Fulton Park

The Historic Burnt Hill Neighborhood

History of the Burnt Hill

The Burnt Hill neighborhood is a historic and vibrant community located in the city of Waterbury, Connecticut. This neighborhood has a rich history and has played an important role in the development of the city over the years.

The Burnt Hill neighborhood was named after a hill that once stood in the area. The hill was burned by the British during the Revolutionary War, and the name has remained ever since. The neighborhood itself was established in the late 1800s and was home to a mix of working-class families, many of whom worked in the nearby brass factories.

In the early 1900s, the Burnt Hill neighborhood underwent a period of significant growth and development. The construction of the Waterbury trolley line made it easier for residents to commute to other parts of the city, and the availability of jobs in the local factories helped to attract new residents to the area.

Throughout the 20th century, the Burnt Hill neighborhood continued to thrive. Many of the homes in the area were built during this time and reflect the architectural styles popular at the time, including Victorian and Colonial Revival. The neighborhood also became home to a number of community organizations and businesses, including churches, schools, and social clubs.

In the latter half of the 20th century, the Burnt Hill neighborhood faced a number of challenges. The decline of the manufacturing industry in Waterbury led to job losses and economic struggles for many residents. Additionally, the neighborhood saw an influx of crime and drug use, which had a negative impact on the community.

Despite these challenges, the Burnt Hill neighborhood has remained a resilient and close-knit community. In recent years, residents have worked together to revitalize the area and promote economic development. The neighborhood has become home to a number of small businesses, including restaurants, coffee shops, and art galleries, which have helped to attract new residents and visitors to the area.

Today, the Burnt Hill neighborhood is a diverse and dynamic community that is home to people from all walks of life. Its historic homes and landmarks, including the St. Margaret's Church and the Long Hill Memorial Park, are cherished by residents and visitors alike. The neighborhood is also known for its strong sense of community and the many events and festivals that are held throughout the year, including the Burnt Hill Block Party and the Annual Fall Festival.

In conclusion, the Burnt Hill neighborhood has played an important role in the history and development of Waterbury, Connecticut. Despite facing challenges over the years, this community has remained resilient and continues to be a vibrant and thriving part of the city. The neighborhood's history and landmarks, as well as its close-knit community and diverse businesses, make it a unique and special place to call home.

This article was written in full or in part with the assistance of artificial intelligence in March 23rd, 2023.

