Abbott Tech Plumbing and Heating students are busy on a special project in downtown Danbury.  They are currently working on a major renovation of the Rider House, an historical home in the Danbury area built in 1785.  The House is part of the  the Danbury Museum and Historical Society located on Main Street. The students under the direction of  Plumbing and Heating Department Head Tony Resendes will be installing a new heating and hot water system as well as a handicap bathroom. "It is a delicate operation," says Resendes "We are trying to update everything but we can not damage any of the original structure of the home." The project will also involve the three other construction trades at Abbott Tech: Carpentry, Electrical, and  Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning.

The Danbury Museum and Historical Society is a non-profit organization begun in 1947 which has helped preserve historical buildings and artifacts from the area. The museum focuses on the Revolutionary War but also maintains the homes of famous Danbury citizens such as singer Marian Anderson and classical composer Charles Ives. It also has a hat collection chronicling Danbury's years as the hat manufacturing capitol of the country. Probably the most famous hat in the collection is a stovepipe hat made for Abraham Lincoln. The Museum has expressed its gratitude to the students and staff of Abbott Tech for their help in taking care of the museum. For more information about the Museum, visit their Web site at: Danburyhistorical.org.

The Rider House