Mary Frances Edgett

MARY F. EDGETT. "Edge." Danbury, Conn. Mary claims to be a "man-hater"-but we think there may be an exception or two. She likes to work and work hard, therefore, she is bound to succeed.

Taught at: Newtown public schools, Beacon Falls, New York [Cannot verify that this is a New York school location – might be Beacon Falls, Connecticut] Starrs Plain School, Main Street School, Broadview Junior High School n/k/a Broadview Middle School.

Mary Frances was born November 11, 1902.  Her father, Frederick Webster Edgett was born in Connecticut in 1867. Her mother, Mary A. Coyle was born in Ireland (the census refers to it as the Irish Free State (Ireland’s name by treaty for several years after the Irish war of independence) in 1872 and married Frederick on November 29, 1899 in Danbury.  In 1900 they are  living at 15 Delay Street and Frederick is a packer in a hat factory. Mary Frances’ sister, Hattie, was born on March 5, 1906 in Danbury.  According to the 1910 census, Frederick is a trimming buyer for a hat factory and the family is living at 60 Washington Street.     The 1920 census lists Frederick as a trimmer in a hat factory.

   After Mary Frances graduated from the Danbury Normal School, she taught in Beacon Falls in 1926 and 1927 according to her listing in the city directory. Her sister is a stenographer at the Daniels and Trimpert Rough Hat Co.  at the rear of 45 River Street. Her father, Frederick died on December 19, 1928.  The 1930 census lists Mary A. as head of the household, Mary Frances is teaching and Hattie is a bookkeeper in a hat factory.  In 1932 Mary Frances is teaching at the Main Street School.   In 1935, Hattie is now employed as a bookkeeper in Bethel. Hattie marries Julius Charles Reck on November 28, 1936 and the couple move to Bridgeport. Julius’ father owns Brooklawn Conservatories, a nursery selling plant stock and seeds. Julius works with his father at the nursery.

   Mary Frances’ mother, Mary A., passes away on February 15, 1938.  The 1940 census records Mary Frances as the head of the household at 60 Washington Street. She earns $1,700/yr.  as a teacher in a public school.  She has a lodger, Annie B. Hall, who works as a domestic earning $800/yr.   The Danbury city directories list Mary Frances as a teacher at the Main Street School from 1932 through at least 1962. She also taught at Broadview Junior High School before her retirement in 1971.   Her sister Hattie died in Bridgeport on June 3, 1985. 

We are very fortunate to have a copy of the article written about Mary Frances two days after her death on April 3, 2010. She had been the oldest surviving graduate of Danbury Normal School when she passed away.

The following was printed in the Danbury News Times, on April 5, 2010:

Mary Frances Edgett, 107, of Danbury, died Saturday, April 3, 2010. Miss Edgett was born in Danbury, daughter of the late Frederick and Mary (Coyle) Edgett. Miss Edgett was a life-long Danbury-area teacher and, until her death, the oldest living alumna of Western Connecticut State University, which began as the Danbury Normal School the year after her birth in 1902. Miss Edgett received her Teaching Certificate from the Danbury Normal School in 1924. She began teaching as a substitute in the Newtown school system, teaching 5th and 6th graders in 1924 and 1925. She moved on to teach grades 5 and 6 in the Beacon Falls, New York system from 1925-1928  moving back to Danbury to finish out 1928 teaching at both the Starrs Plain School and Main Street Elementary School. She taught there and at the Broadview Junior High School until her retirement in 1971. Miss Edgett received her Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Education in 1941 from the Teacher's College of Connecticut (which later became Central Connecticut State University). She later did graduate work at the University of Hawaii. She was a longtime member of St. Peter Church and a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Miss Edgett is survived by her grandnephew-in-law, William Bartosik of Easton, by other members of the Reck extended family, and by many friends and acquaintances in Danbury and throughout the United States. She was also predeceased by her sister Hattie Edgett Reck, of Strafield [Fairfield]. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Peter Church, on Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow in St. Peter Cemetery. Friends may call at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury, on Tuesday from 9 to 10 a.m. A scholarship has been established in Miss Edgett's name at Western Connecticut State University. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to the WCSU Foundation Mary Edgett Scholarship, 181 White St., Danbury, CT 06810.