Waterbury Republican American

If you're planning a visit to the Greater Waterbury area, among the first landmarks you'll see is the Clock Tower of the Waterbury Republican American newspaper office. Formerly Union Station, an important stop along the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, the grand train station opened in 1909 and is still considered among the most spectacular buildings anywhere in New England.

The building was designed by the well-known New York architectural firm of McKim, Mead, and White (the same firm that designed the Great Hall at Ellis Island). Designed in the Renaissance Revival style, the exterior is red and brown brick and the interior boasts the Guastavino tile found in other historic buildings, including Ellis Island. The 245-foot tall tower was added late in the design phase to satisfy the demands of a railroad executive who had visited Sienna, Italy and wanted to copy the Torre del Mangia.

The Waterbury Republican American newspaper company has served area residents for more than 150 years and is among the oldest family owned and operated independent newspapers remaining in the country. A Pulitzer-prize winning paper, the Waterbury Republican American legacy owes much thanks to William Jamieson Pape who bought the twenty-year-old Waterbury Republican newspaper in 1901 and twenty-one years later, purchased the Waterbury American which had first started publishing in 1844.

William J. Pape remained editor and publisher of the Waterbury Republican American until his death in January, 1961. A member of the Waterbury Hall of Fame, it is impossible to list the many contributions this man and paper have made to the history of the Greater Waterbury area.

If you would like more information about Waterbury Republican American or wish to subscribe to their paper, visit their official web site at: http://www.rep-am.com/