, it is included in the The Museum in the Streets®: Danbury, Connecticut series list. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1848.
Location. 41° 23.441′ N, 73° 26.892′ W. Marker is in Danbury, Connecticut, in Fairfield County. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street and Wooster Street, on the left when traveling north on Main Street. Located in Elmwood Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Danbury CT 06810, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Danbury (a few steps from this marker); The Danbury Raid (within shouting distance of this marker); The Circus Comes to Town (within shouting distance of this marker); Schools and Education (within shouting distance of this marker); Danbury 9-11 Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker);
Photographed By Michael Herrick, December 30, 2013
2. The Danbury Court House Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on August 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 24, 2014, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 652 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 24, 2014, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.
