The town that began as "Swampfield'? became Danbury, one of the best cities in Connecticut, the one-time capital of the hat industry, and the gateway of New England. The founding families of Danbury, with names such as Thomas Barnum, Judah Gregory, and John Hoyt, left Norwalk in 1684 and traveled some 30 miles north. There, at the western edge of Connecticut, they settled in the surrounding wetlands, and in 1687, the town was decreed as Danbury. Over the years, the small community has grown from the first residents' homes on Towne Street (today's Main Street), and has become a city of over 80,000 people. From a pivotal role in the American Revolution, to the Great Danbury State Fair, and how Danbury became America's "Hat City,'? producing over 5 million hats a year and supplying the hat industry with 75% of its hat bodies. The Danbury Museum & Historical Society was founded in 1947 and has always held education of the public as one of its prime responsibilities. For Danbury, the society has selected the finest photographs from its extensive collection and has combined them with carefully researched narrative. The results will remind readers of landmarks that no longer exist while observing that a considerable amount of Danbury's past is still present. Used Book in Good Condition