CityLimitsJunction/sandbox | |
|---|---|
Unincorporated | |
  King Street Location in Connecticut  King Street Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates: 41°25′54.9″N 73°30′37.2″W / 41.431917°N 73.510333°W | |
| Country | United States |
| U.S. state | Connecticut |
| County | Fairfield |
| Region | Western CT |
| City | Danbury |
King Street is a residential neighborhood, and former district, in the City of Danbury. It consists of four streets sharing the same name, differentiated by predirectionals: King Street, South King Street, West King Street, and East King Street.
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.
History
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, the name is derived from the King Street in Greenwich, which is similarly located in the westernmost section of town, on the border of New York.[1]
The First Baptist Church of Danbury was organized here in 1785. 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.[2][3] The church itself is no longer standing. All that remains on the property today is the foundation of the original structure and the adjacent burial ground.
The primary church in the community has historically been King Street Church, located on the corner of King and South King Street. At the opposite end of South King, which is said to be one of Danbury's oldest roads, 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.[4] In 1840 it was donated to King Street Church. There is also a small cemetery to the side of the chapel.[5] Slightly north of this is Overlook Farm, a 130-acre (53 ha) farm that's been active for over a century.[6]
Like the other rural districts in Danbury at the time, King Street maintained its own one-room schoolhouse for the children in the community. The school operated from 1888 to 1939.[7] After the school had been decommissioned, it would serve as a gathering place for different community organizations including the Dorcas Circle.[8] The Danbury Museum and Historical Society would acquire the school in the 1960s,[9] leading to its relocation to a property south of Rogers Park, where it stands today.[10]
Demand eventually increased for a new King Street School. In 1962 the Danbury School Building committee announced the purchase of the future site of the elementary school,[11] and by September of that year, the official bid for construction had been received.[12] 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.[13]
The King Street District Association was formed on Jan. 28, 1930[14]
Local community
At the heart of the community is the King Street Campus, where there are two schools for the students of the neighborhood, King Street Primary and King Street Intermediate. The 18.64-acre (7.54 ha) campus includes several fields for sporting events. Behind the schools is the Drska Property, a nature preserve with hiking trails that lead to Upper Kohanza Lake.[15]
The community is served by King Street Volunteer Fire Department.
Notable Residents
- Rose Wilder Lane - daughter of author Laura Ingalls Wilder[16]
- Laura Nyro - singer/songwriter[17]
- Christian Soriano - fashion designer[18]
- Don Morrow - game show host and voice actor. He and wife Ursula resided at their sprawling King Street estate until his death in 2020[19]
- Peter Buck - co-founder of Subway restaurants
References
- ^ Imogene Heireth (1985). Names-Places: How Danbury Got Some Unusual Ones (PDF). Danbury: Danbury Tricentennial Committee. p. 9. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
- ^ https://people.smu.edu/religionandfoundingusa/thomas-jeffersons-danbury-letter/the-great-awakening-and-the-danbury-letter/
- ^ https://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9806/danpost.html
- ^ https://i95rock.com/danburys-historic-little-red-chapel-is-deliciously-out-of-place-for-2022/
- ^ https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/little-red-chapel-in-need-of-prayers-and-donations-251956.php
- ^ https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bridgeport-telegram-overlook-farm-co/151203200/
- ^ https://www.ctpost.com/living/article/Singular-sensation-Fans-of-state-s-old-12267699.php
- ^ https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bridgeport-post-history-of-king-stre/151469795/
- ^ https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Rarely-displayed-pieces-among-80-artifacts-17088892.php
- ^ https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Peek-right-into-Danbury-s-unique-past-5617952.php
- ^ https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bridgeport-post-danbury-school-build/155678342/
- ^ https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bridgeport-telegram-563000-bid-rec/155678850/
- ^ https://www.newstimes.com/local/article/school-opening-doors-to-celebrate-35-years-2335235.php
- ^ https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/do-you-remember-238759.php
- ^ https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/csc/1_dockets-medialibrary/docket_357/exhibitl2pdf.pdf
- ^ Holtz, William (1993). The Ghost in the Little House: A Life of Rose Wilder Lane. University of Missouri Press. p. 321. ISBN 978-0-8262-1015-9.
- ^ Kort, Michelle. Soul Picnic: The Music and Passion of Laura Nyro. New York: St. Martin's Press, p. 214.
- ^ https://issuu.com/thewagmag/docs/fair_032414/24
- ^ https://www.business.ct.gov/-/media/csc/3_petitions-medialibrary/petitions_medialibrary/mediapetitionnos1501-1600/pe1597/petitionersubmissions/petition/app-i3---abutter-mailing-log-letters-and-certified-mail-receipts.pdf