n 1681, just twenty-eight humble log cabins built around a marshy green made up what is today
Waterbury,
Connecticut. The town flourished, and by 1850, its brass- and button-making industries welcomed the
Industrial Revolution. When the call came for the Civil War and World Wars I and II, Waterbury gave generously: buttons, to adorn United States military uniforms; and young soldiers, to fight for freedom and become heroes. A Brief History of Waterbury details the ebb and flow of this Connecticut town the climb to its height, the struggles through adversity and scandal and the glory of modern-day triumphs. In this endlessly intriguing account, authors Edith Reynolds and John Murray uncover the true reaches of Waterbury’s dynamic spirit.
Background Information
Waterbury, Connecticut, was founded in 1686 and became well known for its manufactures in brass. The First Industrial Revolution introduced the use of power, from falling water and steam, as the motive force behind large-scale machinery in factories. Connecticut is a New England state first settled in the 1600's, bounded on the north by Massachusetts and on the south by Long Island Sound.