Waterman Rufus Burnham, born December 4, 1831, in Windham, Connecticut, was a highly respected civic leader and businessman who left an enduring legacy in Norwich. After initially arriving in Norwich to work as a store clerk early in his career, he established a permanent home there in 1873 at a handsome residence at the foot of Park Street. Burnham was deeply integrated into the religious life of the city, serving as a deacon and the long-time Sunday school superintendent at Norwich’s Broadway Congregational Church. His passion for religious and moral development also led him to become a cornerstone of the Norwich YMCA, serving as its very first president for five years and remaining a fierce, lifelong advocate for the organization’s mission to guide young men toward lives of virtue and morality.
In 1920, he was quoted as saying:
“Who shall say how many young men have been saved from the brothel and the dram-shop; aye, from utter ruin, by reason of the open doors and healthy attractions of our Association? Who shall say how many of our youth have chosen the pathway of virtue and morality, of industry and manliness through this Christian Agency?”
He married Julia A. Wood on Christmas Day of 1853. At his father-in-law’s request, Mr. Burnham became connected with the business owned by Mr. Wood, known as the Uncasville Manufacturing Company. The factory made cotton cloth, woolens, silk, and early rayon. RufusBurnham was at first an accountant, later became assistant treasurer, and finally treasurer. He was serving in the latter capacity when he retired from the position in 1897 after a term of service with that firm covering forty-two years.
The intense and active interest taken by Mr. Burnham in all kinds of religious and charitable work was best shown by his prominent and extensive connection with such societies. He was, for years, chairman of the State Sunday School Association and of the New London County Sunday School Union. He also served as a corporate member of the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions and of the Connecticut Bible Society.
Personally, he was a man of most pleasing address. His friends were numerous, and in business and social life he was a prominent figure. Mr. and Mrs. Burnham spent considerable time in travel. For several years past they made annual trips to the Pacific coast.
He and Julia lived across the street from the YMCA at 1 Park Street (the site of today’s Amazing Furniture & Sleep Shop). This photo was taken from Main Street looking up Park Street. Their home was demolished before 1945, and the site later became the site of Norwich’s former A&P grocery store. The area was called “Burnham Square”.
Julia and Rufus had one child, Willie R. Burnham, in 1859. Unfortunately, Willie only survived 3 months. He is buried alongside his parents in Yantic Cemetery, as shown in this photograph.
Mrs. Burnham died at the young age of forty-eight on January 21, 1882.
Mr. Burnham married again on December 4, 1883, to Miss Ella A. Bradford, a daughter of Reverend E.B. Bradford, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Hyde Park, Massachusetts.
They had had two children, Harold, who died in infancy, and Rufus Bradford, born April 11, 1886. Rufus graduated from the Thacher School at Ojai, California, and concluded his preparation for Yale at the Norwich Free Academy.
*Place your cursor over the photo to magnify
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