Brass City

Called the Brass City and the Dirty Water, Waterbury is Connecticut's 5th largest city by population and, arguably, the most overlooked of the state's larger municipalities. It is typical of former New England manufacturing centers and mill towns in that parts of it look almost incredibly grand, while other parts feel like they're slowly dying (perhaps to be reborn; the city's motto is "Quid Aere Perennius," or "What is More Lasting Than Brass?") Sometimes those two situations occur on the same block.

I don't get to Waterbury very often, but every time I go, I notice something eye-catching and unexpected. It's on my perpetual list of places to return to and explore. If you live in Connecticut and you've never gotten out of your car to walk around this city, I hope these photos will convince you that you should.