This area once had its own church (shown.) The community takes its name from David Burt, who owned the land where the village now stands. Considered quite a “character” in those days, Burt was brother-in-law to Rev. Stephen Jewett, rector of St. James Episcopal Church.
In 1877, Mrs. D.M. Church organized a Sunday school class which grew into a mission, for which George Waterman donated a suite of rooms in the Reagan house that December.
Dr. B.F. Leach succeeded Mrs. Church as head of the mission, and Mrs. Martha Ticknor, adopted daughter and heir of the Burts, donated a site for the chapel adjoining the Burt home.
The work was completed on July 6, 1879 at a cost of $500. Charles H. French succeeded Dr. Leach as superintendent in 1883. Mrs. Charles French was organist, and Lorenzo D. Rockwell, sexton. There were 70 scholars registered at that time, representing the Baptist, Methodist, Congregational, and Episcopal denominations.
[First posted on this date in 2016.]
Thanks goes to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting local history each week.
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