The Cross,
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Holy Land,
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Holy Land U.S.A. Annual Fundraiser
The annual fundraising dinner to benefit Holy Land U.S.A. was hosted at la Bella Vista on Saturday, November 4th, 2017. Holy Land, which, in it's hay day, attracted a pilgrimage of over 7,000 Jews from the City of Jerusalem every year. The iconic monument of the once flourishing and still world-famous family theme park is located atop Abrigado Hill. The cross, now in a third rendition and at a slightly different location, glows in liturgical sync with the Catholic religious significance. Despite being a neighborhood-specific an world-unique cross, there was no participation, no attendance, and no representation from the Waterbury Neighborhood Council.
Historic Day in Waterbury
The always-coveted Cross at Holy Land has been erected again. The official lighting took place on Sunday, December 22nd, 2013. Absent of the Cross, which has long been part of the formerly world-famous and now defunct family theme park "Holy Land", atop Abrigado Hill, the Cityscape was marked only by other hills and the Downtown clock tower. The return, and re-substantiation, of the Cross is a welcome religious, cultural, and social reassurance that Waterbury is alive and well.
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Both pictures above were taken from the exact same location in Town Plot of the newest Cross at Holy Land on December 22nd, 2013 (one with a zoom lens). This new cross is set to change colors in order to match those of the Roman Catholic calendar.
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Holy Land U.S.A. Links
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Holy Land, in Other News
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Mayor, Partner to Buy, Restore Park
Mayor O'Leary recently announced plans to purchase property which once was the site of world-famed "Holy Land USA". After many years of destruction and decay, forced moves of its signature icon - the Cross, over a million dollars worth of donations, the removal and destruction of dozens of catacombs, endless scores of labor hours, and an eventual transfer of property ownership to a philanthropic group, the property may now be sold to the Mayor and one or more partners.
The Mayor intends to host fundraisers to pay for the property, restore much of it back to mimic its glory days, and parcel off pieces to various religious groups.
Proponents are calling for the Mayor to put the property entirely in the name of a non-profit organization, which he has already indicated is his intention.
The Mayor intends to host fundraisers to pay for the property, restore much of it back to mimic its glory days, and parcel off pieces to various religious groups.
Proponents are calling for the Mayor to put the property entirely in the name of a non-profit organization, which he has already indicated is his intention.
Even with that, some are calling on the entire acreage to be permanently designated as a national park. Most tend to agree that sharing the land via lease is a better option than selling off pieces.
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Recent complaints about the deal suggest that the City should donate to this project any and all monies it collected from former owner Attorney John Baptiste Grecco since it was being used for what was clearly church purposes, and should have been exempt from any property taxes. WaterburyLife.com was unable to confirm whether the 18 acres was on the tax roll or listed as exempt. Other activists support the project, and say that the purchase price and all repairs should easily be recouped within 5 years - from entrance fees, once the park reopens. It is clearly evident that most people agree that a reopening of the park will be enthusiastically accepted, and the revenue will undoubtedly self-perpetuate the sorrily missed family theme park attraction.
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The latest location of the Cross was chosen so that there would be no chance that further expansion of the City's main expressway (an oxymoron to East Enders) would result in yet another move to its location (it has already been moved twice). The fiery topic has long been a sore point of contention for proponents and opponents alike. The one point on which everyone seems to agree, is that the Cross should never have been allowed to be moved, and it should return to it's original location at all cost. The land on which it once stood has long been removed to make way for what some people have always touted as a confusing and needless entrance and exit system to the interstate highway.
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Many residents recall a welcome feeling as soon as they turned the corner on Connecticut Route 8 South. The view was fondly anticipated from points north, east, and west. Except for the closest residents to its south, the Cross was scarcely visible from most points south - and those neighboring the site had virtually no view of the Cross. Travelers passing through the City looked forward to seeing the Cross, and often would altar their travel plans to ensure that they would see what was effectively a Holy Light. Holy Land was far more than a tourist attraction, religious icon, or cultural bloom; it was also a symbol of endurance, inclusion, community, and will.
The Brass City took a heavy blow with the disintegration of its brass industry; the City of Neighborhoods took a heavy blow with the abolition of its International Neighborhood as the State made room for the nation's first major mix-master highway system; the land which once was Mattatuck (Matetacoke) took a heavy blow when one of the nation's first amusement parks - Forest Park - closed in 1953; and the city of many underground water burrows took a heavy hit with the Flood of '55. |
None, however, in fact even if combined, would have such a devastating spiritual impact as the loss of the world's only replica of Holy Land. To this day, even in its more modest profile and set back further than ever, the Christian symbol is visible from Chase Park to Hamilton Park. In fact, only the tops of trees block the view of the Holy Cross from being visible from Town Plot Hill's Upper Murray Park. Hordes of people still perform the novena as the drive by, especially during snowy weather.
Stories of Holy Land have enticed media for half a century. This closed family theme park is so important to the people of Waterbury - and surrounding towns - that newspapers, television stations, radio broadcasts, and social pages continue to cover the (ongoing) history of the Sacred Hill even to this day. Once attracting not only Americans from many states, but also tourists from many nations - even those who live much closer to the actual Holy Land - this is yet another treasure of the Brass City.
The picture below shows the 3rd and current location for the Holy Cross, which, itself is the 3rd variation, as it is seen from United States Interstate Highway 84. The original, more prominent - and better lit - Cross would have been some 25 feet closer to the highway in this picture, and some 125 feet to the east (to the Cross's right) had it not been displaced to make roo
For a more in depth expose, see the Waterbury Observer July 2013 edition; the entire front cover and 3 full interior pages were dedicated, in text and pictures, to one of the best pieces of Waterbury's history.
Stories of Holy Land have enticed media for half a century. This closed family theme park is so important to the people of Waterbury - and surrounding towns - that newspapers, television stations, radio broadcasts, and social pages continue to cover the (ongoing) history of the Sacred Hill even to this day. Once attracting not only Americans from many states, but also tourists from many nations - even those who live much closer to the actual Holy Land - this is yet another treasure of the Brass City.
The picture below shows the 3rd and current location for the Holy Cross, which, itself is the 3rd variation, as it is seen from United States Interstate Highway 84. The original, more prominent - and better lit - Cross would have been some 25 feet closer to the highway in this picture, and some 125 feet to the east (to the Cross's right) had it not been displaced to make roo
For a more in depth expose, see the Waterbury Observer July 2013 edition; the entire front cover and 3 full interior pages were dedicated, in text and pictures, to one of the best pieces of Waterbury's history.
Holy Land, USA Links> Click here - if you want to go to the "Holy Land Waterbury" Facebook page where you can learn more about the upcoming fundraiser and how to donate.
> Click here - If you want to go to the Holy Land FundRazr page. > Click here - to go to the "Holy Land Waterbury" website. |
April 4th, 2021