About Burnt Hill

Description of the Burnt Hill neighborhood
1. The center of Burnt Hill is located at latitude 41.574 and longitude -73.034, and it's highest elevation is 669 feet above mean sea level.
About the Burnt Hill Neighborhood
1. Burnt Hill is an not-so-ancient name for a prominent hill in Waterbury.
2. Burn Hill's designation appears on the first-known map of the Village of Mattatuck.
3. Burnt Hill was known as such prior to 1686, and was again referred to as such in 1729.
4. Burn Hill also appears on a later map, when the Village of Mattatuck was first depicted as the Town of Waterbury.
5. In 1860, it was agreed, by the City of Waterbury, to build a school house on Burnt Hill.
6. The purchase of the land may have some historic significance as it was previously owned by Edward Scovill.
7. Burnt Hill is more than a neighborhood - it was once an actual City District
History of the Burnt Hill Neighborhood
1. The first-known reference to Burnt Hill is in the year 1691.
Term of Prominence of Burnt Hill
Other Names for the Burnt Hill Neighborhood
1. Upper Fulton Park
Burnt Hill Neighborhood Culture
Burnt Hill Neighborhood Reputation
1. Burn Hill is reputed to be the 2nd highest per capita of Jews living in the City, with homes in about a third of the land mass reputed to be owned by Jews.
The Burnt Hill Neighborhood Highlights
Streets in Burnt Hill (partial list)
1. Cooke Street
  1. Known as one of the streets "from Waterbury to Waterville"
2. Hill Street
  1. Was originally named Chestnut Street
  2. May later have been named Burt Hill Street
3. Quinnipiac Street
  1. "... just above Hill Street"
    1. Morning Journal and Courier, August 02, 1893, Chronicling America, Library of Congress (loc.gov)
Safety in the Burnt Hill Neighborhood
1. Burnt Hill is considered to be relatively safe
2. Burnt Hill and the Upper Fulton Park Neighborhood Association is working with the Waterbury Citizen's Patrol of Overlook
Parks in the Burnt Hill Neighborhood
1. The only known park in the Bunt Hill neighborhood is the famed Lewis Fulton Memorial Park, colloquially "Fulton Park" or "Fulton". See below for more information on this park, or click here: Fulton Park.
Water in the Burnt Hill Neighborhood
1. Upper Fulton Park Pond
2. Lower Fulton Park Pond
3. un-named pond within Lewis Fulton Memorial Park
4. un-named stream within Lewis Fulton Memorial Park
5. The pond system within Lewis Fulton Memorial Park may be the result of one of the first man-made dams in Waterbury over 100 years ago
6. Little Brook
  1. May now be completely underground
  2. Feeds into Great Brook
Demographic Profile of the Burnt Hill Neighborhood (according to Census.gov except as asterisked)
1. Average single-family dwelling retail price: $131,350*
2. Average residential rental: $1,391*
3. Real estate vacancies are 64.5% lower than the United States average*
4. Burnt Hill has a higher percentage of Puerto Rican descendants than in nearly all other United States municipalities*
5. Burnt Hill has a higher percentage of Dominican Republic descendants than in nearly all other United States municipalities*
6. Burnt Hill has a higher percentage of Italian-speaking people than in nearly all other United States municipalities*
7. Burnt Hill is among the top 8% of college-friendly neighborhoods in all of Connecticut*
8. Household income is higher than 50.7% of all other neighborhoods in the United States.*
9. Childhood poverty is higher than 88.7% of all other neighborhoods in the United States.*
10. Household Income
  1. 1990: $ 69,347
  2. 2000: $ 56,162
  3. 2013: $ 44,531
11. Total Primary Jobs: 100.0%
12. Jobs by Worker Age
  1. Age 29 or younger 23.6%
  2. Age 30 to 54 55.0%
  3. Age 55 or older 21.3%
13. Jobs by Earnings
  1. $1,250 per month or less 22.4%
  2. $1,251 to $3,333 per month 40.9%
  3. More than $3,333 per month 36.6%
14. Jobs by Profession
  1. Manufacturing 11.9%
  2. Retail Trade 12.5%
  3. Health Care 21.1%
15. Jobs by Worker Race
  1. White 70.4%
  2. Black 24.2%
16. Jobs by Worker Ethnicity
  1. Not Hispanic 69.5%
  2. Hispanic 30.5%
17. Jobs by Worker Educational Attainment
  1. Less than high school 13.1%
  2. High school 20.4%
  3. Associate degree 21.5%
  4. Bachelor's degree 21.3%
18. Jobs by Worker Sex
  1. Male 50.3%
  2. Female 49.7%
Business in Burnt Hill (partial list)
1. Brass City Pharmacy
2. Stadium Bar & Grill
3. Dunkin Donuts
4. United States Postal Service
5. Frankies Restaurant
6. Verizon Wireless
7. Joeyz Shopping Sphree
8. Metro PCS
9. Anytime Fitness
10. Dollar Tree
11. Pizza Hut
12. Fratelli's Pizzeria
13. Aldi's Grocery Store
14. Venue Cafe
15. Donation Drop Spot
16. Gold Garden
17. Target
18. Stop & Shop Grocery Store
19. CVS Pharmacy
20. Orchid Florist
21. Ideal Meat Market
Features of the Burnt Hill Neighborhood
The Burnt Hill Neighborhood Organizations
1. The only known neighborhood association in Burnt Hill is the Upper Fulton Park Neighborhood Association (UFPNA).
  1. The Upper Fulton Park Neighborhood Association has been known to work with the Historic Overlook
2. Partners and Supporters of the Burnt Hill Neighborhood
  1. Historic Overlook Community Club
Noteworthy People from the Burnt Hill Neighborhood
1. Kun Tao Grand Master Joseph Wiliam "Joe Dundee" Rossi.
2. Lewis Edward Fulton, who donated the resources which are now collectively known as the Lewis Fulton Memorial Park.
3. William Edward Fulton, President of the Waterbury Farrell Foundry
4. James F. "Jimmy" Burns (see article on this page)
Significant Structures in the Burnt Hill Neighborhood
1. A School House, 1860 until at least 1878
The Burnt Hill Neighborhood Online
Map of the Burnt Hill Neighborhood

