William Backus was a prosperous Norwich farmer

Carol W. Kimball

Backus Hospital
William W. Backus
Hospital
Farmer
Norwich

Kim04-004

Scrapbook

8: Communication Artifact

Documentary Artifact

The Day

New London, CT

04/25/1991

Carol W. Kimball

Puritan William Backus came to Saybrook from Norwich, England in 1637 and later became one of the first settlers under the Rev. James Fitch and Captain John Mason. When Backus, a wealthy Yantic farmer, died at the age of 89 in 1892 he was worth a quarter of a million dollars and without a wife or children. Before his death, Backus had consulted with lawyer John T. Wait who had advised him that a new hospital would cost $75,000 and with the promise of the Backus name to be given to the hospital and his cousin William A. Slater offering to endow the hospital, a deal was made. Architects Gardner, Pyne & Gardner of Springfield designed the administration building in ornate Italian Renaissance style and the superb hosptial was a successful way to perpetuate the name of bachelor William W. Backus.

Lawrence, Sebastian
Backus, William W.
Wait, John T.
Fitch, James (Rev.)
Mason, John (Capt.)
Slater, William A.

Backus Hospital
Norwich
hospital
Yantic
farmer
William W. Backus Hospital
Gardner, Pyne & Gardner Architects of Springfield
Italian Renaissance style
Mount Pleasant
bachelor