Preschoolers Sentenced to Class Time Inside Danbury’s Old Jail

Danbury's Old Jail on Main Street hasn't seen a prisoner since 1959, but if alterations can be made in time, 32 infants and toddlers will occupy some of the old jail cells.

Classroom shortages are at a breaking point in Danbury. According to Hearst Connecticut Media, the 32 children in the city's Early Head Start program have found themselves displaced from their classrooms out of the community building at Laurel Gardens.

After renovations to the ground floor of the Old Jail are complete, there will be five new comfortable classrooms for early childhood education. The Early Head Start program is funded mainly by the federal government to serve 380 preschool children.

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This fantastic program serves lower-income infants, toddlers (children six weeks old to 2 years, 11 months old and their families. James Maloney is the CEO and founder of the Danbury-based social services organization, Connecticut Institute for Communities. He said, "We see our Head Start program in Danbury as one of the very best in the country." Check out this quick 8 second video of Lou during his recent tour of the Old Jail.

The Old Jail building was constructed in 1872 and was converted into a Senior Center in May of 1983. The jail served as the Fairfield County Jail until 1959. The jail is also on the site of the first Congregational meeting-house which was built in 1686.

This section of Danbury is rich with history and you can read all about it inside a document I located on the web at npgallerry.nps.gov. If you grew up in Danbury and you're a history buff like Lou and I are, make sure you tune into 'The Place You Live' featuring Mike Allen on Tuesday morning at 8:20 and 8:50 a.m.