* According to NeighborhoodScout.com.
** According to Census.gov.

Burnt Hill News Archive

North End District
Burnt Hill Neighborhood
Body found in pond at Fulton Park in Waterbury
WFSB; article; 2024.03.28

North End District
Burnt Hill Neighborhood
1 dead after crash and vehicle fire
nbcconnecticut; article; 20230902
Note: this weblink connects to a webpage that may have excessive, irrelevant, and annoying advertising

North End District
Burnt Hill Neighborhood
Jose Cintron arrested on murder, weapons charges
newsbreak.com; picture, article; 20230421

North End District
Burnt Hill Neighborhood
Platt Street
Man Faces Charges for Assaulting Father,
Who Later Died
fox61.com
video, article; 2023.04.14

North End District
Burnt Hill Neighborhood
Police ID 37-Year-Old Man Found Shot Dead In Empty Apartment
@ Hill Street near Lannen Street
newsbreak.com; article; 20230322

Did Anyone From Burn Hill Ever Become Famous?

James F. "Jimmy" Burns was born on Burnt Hill, and he later became a very prominent and well-liked "Athlete, National Guardsman, Hotel Proprietor, Prince of Good Fellows", and member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He was well-liked across Waterbury, and, in particular, Burnt Hill, East End, and Waterville.

Joseph William Rossi, better known as "Joe Dundee", "Karate Joe", or "Grand Master Joe" may also have been born in the Hill Street section of the Burnt Hill neighborhood of the North End District of Waterbury. For more information, go to Self Defense - Joseph William Rossi.

The Waterbury Democrat
December 16, 1937
Chronicling America
Library of Congress (loc.gov)

Overlook Hosts Warmest Event of the Year at Burnt Hill's Fulton Park

The Historic Overlook Community Club is hosting "the warmest event of the year" at the Fulton Park Warming Hut on Burnt Hill. "Hot soup, blazing fireplace and warm conversation" is promised on their Soup Night, Saturday, February 24th, 2018 at 6:00 P.M. Participants are asked to bring homemade signature soup in a crock pot, bread, dessert, or a bottle of wine. Donations of $5.00 per person are requested.

Cleanup Scheduled

WATERBURY: BURNT HILL: The bi-annual Fulton Park cleanup will take place on October 20th, 2013, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Cool to Plan B

WATERBURY: With the recent destruction of the swimming pool at Fulton Park, the excessive bacteria at Lakewood Park beach, a fire at Hamilton Park, and other problems, the City kicked into high gear its plan B (not that there really ever was a plan B). The indoor swimming pools at 4 of the City's schools have been opened to the public from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m to help ease the impact of post-heat-wave heat. To boot, Hop Brook Lake, at Hop Brook State Park, is also closed as a health precaution, leaving the City's nearest (and adjacent) State facility helpless to alleviate Waterbury's scarcity of swimming holes.

UPDATE: Fulton Park swimming pool has been repaired and is now open.

Archived Events

Also see Meetings and Events of the Upper Fulton Park Neighborhood Association (UFPNA)

Tennis Tournament at Fulton Park, July 24th, 1940
Lawn Bowling at Fulton Park, July 23rd, 1940
Tennis Tournament at Fulton Park, August 6th, 1937