Tortoise-like events define Danbury
used their time and money to create the first museum in Danbury. The present directors decided to change the name to
, which meant dumping Scott Fanton and history.
Their rationale was that the name Danbury conveyed more relevance to the common people who were not exactly enamored of history. Thus footnotes are provided for the people who are sacrificed.
Early settlers arrived from Norwalk and used the name Swampfield and later changed it to Danbury. The Swampfield Land Trust directors decided to change their name to Danbury Land Trust, which meant dumping Swampfield and history.
I suggested the compromise of Danbury Swampfield Land Trust but they said no, plus the word swamp scared some people who might be potential donors of land.
They also felt the name Danbury had more relevance to our present hi-tech society.
Cephas Rogers gave land to Danbury. The grateful city placed a sign at the entrance of what became known as Cephas Rogers Park. The sign stood there for 46 years until it was stolen and never replaced. Danbury society, consisting of mayors, councilpersons and citizens, made not one move to replace the sign.
Such was the respect and gratitude for the man who gave the land for Danbury's No. 1 park.
Seventeen years passed and I emigrated from Vermont to Danbury. I said to Mayor Boughton, "We should replace the missing sign." The mayor replied "Yes, we should, I will make a new sign."
These are the tortoise-like events that define the society of Danbury.