Danbury Debuts a Main Street Project That’s All About Kindness

According to a press release from CityCenter Danbury, Main Street just picked up a new addition that’s equal parts wholesome, creative, and very on-brand for downtown Danbury.

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CityCenter Danbury has officially launched the nation’s first Free Little Card Barn, a greeting-card take on the familiar Little Free Library concept. The idea is simple: take a card if you need one, leave a card if you can, or just stop and appreciate the fact that something this thoughtful exists at all. Thanks to donations from local residents, partners, and businesses, the barn is launching with more than 1,000 cards covering just about every life situation imaginable — birthdays, holidays, condolences, and blank cards ready for whatever you need them for.

The Free Little Card Barn is located outside the Connecticut Institute for Communities building at 120 Main Street and was inspired in part by CityCenter Danbury’s Free Little Art Gallery near Mothership Café. The project, including the design and construction of the barn and the card-making supplies, was made possible through a grant from AARP Connecticut’s Livable Communities program, which is all about encouraging connection and accessibility in public spaces.

The official ribbon cutting is set for Wednesday, January 14 at 3:30 p.m., and the public is invited. There will be free parking behind the CIFC building, light refreshments, and complimentary gift bags with stamped greeting cards for guests. After the opening, card donations will be accepted through CityCenter Danbury. It’s a small, charming idea with a surprisingly big impact — and another reminder that sometimes the nicest things on Main Street don’t cost a dime.

City Center Danbury

In 1970, Two Men Robbed a Danbury Bank + Blew Up the Police Station

The story of the Pardue brothers, their connection to Danbury and what happened in the Hat City in February of 1970 came to us from Mike Allen. Every Tuesday Mike joins the Ethan and Lou Show on I-95 for a feature called "The Place You Live" and this week it was a local story unlike any I'd ever heard.

John Pardue was a 27-year-old man in 1970 who lived in Danbury, his brother James was 23, and living in Lusby, MD. Before the story finds its way to the Hat City, and the brothers rob the Union Savings Bank on Main Street, they had already racked up quite the list of astonishing crimes.

Prior to Danbury, they robbed banks in Lewisboro, NY, Georgetown, CT and Union, MO. They also killed their father, their grandmother, two other men who helped them pull off the robbery in Georgetown, CT and had, at minimum, a role in the death of an innocent Bridgeport man that they stole a car from. John and James Pardue were hardened criminals before their Danbury bank robbery.

Gallery Credit: Lou Milano

17 Stunning Danbury Photos Along With Random Odd Facts About the City

The day I took this round of pictures (September 15 or 16th I can't remember), the light all over the city was just perfect. The sun was dancing in all the right places on the buildings, the trees and the grass. I said to hell with it, I'm publishing these photos. But what should I write in the description? I decided to pair the images with odd Danbury facts I gathered from prior articles.

Maybe this works out, maybe not at least I can say "look at this!"

Gallery Credit: Lou Milano