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Article: Eye on Danbury.
- Article from:
- Fairfield County Business Journal
- Article date:
- July 2, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Westfair Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Regional economy is one of the state's strongest
Shortly after the turn of the last century a handful of visionary Danbury businessmen peered into the future and saw problems. The city was dependent on a single, seasonal industry -- hatting. Hourly wages were high, but annual incomes low, and able-bodied workers were deserting the city for more prosperous communities that offered year-round employment
The hatters and other businessmen formed the Danbury Industrial Corp. in 1918 to create jobs and bring in industry that wasn't dependent on hatting. The results of those efforts dwarfed their most visionary dreams.
By the time the city's hatting ...