This week’s “Turnback Tuesday” picture features the picturesque Derby Green.
In this image, you can see 2 of the 3 churches that bracket the Green: Immanuel St. James Episcopal Church (r.) and Derby United Methodist Church (l.)
While the original Derby Commons was actually located in East Derby between Academy Hill Road and Clark Avenue, the Derby Green as we know it today - located between Minerva and Elizabeth Streets - was part of the planned downtown for “Birmingham”, orchestrated in 1836 by businessmen Sheldon Smith and Anson G. Phelps (of “Ansonia” namesake fame.)
In fact, the Derby Green is referred to as the “Birmingham Green Historic District” on the National Register of Historic Places.
Note that this image reflects the Green prior to the year 1999, when it underwent significant improvements including the addition of new lighting, new benches, new stonework around the central plaza and in front of the gazebo as well as renovation of the gazebo itself.
The last two upgrades were done to greatly enhance public events such as Derby’s Summer Concerts on the Green series.
[This was first published on this date in 2016.]
Thanks goes to the Derby Public Library for sharing interesting local history each week.
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