Historical Facts About Greater Danbury Towns That You Didn’t Know

1. Bethel's name comes from the Hebrew word for, "House of God."

2. In 1934, Rudolph Kunett started the first vodka distillery in the United States in Bethel after purchasing rights to the recipe from the exiled Smirnoff family.

1. Before the English settled the area, Brookfield was inhabited by the Potatuck and the Wyantenuck Native Americans, both members of the Algonquin Federation.

2. In the late 70s, Brookfield was the location for the world headquarters of Lego USA.

1. Danbury was settled by colonists in 1685, who moved from what is now Norwalk and Stamford.

2. The first Danbury Fair was held in 1821. It became a early event beginning in 1869.

1. On April 24, 1729, 31,000 acres of land that would make up Sherman and New Fairfield was purchased from the Native Americans for $300.

2. Clarissa Nevius, the first woman Republican elected to the General Assembly, represented New Fairfield from 1923 to 1953.

1. The board game, Scrabble was invented in Newtown by James Brunot who purchased the property in 1948.

2. The button and comb industry was thriving in the 19th century in Newtown. In the mid 1800's Newtown was known for its rubber industry.

1. Ridgefield was purchased from the Ramapoo Indians in 1708.

2. The Battle of Ridgefield took place in April of 1777. Brigadier General Gold S. Silliman and General Benedict Arnold raised 700 troops to fight the British.