Lebanese Community News: Growth and Affluence

During the great depression the number of Lebanese and Syrian families settling in Danbury jumped drastically.  They came not just from the Middle East but also from across the United States from places like Lawrence, Worchester and New Bedford, MA; Providence, RI; Utica, NY and from as far as Texas and Ohio. They came for the plentiful jobs in the fur shops and factories.  Among this second wave of immigrants and migrants were family names like Andrews, Basher, Beylouni, Chakar, Dimyan, Farris, Nejame, Latif, Kaidy and Shaker.

Some of these new arrivals bought buildings, opened coffee shops and grocery stores in Danbury throughout the 1930s and 1940s and prospered.  Apartments like those owned by George Samaha on the corner of Rose and River streets became home for many young Lebanese families.  Neighborhood coffee houses like Alexander Deep’s on River Street became community gathering points where people drank Turkish coffee, smoked the argieleh (water-pipe) and played cards after long work days in the shops and factories. 

As the community grew many of its members went from being factory workers to shop supervisors like Federal Fur’s Antoine Taylor.  Others went on to own their own factories, with William Buzaid being the first Lebanese to own a hat factory.  He was followed by many others such as Edward Hajj, Albert Yameen, Louis Kalil, the Haddad brothers, Milad Ellis, George Michael, Mansour and Moses Michael, Nassib Jowdy, Sam Coury and the Asmar family.  These factory owners were major employers in Danbury who contributed to a vibrant economy that kept many local residents employed during even the toughest economic times.

Despite their growing numbers and economic affluence the Lebanese community shied away from politics for years as they came from a land ruled by Ottomans and French colonial occupiers leaving them with little experience in democracy and a fear of government officials.  In 1920 there were only 15 voters of Lebanese or Syrian origin in Danbury.  This fear diminished and then vanished in 1937 when Chicory Buzaid was elected as Danbury City Sheriff.  He was the first Lebanese American elected to public office in Danbury and Connecticut.  Buzaid’s election led the way for so many Lebanese Americans who followed him in elected and appointed municipal, state and federal office throughout Connecticut.  These include former Congressman Toby Moffet, Judge Louis George and Sheriff Buzaid’s own son Norman, who was the Danbury Democratic Party Chairman and a State Judge.  Today Lebanese Americans serve at nearly all levels of government in Danbury and throughout Connecticut in both elected and appointed offices.

The Lebanese community reached another mile stone in 1951 when WLAD Radio launched “The Lebanon Hour,” co-founded by Kamil and George Saffi.  Running for more than four decades with the voice of Kamil Saffi, the Lebanon Hour kept the community entertained and informed.

We hope you enjoyed part III of our series. Please contact us via email at: LCNdanbury@aol.com with ideas and articles for future publication in LCN.