The Brooklyn neighborhood bordered the International Neighborhood (until the destruction of the International Neighborhood caused by the installation of Waterbury's famed "Mix-Master" highway system.
Brooklyn is currently bounded roughly by the City of Waterbury's Borough of Naugatuck, the Town Plot Hill neighborhood, South Main Street, the Bristol neighborhood, and the Platts Mills neighborhood
History of the Brooklyn Neighborhood
The Brooklyn section of Waterbury was so-named due to its similarity to New York City's Brooklyn; Viewing the City from Brooklyn proper, one must look over and beyond the City's most major river, the Naugatuck River.
It is unknown if the naming of Brooklyn was initiated by any of the several Waterbury men who served in the Revolutionary War in 1777 at Brooklyn New York under Colonel Baldwin.
The earliest known reference to Brooklyn is indicated in 1733.
Other Names for the Brooklyn Neighborhood
South Brooklyn (partially)
Streets in the Brooklyn Neighborhood
3rd Street
4th Street
5th Street
6th Street
7th Street
Band Street
Brewery Street
Charles Street
Eagle Street
Lafayette Street
Porter Street
Railroad Hill Street
South 5th Street
South Leonard Highway
South Leonard Street
Washington Avenue # 1
Washington Avenue # 2
Washington Avenue # 3
Washington Avenue Extension
Wilson Street #1
Wilson Street #2
The Brooklyn Neighborhood Highlights
Saint John's Church
Safety in the Brooklyn Neighborhood
Brooklyn was once known as the safest neighborhood in Waterbury
Brooklyn is now known as a largely unsafe neighborhood
partly due to the high concentration of apartments, which causes
a higher-than-normal attrition of residents
a lacking of pride-of-ownership
disconnected residents
the attraction of lower-income residents who are less interested in, and less able to, contributing in a positive way to the neighborhood
partly due to the destruction of the neighborhood buildings, culture, and vibe at the construction of the Mix-Master which dissected the neighborhood
partly due to the dilution of the once-monogamous Lithuanian population
Parks in the Brooklyn Neighborhood
Lieutenant Vincent L. Riddick & Lisa Stokes Velez Park
Water in the Brooklyn Neighborhood
Naugatuck River
Demographic Profile of the Brooklyn Neighborhood
Brooklyn is largely comprised of apartment dwellers
Brooklyn has a relatively high Hispanic population relative to the rest of the City of Waterbury.
Income levels in Brooklyn are among the lowest in the City of Waterbury
Traditionally, Brooklyn is known for it's very high population of descendants of Lithuania.
Business in Brooklyn (partial list)
Features of the Brooklyn Neighborhood
Steep hills, level land, river, highways, historic cemetery, historic church, historic school, monument
The Brooklyn Neighborhood Association
The Brooklyn Neighborhood Association exists, but has been operating without a president since December of 2016
The Brooklyn Neighborhood Association meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, and generally attract around 10 people.
Partners and Supporters of the Brooklyn Neighborhood
Brooklyn Athletic Club
Founded in 1939
The oldest organization of it's kind [at that time] in all of Connecticut
Brooklyn Neighborhood Association
Waterbury Neighborhood Council
Noteworthy People from the Brooklyn Neighborhood
Vincent L. Riddick
Born: March 26th, 1968
Died: November 23rd, 2010
Waterbury Police Lieutenant
Life-long Waterbury Resident
Graduate:
Wallace Middle School
Kennedy High School
Western Connecticut State University
B.S. in Criminal Justice
Lisa Stokes Velez
Waterbury Community Advocate
Brooklyn Neighborhood Advocate
Instrumental in the conversion of a Brooklyn brownfield into a park
President of the Brooklyn Neighborhood Association
Vice-President of the Waterbury Neighborhood Council
Significant Structures in the Brooklyn Neighborhood
Memorial to the 29 Victims of the Great Flood of 1955
Historic Riverside Cemetery
Waterbury's "Mix-Master" highway intersection
Which, for many decades, was known as the most complicated intersection in the world
Connecticut State Highway Route 8
The Brooklyn Neighborhood Online
There is no known online presence to specifically represent the Brooklyn Neighborhood
Map of the Brooklyn Neighborhood
See the map herein.
Tragic Crash Closes Highway, Takes Life A tragic incident unfolded on Connecticut State Route 8 in Waterbury early Sunday morning, claiming the life of a local resident. Aron Tyrell Vann, a Waterbury native, was involved in a head-on collision while driving southbound in the northbound lanes of the highway.
The accident occurred just after 3 a.m. when Vann's Nissan Altima collided with a Jeep Cherokee. Emergency services quickly responded to the scene, a stretch of Route 8 familiar to many Waterburians as a key artery connecting the city to surrounding areas.
Vann was rushed to Waterbury Hospital, a cornerstone of healthcare in the Brass City, where medical staff fought to save his life. Despite their efforts, Vann was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The highway was closed due to this two-vehicle collision near South Leonard Street. Emergency services responded at 3:11 a.m., with reported injuries of undetermined severity. The road remained closed for a duration of several hours during the investigation, as authorities were continuing to assess the situation and manage the accident scene.
The driver of the Jeep, an out-of-state visitor from Allentown, Pennsylvania, sustained minor injuries and was taken to Saint Mary's Hospital, another vital medical facility serving the Waterbury community.
The cause of Vann's wrong-way driving remains unclear, adding a layer of mystery to this tragic event that has shaken the local community. The Connecticut State Police are leading the investigation, calling on Waterbury residents and anyone traveling through the area at the time to come forward with information.
Trooper Anthony Falstoe, who is heading the investigation, can be reached at 203-267-2200 or anthony.falstoe@ct.gov. The Waterbury Police Department is also assisting in gathering any local intelligence that might shed light on the circumstances leading to this unfortunate incident.
As the city mourns the loss of one of its own, this accident serves as a somber reminder of the importance of road safety on Waterbury's busy highways and streets.
This article may have been written in part or in whole by Claude Sonnet. 2024.10.21
