Ansonia steps up to refurbish its historic Cliff Walk
ANSONIA — A sprawling historic staircase, dating back to the 1800s, that carried pedestrians downtown to work, shop and enjoy shows at the old opera house is undergoing a much needed face lift.
The city’s renowned East Main Street staircase, also known as the Ansonia Cliff Walk and the Library Stairs, constructed some 150 years ago, has received a significant sprucing up — and more repairs are on the way — as part of Mayor David Cassetti’s ongoing “Clean Up & Green Up” initiative.
According to Greg Martin, city director of constituent services, several barrels of litter were removed, along with 400 feet of vegetation overgrowth from both sides of the staircase.
Martin said a 25-foot span of railing severely damaged by recent storms also will be repaired, and new high-intensity lighting will be added by United Illuminating along the entire 200-foot staircase.
“This staircase is an important historical link to our Industrial Revolution past,” said Cassetti. “Cleaning and maintaining it going forward is part of my ongoing initiative to preserve the very foundations of our enormous manufacturing history.”
Martin said the 116-step staircase was originally built in the late 1800s as a Main Street shortcut, primarily for manufacturing executives who lived in the South Cliff Street mansions — many of which still exist — while en route to the numerous factories downtown.
The staircase originally was made of wood and extended across the former Ansonia Canal, which is now East Main Street.
In the early 1900s, Martin said, the staircase was rebuilt with concrete mixed with crushed blue stone to provide extra strength, and it remains the same to this day.
“I would like to see the staircase renamed after an important city forefather,” said Cassetti. “We will have plaques at each entrance acknowledging this.”
Cassetti said he also envisions adding a large flower bed at the East Main Street entrance to enhance its curbside appeal.
A new 3-foot decorative retaining wall, extending several hundred feet along the hill bank, also is in the works, thanks to a grant recently secured by Economic Development Director Sheila O’Malley. Cleanup and railing repairs are estimated to cost about $1,000, officials said, which comes out of the clean and green fund.
Cassetti said the renovated staircase will serve future residents of new housing slated for downtown.
“This staircase makeover will visually complement the hundreds of new downtown apartments that are under construction,” Cassetti added. “It will enable residents easy access to the library and churches at the top of hill, and encourage foot traffic into downtown from residents above.”
Martin lauded Scott’s Lawn Care of Shelton for helping breathe new life into the city landmark.
“The staircase dates back to our 19th century industrial revolution roots and must be preserved,” Martin
said. “It will be an amenity for downtown residents moving into the 400 new, oncoming apartments for easy library or church access on South Cliff Street, and also for that area’s residents to have walking access to down
town.”
City Historian John William Tuohy recalled playing “Army” with his friends on the staircase and nearby woods as a young boy, and is glad to see it coming back to life.
“I think it’s wonderful,”
he said.
Tuohy himself is paying to have historical markers made up and placed at the staircase, to ensure Ansonia’s rich industrial past remains alive and well.