The Danbury and Bethel Street Railway faced its first financial difficulties in 1914 as ridership declined with the closure of local factories.

The company was purchased by J. Moss Ives in 1918 with the intention of bringing the operation back to profitability.

The first buses were ordered and put into operation in 1912 between Main Street and Lake Avenue in Danbury.

When the proposal to replace all remaining streetcar lines with bus operation was announced, the trolley motormen all went on strike in November 1926.

Routes to Brewster, Bridgeport, and Norwalk were operated by subsidiary Intercity Coach and Danbury Bus Company.

Sperry also operated White Lines in Bridgeport, as well as local services in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Levittown, New York.