Your Silent Neighbor
by David K. Leff
Canton Town Historian

Born in Canton, Byron Gracey (1899-1936) went to local schools, including the Collinsville High School, class of 1918. He graduated from Tufts College in 1922 and was married that same year. After college, he left Canton for three years while serving as principal of the Richville, New York high school. On his return to town, he bought a farm in the East Hill area and became well known as a fruit grower.

Active in agricultural affairs, Gracey was a member of Cawasa Grange and the state and national granges. A Mason, he was senior deacon of the Village Lodge. Gracey was also a member of the Canton Men’s Club and the Republican Town Committee.

Gracey died at Hartford Hospital following a short illness caused by a streptococcus infection. In addition to his wife, Ruth, his mother, and two children, Gracey was survived by his Aunt Flora Werner and Uncle Maurice Werner. Their farm would one day become Werner’s Woods adjacent to Roaring Brook Nature Center. The funeral was held at the Werner home on Bahre Corner Road.

Byron Gracey is buried in the Canton Springs Cemetery on Canton Springs Road.

“Your Silent Neighbors” introduces readers to people out of Canton’s past.  Readers are encouraged to visit these gravesites and pay their respects to the people who have helped make our community what it is today.