"The Abrigado", or "Abrigado Hill", was later slanged to "Abrigador".
"The Abrigado" neighborhood was originally, post-aboriginally, almost solely of Portuguese population. More recently, the Abrigado is nearly exclusively comprised of Irish-Americans. The area extended southwest of what is now known as Hamilton Park, and south of Holy Land USA; in its hay day, the neighborhood was roughly outlined by Hamilton Avenue, Edgewood Avenue, Piedmont Street, South Main Street, and the old Dublin Street, which is now Washington Avenue. The neighborhood geography is considered to be much smaller, or non-existent.
The earliest-known reference to the Abrigado is evidenced on an 1852 Plan of the Borough of Waterbury.
At least one photograph, from the perspective of the Abrigado, taken in the year 1891 by C. R. Pancoast, confirming the Abrigador name, survives, at least in copy, via the 1896 publication of The Town and City of Waterbury, authored by Joseph Anderson, Sarah Johnson Pritchard, and Anna Lydia Ward. Another book, referenced in the same publication, was taken in 1857.
One of the earliest-built schools, traditionally called school houses, was built on the Abrigador in 1852. The cost of the land and the cost of the construction was less than $1,000. In 1874, plans to build a new school and sell the existing school, at a net cost of $12,000, became actionable. Both schools may have been named Abrigador school. In 1879, the City agreed to purchase adjacent land for school use. In 1884, an addition to Abrigador School was approved to accommodate growing attendance.
The term Abrigado is thought to be of the Portuguese language, indicating
sheltered, a safe place
shielded from wind and water
"The Abrigado", or "Abrigado Hill", later slanged to "Abrigador", neighborhood was originally, post-aboriginally, almost solely of Portuguese population. More recently, the Abrigado is nearly exclusively comprised of Irish-Americans. The area extended southwest of what is now known as Hamilton Park, and south of Holy Land USA; in its hay day, the neighborhood was roughly outlined by Hamilton Avenue, Edgewood Avenue, Piedmont Street, South Main Street, and the old Dublin Street, which is now Washington Avenue. The neighborhood geography is considered to be much smaller, or non-existent. There is no known neighborhood association for what little is left of the Abrigado.
This Italian-named predominantly-Irish neighborhood of forgotten times has very little written history. Some people speculate that Abrigado Hill was named as such in a slightly bent truth that the hill was sheltered from the wrath of nature, particularly the wind, as its Italian translation implies. Others speculate that it was a somewhat sarcastic reference by the Italian immigrants, whose descendants are still today known for their sarcastic and ever-jovial nature, to mean that the people of that hill were “untouchable”; this reference seemingly implies that the police of the day, as well as the priests of the day – even in the highly-Italian Catholic Church, were all (mostly) of Irish descent, and protected each other from any harm. This triple irony – an Irish neighborhood labeled by Italian immigrants using a Portuguese word, and a hill deemed to be sheltered from wind – is yet another point of intrigue in the history of Matetacoke and the Abrigado.
History of Abrigado
Abrigado was known as Abrigador as early as 1737; the name was also documented again in 1739.
In the year 2016, and again in the year 2017, the official fireworks as sponsored by the City of Waterbury were lit upon Abrigado; from this location, the largest possible population can view the fireworks. Although there is some concern of the fireworks being a distraction, and safety hazard, for the drivers on Interstate Highway 84, there are no known traffic consequences.
Other Names for the Abrigado Neighborhood
Abragado
Abrigado has had several similar names.
The true etymology is unknown.
While there are several theories and references to native aboriginal Indian, Italian, and Spanish roots, each variation has a loosely similar meaning in their separate etymologies.
This particular spelling has been documented in 1699
Abrigadow
Abligator
colloquially, not officially
Alligator
colloquially as a play on Abligator
Abragadow
Abrigador
Ahrigado
Abrigador Hill
Holy Land
Streets in Abrigado Neighborhood
Hamilton Avenue
Edgewood Avenue
Piedmont Street
South Main Street
the old Dublin Street
Washington Avenue
Baldwin Avenue
Baldwin Avenue #1
Baldwin Avenue #2
David Street
Dixie Avenue
Donahue Street
Emmett Court
Fairmont Street
Farrington Avenue
Farrington Avenue #1
Farrington Avenue #2
Glenn Street
Golden Hill Street
Goss Street
Hull Street
Keefe Street
Laval Street
Lounsbury Avenue
Luke Street
Madison Avenue
North Place
Piedmont Street
Proctor Street
Rawley Avenue
Rosewood Avenue
Rye Street
South Main Street
South Street
South View Street
Southerly Place
Sylvan Avenue
Villa Road
Washington Street
Washington Street Ext
Welles Street
Abrigado Neighborhood Highlights
Holy Land U.S.A.
I-84
Often host of annual Waterbury Independence Day fireoworks
Safety in Abrigado Neighborhood
Abrigado is reputed to be of high crime
One of the worst murders in Waterbury's history took place in Abrigado, at Holy Land, during a time when the park was fenced and abandoned.
Parks in Abrigado Neighborhood
Holy Land U.S.A. Family Theme Park
Water in Abrigado Neighborhood
Demographic Profile of Abrigado Neighborhood
Originally heavily Portuguese
Later largely Irish
Most recently predominantly hispanic, largely Puerto Rican
Densely populated
Very low income per capita
Features of Abrigado Neighborhood
The Holy Land Cross
Spectacular views of much of the City of Waterbury, including
Brass Mills Center Mall
Saint Mary's Hospital
I-84
Abrigado Neighborhood Association
There is no known neighborhood association for what little is left of the Abrigado.
There is no known evidence that there ever was a neighborhood association for this neighborhood.
Partners and Supporters of Abrigado Neighborhood
Holy Land U.S.A. fundraiser
Notable People from Abrigado Neighborhood
Rodger Conner, renowned baseball professional, was born on Abrigado Hill.
Significant Structures in Abrigado Neighborhood
The Holy Land Cross
I-84
Abrigado Neighborhood Online
There is no known presence of the Abridado online, except here at WaterburyLife.com and
The annual fundraising dinner to benefit Holy Land U.S.A. was hosted at la Bella Vista on Saturday, November 4th, 2017. Holy Land, which, in it's hay day, attracted a pilgrimage of over 7,000 Jews from the City of Jerusalem every year. The iconic monument of the once flourishing and still world-famous family theme park is located atop Abrigado Hill. The cross, now in a third rendition and at a slightly different location, glows in liturgical sync with the Catholic religious significance. Despite being a neighborhood-specific an world-unique cross, there was no participation, no attendance, and no representation from the Waterbury Neighborhood Council.