Grace Burleigh

Selectboard Honors Grace Burleigh with Wayne Cane

The now-defunct Boston Post newspaper distributed walking canes to over 700 New England towns.  There is no historical record that the Town of Wayne ever had a Boston Post Cane to be awarded to the Town’s eldest citizen. The Wayne Cane was donated by the Jennings family for that purpose.
 
Whereas, Grace Burleigh by virtue of her age, is the eldest living resident in Wayne.
 
Whereas, Grace was born on June 11, 1919, to August and Annie Vorpahl of Corona, Long Island, NY.
 
Whereas, Grace met her husband when they were both summer camp counselors in Connecticut, while he was attending the University of Maine Orono. They got married in her hometown, Corona, NY, to Robert “Bob” Burleigh. They honeymooned in Monmouth on Wilson Pond.
 
Whereas, Grace and Bob raised two children, Bruce (Missouri and Wayne) and Keith (Wisconsin).
 
Whereas, Grace and Bob bought land in Leeds on Lake Androscoggin and built a cottage that they visited as often as they could (from there home in Briarcliff, NY) where Bob worked for Otis Elevator, and she worked as a schoolteacher.
 
Whereas, Grace and Bob bought a home on Old Winthrop Road in Wayne upon their retirement in the 1970s, where she still resides.
 
Whereas, Grace has been exemplary citizen, where she served on numerous committees - the Library Board of Trustees, including serving as President, Wayne Community Church Administrative Council, including serving as Chairperson when they built the parsonage, Wayne School Board of Directors, school volunteer, History Helper and Friday Club including serving as President.
 
Whereas, Grace wanted to be sure the Alice in Wonderland Room, upstairs in her home, would continue to be available to the community. She was concerned that the room might be lost forever. She gifted the room to the library, hoping it could be dismantled and reconstructed. The Alice in Wonderland Room will be open in June 2020.
 
Therefore, be it Resolved by the Selectboard of the Town of Wayne, in sincere gratitude and appreciation, that Grace Burleigh is hereby recognized for her remarkable life with the Wayne Cane.
 
ADOPTED this 5^th day of May 2020.