About the Cracker Hill Neighborhood

1. History of the Cracker Hill Neighborhood
   1. Cracker Hill is comprised of the Highland Park, Cottage Park, Overlook, and Columbia neighborhoods, ​not to be confusted with what is now the Town of Prospect, which was once a part of Waterbury that was known as Columbia
   2. It has been documented that the Cracker Hill Neighborhood included "Upper Willow Street" and the Overlook Neighborhood
      1. There is no known existence of "Upper Willow Street"
         1. ​However, there was once a South Willow Street and a North Willow Street; the latter began at West Main Street and ended at Columbia Boulevard, past Helca Street.
         2. Therefore, Cracker Hill may have included The Pines Neighborhood, and the Norwood Heights Neighborhood
   3. The first-known mentions of the identity "Cracker Hill" came circa 1931
   4. More recently, Cracker Hill is known as part of what now is known as Overlook or the Historic Overlook neighborhood, although its identity remains in tact
      1. ​In 2012, the Waterbury Observer published a photograph of part of Cracker Hill, identifying it as Cracker Hill, from the vantage point of Watertown Road (however, there is no Watertown Road in Waterbury but the picture may have been taken from Watertown Avenue in Waterbury)
      2. ​An August 24th, 2008 Op-Ed piece, published in the Republican newspaper, by Joseph P. Nolan, makes mention of Cracker Hill
      3. Waterbury Thoughts' October 31st, 2015 edition make mention of "Waterbury's fashionable Cracker Hill".
   5. Native of Waterbury, Bettejane Synott Wesson authored "A View From Cracker Hill", which chronicled her experiences growing up in Cracker Hill.
      1. ​Wesson is a long-time community supporter and advocate
      2. ​She is also rumored to be philanthropic
2. ​Other Names for the Cracker Hill Neighborhood
   1. ​Columbia Heights
   2. Overlook
   3. Historic Overlook
   4. generally, Columbia Boulevard
3. Streets in the Cracker Hill Neighborhood (partial list)
   1. ​to be updated in the future
      
4. The Cracker Hill Neighborhood Highlights
5. Safety in the Cracker Hill Neighborhood
6. Parks in the Cracker Hill Neighborhood
   1. ​Despite including the Highland Park and Cottage Park neighborhoods, there are no known parks in the Cracker Hill Neighborhood
      
7. Water in the Cracker Hill Neighborhood
   1. ​The Cracker Hill Neighborhood appears to have been bordered on it's westernmost edge by the Manahan River (also known as the Mahan River and the Manhattan River)
      1. ​This river was once 3 times the size of the Naugatuck River, and has now been nearly lost to development and eco-abuse
      2. The mighty river, in this part of it's travels and in at least the late 1800s and early 1900s, ran roughly parallel to the New York Railroad and New England Railroad, Mattatuck Street, the Naugatuck Railroad, and the Naugatuck River
8. Demographic Profile of the Cracker Hill Neighborhood​
   1. ​Long ago, Cracker Hill was once the neighborhood of the Brass Barons of Waterbury, or, at least, their executive managers
      1. ​It has been rumored that the neighborhood name was derived from the way some of the Brass Barons treated their employees, shy of actually being slaves.  The reference mocks the known practice of actual slave owners to "crack the whip" on the literal backs of slaves.  Since only "brass baron" Crackers could afford the excessively expensive homes on the vista-rich hill, and they were all white, they were known as "The Crackers on the Hill".
      2. More likely, the term was a mock at the owners of the excessively expensive homes in the area - leaving the property owners with only enough money to buy a cheap crackers
9. Business in Cracker Hill (partial list)
   1. ​Cracker Hill Sports
      1. (bizapedia.com)
         1. Dissolved
10. Features of the Cracker Hill Neighborhood
    1. ​Much of Cracker Hill 
       
11. The Cracker Hill Neighborhood Association
    1. ​The Historic Overlook Community Club
12. Partners and Supporters of the Cracker Hill Neighborhood
    1. ​As part of Waterville, the Waterville Community Club can be considered to be a partner or supporter
    2. Known to include the Overlook Neighborhood, the Historic Overlook Community Club can also be known as a partner or supporter 
13. Sports in Cracker Hill
    1. The "Cracker Hills" track team
    2. ​The "Cracker Hills" basketball team
    3. The Cracker Hill "Terriers" basketball team (1940)
    4. The Cracker Hill "Mugwamps" baseball team (until 1931)
    5. The Cracker Hill "Midgets" ("midget") baseball team​
    6. The Cracker Hill "Clippers", baseball team (after 1931)
       1. ​Whose players were mostly from Saint Margaret School
       2. Most popular, perhaps, from 1931 through 1934​
    7. ​The Cracker Hill "Juniors" baseball team
    8. ​The Cracker Hill ping pong team
    9. The Cracker Hill Volleyball team
    10. The Cracker Hill "Crusaders" bowling team
    11. The Cracker Hill Athletic Club football team
    12. The Cracker Hill Ice Hockey team
14. Noteworthy People from the Cracker Hill Neighborhood
    1. ​Catherine Rosalind Russell (yes, the world-famous actress Rosalind Russell)
       1. Liam Bluett article on Russell 
    2. ​Bettejane Synott Wesson; Author, Community Advocate, heiress
       1. ​The View From Cracker Hill
       2. Bold as Brass
15. Significant Structures in the Cracker Hill Neighborhood
    1. ​C. H. Cables Residence
16. The Cracker Hill Neighborhood Online
    1. ​There is no known online presence for Cracker Hill
17. Map of the Cracker Hill Neighborhood

A picture of Cracker Hill
Looking East Towards Waterbury's Cracker Hill | The Waterbury Observer