This version was derived from a pinted inventory.
©
This collection was obtained by WCSU history faculty out of discarded City of Danbury records. The original material was damaged in a flood and has been microfilmed.
Open for research without restrictions. Researchers must use microfilm.
Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the:
Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date (if known); The Danbury Ledgers; DRG 1 &2; box number; folder number;
In 1889 the city of Danbury was incorporated following a great deal of growth attributable in good part to the rail and hatting industries.
The collection includes: Voter Lists, Grand lists, Personal Tax Enrollment, Grantors Index, Danbury-Orders to be Paid, Receipts and Disbursements, Treasurer, Municipal Service Expenditures, Danbury - Military Records - Enrollments/ Recapitulation, Water Applications, Danbury Street Sprinkling, Danbury Water Commissioner Accounts and Records, Danbury - Utilities, Sewer and Paving Assessments, Sewage Plant, Daily Log, Sewer Connection Permits, and the Census of the School District from 1900.
In 1975 two Western Connecticut State University professors, Truman Warner and Herbert Janick, acquired a significant collection of Danbury records (mostly town records but includes some city). An official transfer of custody for these documents does not exist, but it is known that, at the time, the City of Danbury had earmarked the records for disposal. Through the years, it also appears that some records may have been lost, stolen, or discarded. A detailed documentation does not exist.
These Danbury ledgers were sent to Northeast Document Conservation Center for preservation microfilming in 2007. Some items were discovered after the materials were microfilmed; they are included in this inventory noted as "ledgers" and are available in hard copy.
Information is generally in chronological order in each resource.
The files are grouped into 1 series.
[The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.]
Bound volumes of voters for each of the districts and wards of Danbury, CT. Books give names and addresses of all registered voters for each election. Check marks indicate which person actually voted in each election. Party affiliations are not recorded. Voters are listed by district for state elections and by ward for town elections. Covers on ledgers state "# district" or "# ward" or "to be made." 230 ledgers.
Bound volumes of tax lists for Danbury and Bethel (up to the time Bethel became a separate town). Ledgers are divided into residents, non-residents, and minorities. Some years list value of public buildings such as churches, schools, courthouse, and jail. Tax lists for individual schools are also listed for some years." 31 ledgers
Tax assessments by street address. Lists owner's name, address, lot and structure dimensions, owner's value places on property, and assessed values on real estate (assessed value listed in earlier books only, 1899-1909). Indicates how many lots had barns or extra houses. 7 ledgers.
Not microfilmed. Shows owner of property, size of the lot they own and the value of that property.
Not microfilmed. Leather bound ledger from 1898, appears to record tax payments. Very brittle.
Alphabetical list of men, ages 21-60, owing taxes. Includes notation of exemptions (i.e., military service, police officer). 1 ledger.
Not microfilmed. Alphabetical listing of tax liens in connection with the payment of school taxes. Includes amt of tax, amt of lien, when lien was affixed and paid. 1 ledger.
Not microfilmed. Index re purchase and sale of property. Lists property purchased, location, date, mortgage, lease information, etc.
Cover: "Granties 121-130, General Index #20"
Inside:"Index to Land Records Danbury, Conn."
Index re purchase and sale of property. Lists property purchased, location, date, mortgage, lease information, etc. Spine reads "General Index No. 22 Grantees." 2 ledgers
Chronological list of orders to be paid to Town services. 2 ledgers.
Name, date, order number, number of bonds and coupons, disbursements. 2 ledgers.
Not microfilmed. Includes names, amt of relief issued and description of the person(s) situation. 1 ledger.
Dept. of Parks, Roads, Lights, Police, Fire, etc. Chronological account of expenditures for the following departments: parks, roads, lights, police, fire… date and order number included. 1 ledger.
Names of male citizens between 21 and 45 years of age; names of those enrolled, disabled, liable for military duty. Also lists minors, volunteer firemen, 3-year militia, and active militia. 13 ledgers.
Forms are numbered and include space for date, type of dwelling, location, and name of applicant. Names, addresses, amount received, number of families, inventory of sinks, bathtubs, water closets, etc. Usually a June/December inventory. 5 ledgers.
Amount paid by homeowners to have street cleaned. Name/address/width of property (in feet). Date paid. 2 ledgers
List of water commissioners from 1864-1880; treasurers of Water Fund, 1864-1889; monies received by Board of Water Commissioners; inventory of pipe extensions and stop and waste gates, 1860-85; minutes of B of WC meetings, 1860-85. 1 ledger
Receipts for city taxes, interest, water rents, sewers, improvements, liens, etc. 1 ledger
Daily amounts of volts and amperes uses, grains discharged, depth of flow of sewage in, total salt used, time that screen was cleaned each day. 2 ledgers.
Permit forms indicate name/address of individual requesting connection to sewer. 2 ledgers.