page_title: Main Street Historic District (Danbury, Connecticut)
section_title: Significant contributing properties
hierarchical_section_title: Main Street Historic District (Danbury, Connecticut) / Significant contributing properties
caption_attribution_description: General David Woosters, Monument in Wooster Cemetery Danbury, CT
context_page_description: The Main Street Historic District in Danbury, Connecticut, United States, is the oldest section of that city, at its geographical center. It has long been the city's commercial core and downtown. Its 132 buildings, 97 of which are considered contributing properties, include government buildings, churches, commercial establishments and residences, all in a variety of architectural styles from the late 18th century to the early 20th. It is the only major industrial downtown of its size in Connecticut not to have developed around either port facilities or a water power site.
  It was called Town Street when Danbury was first settled in the late 17th century. For over a century afterwards the "long, straggling street" was synonymous with Danbury, to the point that farmers in the area referred to it as Danbury Street. The Revolutionary War in that area of Connecticut began in the future district, where a marker indicates the first shot fired at the British. As the city began growing toward the mid-19th century, its development was shaped by the arrival of the railroads, which helped the city's hatmakers dominate their industry.
  In the mid-20th century the area began to decline.
context_section_description: Some of the district's properties are architecturally or historically noteworthy in themselves. One, the John Rider House, was listed on the National Register prior to the district's creation. Another, the former jailhouse, was determined eligible for listing.
  American Legion Hall, 32–52 Elm Street. The open expanses of brick wall surface with round-arched windows on this 1927 building typify the work of local architect Philip Sunderland.
  Benedict & Nichols Building, 191-193 Main Street. When built in 1852 this transitional Greek Revival-Italianate commercial structure was the first three-story block in Danbury.
  Chiarella Block, 272 Main Street. This 1914–15 mixed-use structure is one of the earliest in the district to show signs of the Colonial Revival style.
  Commercial Building at 131 Main Street. Built in 1931, it is the youngest contributing property in the district. Its modernist design has some Art Deco elements.
  Commercial Building at 141 Main Street. The dedication plaque of this 1907 late Italianate building is inscribed in both English and Arabic.
  Commercial Building at 279–283 Main Street. First built as a Greek Revival commercial structure in 1853, later sales to different owners led to portions of the facade being redone in Tudor and modernist styles.
  Crofut Block, 253–255 Main Street. This brick 1876 building with wooden pedimented window hoods, corner quoins and pressed tin ceiling in the store interior at 255 is an excellent example of the high commercial application of the Italianate style.
  Danbury News Building, 288 Main Street. This 1873 building had a distinctive Queen Anne tower added in 1893.
  Old Danbury Library, 254 Main Street. Donated to the city in 1878 by fur-processing executive Alexander Moss White, its brick facade with polychromatic sandstone trim and slate-shingled gable roof make it the only High Victorian Gothic building extant in the Danbury area.
  John Dodd Shop, 43 Main Street, rear. Moved from its original site to preserve it, this small 1790 frame building is the oldest commercial building in the district.
  Elmwood Park, in center of Main Street between South and Wooster streets. Originally donated to town as a common, it was the last home of the Congregationalist church that was the focal point of the early village of Danbury. Later used for growing hay and turned into a public park.
  Fairfield County Courthouse, 71 Main Street. An 1899 Beaux Arts structure designed by Warren Briggs that now serves as juvenile court.
  Hornig Block, 10–16 Elm Street. This 1882 Italianate commercial building is the only one in the district with pressed-metal siding.
  Houses at 101–103 and 105–107 Main Street. Two double houses, Greek Revival and Federal in style respectively, that reflect Danbury's early industrial growth in the 1830s.
  Humane Hose Co. No. 1 Firehouse, 6 Boughton Street. The only property on Boughton is a 1911 stucco Italianate firehouse still in public use as a police garage.
  Old Fairfield County Jail, 80 Main Street. An 1872 Second Empire building used for its original purpose until 1969. Today it has been converted mostly to senior housing, with part of the ground floor set aside as a small museum. It was determined eligible for the National Register in 1980 but has not been formally listed.
  Old Fire Station, 5-7 Ives Street. When this slate-roofed brick building went up in 1883 it was one of Danbury's first major public buildings. After being taken out of service in 1969, it has been converted into apartments.
  Old Post Office, 258 Main Street. Built in 1876, this Italianate brick building has corbeled window hoods. Its original cornice is missing.
  Old Saddle Factory, 68 Main Street. An 1836 wood frame building later used as housing and today as office space.
  Old Southern New England Telephone Company Building, 31 West Street. This 1908 brick building has some Dutch Colonial Revival touches, most significantly its prominent stepped-gabled roof.
  John Rider House, 43 Main Street. This 1785 wooden house is the oldest property in the district. It is currently home to the Danbury Historical 
caption: Monument to David Wooster in Wooster Cemetery
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