History of Ansonia, Connecticut, USA

1854 - Ansonia
Ansonia, a flourishing manufacturing post- village of Derby township. New Haven county, Connecticut, on the Naugatuck railroad and river, 5 miles N. from Derby, and 16 N. from Bridgeport. This village, which has grown up within the last 4 or 6 years, owes its prosperity entirely to manufactures, which are here extensively carried on. It contains 2 or 3 churches, and a fine school, the building for which has been erected during the past year.
A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

1864 - Ansonia, CT incorporated as a town

connecticuthistory.org/ towns-page/ ansonia/

1869 - "Sharpshooter"
An Ansonia, Conn., "sharpshooter" recently fired at a squirrel that was being pursued by his ferret and a $30 dog, and succeeded in killing both dog and ferret and in scaring the squirrel.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
January 2, 1869

1873 - Ansonia Clock Company is established (Ansonia, CT)

connecticuthistory.org/ towns-page/ ansonia/

1882 - TWO MEN BURNED TO DEATH A DISASTROUS FIRE IN ANSONIA, CONN.
THREE HOUSES DESTROYED AND TWO LIVES LOST - NARROW ESCAPE OF SOME OF THE OTHER INMATES.

New-Haven, March 27. - Fire broke out at 8:45 o'clock this morning in George Hall's meat market, at Maple and High streets, West Ansonia. It was fully half an hour later before the firemen arrived and got to work. The three frame buildings just west of the Ansonia upper bridge were then in flames. The ground floor of the first building was occupied by Ying Lee, a Chinese laundryman; that of the second by Hall, the butcher, and Walter W. Betts, a harness-dealer, and that of the third by Daniel McCarthy, a saloon-keeper. The buildings burned like so many tinder-boxes. No wind was blowing, but the fire spread rapidly, and an hour after the alarm the three buildings were level with the street. Over the laundry lived Mr. Betts and his family. They saved none of their household effects. Mrs. Hall and his family lived over the harness shop and market. They escaped in their night clothes. The third... Read MORE...

1883 - A CONNECTICUT HOTEL BURNED. A THIEVING ACTOR, SUPPOSED TO HAVE SET FIRE TO THE ANSONIA HOUSE.
New Haven, April 10. - At an early hour this morning the west end of the Ansonia Hotel, Ansonia, Conn., was found to be on fire. The building was of wood and five stories high. W. H. DAYTON, the proprietor, was in the office at the time, and rushing from room to room he aroused the guests from their sleep. Most of them ran into the street in their night clothes. A servant girl named KATE GRADY, who slept in the fifth story, thinking that everything was on fire beneath her, sprang out of a window on the south side, landing on top of a man named CHARLES CONATY. One of her legs was broken in two places, and she received other injuries which may prove fatal. Other inmates escaped by the firemen's ladders. The fire was soon under control, and the damage to the building will not exceed $8,000. The insurance on the building is $13,000, divided as follows: In the Equitable of Providence, Washington Fire, Rochester, German, and North German, Hamburg, $2,000 each; in the Providence of... Read MORE...

1889 - WRECK AT ANSONIA.
Main Line Rails of Naugatuck Division Twisted Out of Place.
Ansonia, Sept. 27. - In making a flying switch on the Naugatuck division, in Ansonia this morning, five gondola cars loaded with coal were derailed and the siding was torn up for a distance of 100 feet, while the main line was twisted from its bed. The road was effectually blocked for the remaineer of the day. The trains, both passenger and freight, were run from Ansonia to Derby Juction over the tracks of the Berkshire division, so there was but little interruption to travel, trains being only 20 minutes late. It was necessary to have the wrecking crew from the main line, with the iron derrick car before the debris could be removed. There was no one injured and the damage to cars was small.
The New Haven Evening Register
New Haven, Connecticut
September 28, 1889

1893 - Ansonia, CT reincorporated as a city

connecticuthistory.org/ towns-page/ ansonia/

1895 - Ansonia
Anso/ nia, a city of New Haven co., Connecticut, on the E. bank of the Naugatuck River, nearly 2 miles from its mouth, 15 miles by rail N. by E. from Bridgeport, and 13 miles by rail N.W. of New Haven. It is on the New Haven & Derby Division of the Housatonic system. It has a bank, 5 churches, a daily and a weekly paper, an iron-foundry, and manufactures of clocks, brass and copper goods, woollen goods, &c. Pop. in 1880, 2855; in 1890, 10,342.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

1900 - ANSONIA FREIGHT WRECK.
Four Cars Derailed on the Naugatuck Division and Line Blocked.

Ansonia, Jan. 6. - Because a rod dropped from a freight car on the Naugatuck division, four cars were derailed, a rail broken and torn up, and the main line blocked for nearly an hour yesterday morning.

The train was a freight bound from Bridgeport. Engineer Sherman was at the throttle and Conductor Colgan was in charge. There were 23 cars in the train, many of them empty, and it was getting under full headway.

A connecting rod of the brakes dropped and fell between the rail of the switch and that of the main line. The wheels of the car passing over it, jammed it tight and the four succeeding cars as they passed over the obstruction were lifted from the rails and thrown on to the ties. The heavy train could not be stopped inside of 300 feet.

The accident occurred about 8:30 o'clock and it was not until 9:13 that the cars were restored to the rail and the line opened. For that reason the through New York train... Read MORE...

1916
Anso'nia, a city of New Haven co., Conn., on the E. bank of the Naugatuck River, nearly 2 miles from its mouth, and on the New York, New Haven and Hartford R., 12 miles NW. of New Haven. It has manufactures of clocks, brass and copper goods, woollen goods, paper machinery, etc. Pop. in 1890, 10,342; in 1900, 12,681.
Lippincotts New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns, Resorts, Islands, Rivers, Mountains, Seas, Lakes, Etc., in Every Portion of the Globe, Part 1 Angelo Heilprin Louis Heilprin - January 1, 1916 J.B. Lippincott - Publisher

2023 - Whether you're a local looking for new adventures or a visitor passing through, here's a list of places to go and things to do in Ansonia and the surrounding areas:
1. Ansonia Nature Center: Start your exploration of Ansonia at the Ansonia Nature Center. This beautiful 104-acre park offers walking trails, gardens, and a visitor center where you can learn about the local flora and fauna. It's a great place for a leisurely hike or a peaceful picnic.

2. Osbornedale State Park: If you're a fan of the outdoors, Osbornedale State Park is a must-visit. This state park in Derby, just north of Ansonia, features hiking trails, fishing ponds, and even a bird-watching area. It's an excellent spot for nature lovers and photographers.

3. Birmingham Green Historic District: Take a stroll through history in the Birmingham Green Historic District. This area is filled with well-preserved 19th-century homes and buildings, giving you a glimpse into the town's past. Don't forget your camera, as the architecture is quite picturesque.

4. David Humphreys House: History buffs will appreciate a visit to the David Humphreys House, a National Historic Landmark. It... Read MORE...