Branchville – A Center of Italian–American Life
Ridgefield, Connecticut
A Small Village began to emerge in the area in 1852 with the opening of the Danbury-and-Norwalk Railroad line. Stores, a hotel, a post office, a school and small industries in the area were establishes. The building that housed the Branchville General Store, owned by the DeBenigno family, still stands just east of the train station. It was the center of the Italian community in the area. Newly arrived immigrants were frequently housed there until they found work and homes of their own. The building is on the National Historic Register.
The Ancona Family arrived in Ridgefield from Italy in the early part of the 20th century. Joseph and Frank Ancona both served in the U.S. Army in WW I, and returned to open businesses in Branchville; Joseph opened a grocery store, which still operates today as Ancona's Market, and Frank ran a popular restaurant for more than 20 years next door to the market.
Marker is at the intersection of Ethan Allen Highway (U.S. 7) and Branchville Road (Connecticut Route 102), on the right when traveling north on Ethan Allen Highway.
Courtesy hmdb.org
