Burrville Cemetery in Torrington, Connecticut

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Get directions Torrington, Connecticut, USA

Coordinates: 41.86504, -73.08482
Cemetery ID:

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The Burrville Cemetery began on land owned by Uriel Burr in 1828 with the burial of Milo and Mary Burr's first child Mary Ann (AE 1 year ). She was followed by James Milo in 1832 and Martha in 1843. They were followed by Samira Hart in 1847 and Esther Curtis Burr, Uriel's wife in 1859. At that point the cemetery was but a small patch on the hillside. When the smallpox epidemic of 1862 claimed nine children and four young adults it changed the role of the cemetery in the village. At the insistence of Lavinia Hurlbut Burr the cemetery landscape was greatly improved for the 1876 Centennial celebration. In 1905 the Burr's deeded the land to an association of prominent villagers with John Hurlbut Burr as honorary Sexton. The actual labor was done by Sherman Cables, a black farm worker from Hayden Hill. Following John Hurlbut Burr's death in 1928 his widow Carrie Burr was in charge assisted by Wilbur Andrews a farmer from atop Burr Mountain. After Carrie Burr died in 1943, the Burrville Volunteer Fire department led by Bill Canty assumed responsibility for the cemetery. Under Canty's leadership (1943-1975), Memorial Day services at the cemetery were a big event for village school children. With the passing of Bill Canty and the general disarray of the fire department, the cemetery was neglected. Rudy Deane who lived on Old Cemetery Road did his best to maintain the grounds until his health failed circa 2000. William Noad's daughter Thea Lynn Noad took up the cause and tried to clean up the cemetery until her health failed in 2007. At present, William Noad is the groundskeeper, historian, and unofficial manager for for the cemetery assisted by Fr. David Ellner of Hamden whose mother Cornelia Ellner lives on Burr Mountain.