Valley Heritage Driving Tour

Main Street, Ansonia

An early view showing the Naugatuck River and Main Street beyond. This peaceful looking stream turned into a raging torrent of destruction during the "Great Flood" of 1955, which buried most of Main Street under 10 feet of water. Flood control walls built after the flood now protect Main Street from further flooding problems.

In 1865, Pierre Lallement made his first bicycle ride through Main Street in Ansonia to Derby and back. On November 22, 1866, he was issued the first bicycle patent in the United States for his "velocipede."

Previous

Next