Miry Brook, Connecticut
{{Short description|Locality in Danbury, Connecticut, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|settlement_type = Unincorporated
|image_skyline = Miry-Brook-Volunteer-Fire-Co 13.jpg
|imagesize =
|image_caption = Miry Brook Volunteer Fire Department in 2022
|pushpin_map = Connecticut#USA
|pushpin_label = Miry Brook
|pushpin_map_caption = Location in Connecticut##Location in the United States
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_type1 = U.S. state
|subdivision_name1 = Connecticut
|subdivision_type2 = County
|subdivision_name2 = Fairfield
|subdivision_type4 = Region
|subdivision_name4 = Western CT
|subdivision_type5 = City
|subdivision_name5 = Danbury
|coordinates = {{coord|41|21|59.34|N|73|28|56.44|W|region:US-CT|display=inline,title}}{{cite gnis|212510|Miry Brook}}
}}
Miry Brook is an unincorporated area in the City of Danbury in Fairfield County, Connecticut.{{cite gnis|212510|Miry Brook}} It is located in the western part of the city, bordering Mill Plain to the north and west at Lake Kenosia and the town of Ridgefield, Connecticut, to the southwest. The Danbury Airport is located in Miry Brook.
History
The name Miry Brook is derived from the presence of swampland or “mire,” which makes up the landscape of the area, as well as the aptly named stream or “brook” that runs through it. According to local tradition however, it was named after an incident that occurred during the 1777 British retreat from Danbury (see Battle of Ridgefield), in which the Americans destroyed the bridge at Wolf Pond Run to impede the British, causing them a delay and mired artillery. While this story may be true, it is not what gave rise to the name of the waterway and area, as there are recorded mentions of Miry Brook from as early as 1712.{{cite book|author=Imogene Heireth|title=Names-Places: How Danbury Got Some Unusual Ones|url=https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/e2580884-d1a1-419f-a5b5-80c22c74f162/downloads/Tricentennial%20Book%203.pdf?ver=1603388193547|year=1985|location=Danbury|publisher=Danbury Tricentennial Committee|page=12|access-date=April 4, 2022}}
=Miry Brook School=
Although almost unrecognizable today, the Miry Brook Schoolhouse is one of four original district schools remaining in Danbury. In the early 1900s it was considered a "model rural school," and was part of a training program,{{cite news|author=|date=January 19, 1911|title=Was Teacher's Day|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116656002/miry-brook-school-model-rural-school/|work=Connecticut Western News|location=Salisbury, Connecticut|access-date=January 17, 2023}} where Danbury Normal School (now WestConn) students completed their student teaching labs.{{cite web|title=Miry Brook School Students outside|publisher=Western CT State University Archives' Digital Collections|url=https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/items/show/3033|access-date=January 16, 2023}} It would later become the auxiliary police headquarters & Civil Defense Building,{{cite news|author=|date=August 26, 1959|title=Auxiliary Police Meet In Danbury|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116658533/miry-brook-school-auxiliary-police/|work=The Bridgeport Post|location=Bridgeport, Connecticut|access-date=January 17, 2023}} and has since undergone major modifications.
File:Miry-brook-school-1912.jpg|Miry Brook Dist. School in 1912
File:Miry-Brook-School-Repurposed.jpg|Former schoolhouse in 2021
Watershed
As its name suggests, Miry Brook consists of a primary waterway surrounded by swampy wetlands. The Miry Brook itself begins in Ridgefield and runs throughout Danbury{{cite web |url=https://ridgefieldlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/RIDGEFIELD-ENCYCLOPEDIA-8-30-21.pdf |title=The Ridgefield Encyclopedia |last=Sanders |first=Jack |date=August 30, 2021 |website=Ridgefieldlibrary.org |publisher=Ridgefield Library |access-date=April 19, 2022}} until it reaches the Still River and feeds into it as one of its major tributaries.{{cite web |title=Still River Watershed Management Plan |publisher=Housatonic Valley Association |url=https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DEEP/water/watershed_management/wm_plans/still/stillriverdanburywbppdf.pdf |access-date=April 19, 2022}} This connects Miry Brook to the Housatonic River and Long Island Sound.
Development
In recent years, the area has become known as a high-end automotive district, known locally as the Miry Brook Corridor.{{cite web|url=https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/ineos-grenadier-curry-buys-danbury-auto-site-19844885.php|title=Curry buys Danbury site for $4M, unveils latest plan for ‘very exclusive’ Ineos Grenadier dealership|last=Ryser|first=Rob|date=October 20, 2024|website=News-Times|access-date=November 23, 2024}} Although Porsche and Audi dealerships were established in the area long ago, Miry Brook's reputation as a "mecca for high-end autos" truly began in 2018,{{cite web|url=https://www.thehour.com/business/article/An-industrial-stretch-near-Danbury-Airport-is-16662249.php?fr=operanews&hs_amp=true%2Fpage%2F2%2Fpage%2F3/page/2&hs_amp=true%2Fpage%2F2/page/3|title=An industrial stretch near Danbury Airport is taking off as a ‘mecca for high-end autos’|last=Ryser|first=Rob|date=November 3, 2021|website=The Hour|access-date=November 23, 2024}} when Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus acquired a factory site here for the production of supercars,{{cite web|url=https://www.autoweek.com/news/sports-cars/a1710991/glickenhaus-picks-factory-site-upcoming-scg-004s-supercar/|title=Glickenhaus picks factory site for upcoming SCG 004S supercar|last=Ramey|first=Jay|date=November 6, 2018|website=Autoweek|access-date=November 23, 2024}} including its 004S and 006S series cars.{{cite web|url=https://www.newstimes.com/business/article/Made-in-Danbury-the-400-000-sports-car-13445788.php|title=Made in Danbury: the $400,000 sports car?|last=Soule|first=Alexander|date=December 6, 2018|website=News-Times|access-date=November 23, 2024}} Two years later, North American Motor Car began construction on a {{convert|50,000|sqft|adj=on}} luxury car storage facility. It is the largest of its kind in Fairfield County.{{cite web|url=https://www.newstimes.com/business/article/Construction-begins-for-largest-classic-car-15543495.php|title=Construction begins for largest classic car garage in Fairfield County|last=Soule|first=Alexander|date=September 4, 2020|website=News-Times|access-date=November 23, 2024}} Since then, growth has only continued, with car companies like Mercedes-Benz and Ineos Grenadier deciding to build dealerships and staking their place in the corridor.
Parks and recreation
- Danbury Dog Park
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Portal|Connecticut}}
{{Danbury, Connecticut}}
Category:Neighborhoods in Connecticut
Category:Populated places in Fairfield County, Connecticut
Category:Geography of Danbury, Connecticut
{{Connecticut-geo-stub}}