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Class of 2009
The City of Derby has selected five new members to its
Hall of Fame for 2009. They include the two men responsible for the
industrial growth of Derby and the development of its downtown, a Civil
War hero who went on to be Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme
Court, America’s first prima donna, and a local doctor renowned for his
compassion and personal care.
The Class of 2009:
![Sheldon Smit](pics/Smith,Sheldon_small1.jpg) Sheldon
Smith and Anson Phelps were the two
men most responsible for bringing industry into the area of Derby that
came to be called Birmingham. Smith was born in Derby, but moved to
Newark, New Jersey where he made his fortune before returning to Derby
and beginning the development of the new “downtown” area in 1833. They
put a dam on the Naugatuck River and built a canal and reservoir to
bring water to the downtown area fueling the development of industry and
retail commerce. For a short period of time the area was known as
Smithville before changing to Birmingham. Prior to this, commercial
activity had been centered around Derby Landing and Uptown Derby on the
eastern bank of the Naugatuck River.
Smith also persuaded Phelps to become his business partner and invest in
Derby. One of the first ventures was the recently demolished copper mill
built between First and Second (now Main) Streets. The two eventually
split as business partners, but they continued as community and business
leaders. They were responsible for the layout of the streets in the
downtown area and the development of the Derby Green. In fact, Caroline,
Minerva and Elizabeth Streets are named for Smith’s daughters, and
Olivia Street is named for Phelps wife. In addition there is a Smith
Street and an Anson Street. Better known is Derby’s other borough –
Ansonia – which was named after Phelps and is today a city of its own!
Phelps and Smith also donated the land around the Green for the churches
that surround it and give it its distinctive New England town green
mystique to this day.
David
Torrance was born in Scotland, but Derby came to be his home. During
the Civil War, he served with distinction as a captain on the Union
side. At the end of the war, he settled in Derby and began the practice
of law in a prominent firm headed by his Civil War comrade in arms
William “Burr” Wooster. Torrance served in the state legislature and was
elected Secretary of State in 1879. He became a judge in the state
judicial system in 1881 and rose through the ranks to become Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court of Errors in 1901. He also served as a
professor of law at Yale University.
Clara
Louise Kellogg was born in South Carolina in 1842, but lived in
Derby in her early years. Her study of music eventually brought her to
the New York Academy of Music where she starred in their production of
Rigoletto launching one of the first great careers by an American
opera singer. At the time, many believed that American’s weren’t capable
of competing with Europeans when it came to opera. She proved the
doubters incorrect by traveling throughout Europe where she became
recognized as America’s first prima donna. At one point in her career,
she did return to Derby to play a benefit concert in the old Gould
Armory on Main Street. She died in New Hartford in 1916, and her career
is captured in her autobiography “Memoirs of an American Prima Donna.”
The Derby website also has links to a 1937 Dupont Cavalcade radio play
about her life.
Dr.
Joseph S. Stygar’s name is well known to Derby residents as one of
the city’s senior housing projects, Stygar Terrace, is named for him. He
opened his practice on Main Street in Derby in 1934 in the old Howard &
Barber’s building and was well respected for the personal care that he
provided his patients. He was the city’s health officer and active in
many civic groups in town. He also served in the military during World
War II. Long before Medicare and Medicaid provided health coverage for
the needy, Dr. Stygar was noted for his care of those in need at his own
expense. Some say that he literally worked himself to death for the
benefit of others.
The new members join 15 others previously elected to the Hall of Fame
which was started in 2007. The Hall of Fame is located on the Hall of
Fame Plaza on the Division street entrance to the Derby Greenway.
Members of the Hall of Fame are recognized with bricks placed around the
National Humane Alliance in the Plaza and their achievements are
recognized in the Hall of Fame section of the
City website.
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