Danbury's Historical Marker To Be Restored In Early Spring

The Historical Markers Restorations Company based in Daytona Beach, Florida will restore the Danbury Historical Marker located in Elmwood Park come early spring. The company specializes in restoring Historical Marker and Blue Star Memorial Highway Markers. The company does onsite restorations eliminating the need to dismantle and ship the marker to them.

Danbury’s historical marker has been subjected to the harsh environment over the years and had reached a point where the lettering had become illegible according to Danbury resident Lee Teicholz, who is leading the effort to have the marker restored.

“I remember driving by and saying that it’s a shame that it had reached such a deteriorated condition because it’s so important to preserve Danbury’s history for future generations to come,” Teicholz stated.

In 1967, The Connecticut General Assembly approved legislation directing the then Connecticut Historical Commission to "provide an appropriate marker describing the time and place and circumstance of the founding and subsequent history of each of the towns in the state".

In accordance with the state requirements, a marker was provided without charge to each town if they agreed to erect and maintain it and the site on which it is located. Cast by Sewah Studios of Ohio, the first marker was placed in 1970 and the last was placed in the mid-80s. Danbury’s marker was placed in 1974.

They are usually located in front of a Town/City Hall, local Historical Society or Town Green. However, some were located elsewhere and or have been moved over time. The individual towns provided the text on the marker. A few markers were one sided, but most were two sided with either the same text on both sides or longer text continuing from one side to the next.

Teicholz contacted the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development to make sure it was the local jurisdictions responsibility to maintain the marker and they stated that it was.

Teicholz then reached out to Danbury Historian and Executive Director Brigid Guertin from the Danbury Museum and Historical Society to discuss what could be done to restore the marker and before long, efforts had begun to make plans for it’s full restoration after receiving approval from Danbury City Hall.

“I’m very excited that the marker will be receiving the attention that it deserves,” Teicholz stated, “Much too often, history is forgotten.”

For more information on the marker and restoration process, please visit the website http://www.danburyhistoricalmarker.org/ or https://m.facebook.com/danburyhistoricalmarker/ on Facebook.