William G. Bramley (1870 - February 22, 1936) was a resident of West Hartford on New Britain Avenue. He was the brother of Anne Bramley and uncle of the Goodwin children of Harvey Burdette Goodwin in Elmwood.
He was born in 1870, the son of John B. Bramley and Martha Jepson . On April 20, 1909, he was elected an officer at the annual meeting of Grace Episcopal Church in Newington, Connecticut. He married Flora A. Bramley (1880-1943).
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Ruins of Bramley's fire, Feb. 1936
On February 22, 1936, a short circuit at Bramley's home at 1322 New Britain Avenue caused a spectacular fire, which broke out shortly after 8 pm. After Bramley went to the cellar to change a fuse, smoke and flames were discovered in the rear of the structure. With him was his daughter, her child, and an aunt, as Bramley's wife Flora was visiting her mother and did not return until late. His other daughter, Alice Bramley, employed at the Travelers Insurance Company, was attending a performance at Bushnell Memorial in Hartford. The police were notified and they called the fire department, which responded with more than 2,500 feet of hose laid out from South Main Street west to the burning house. Due to low hydrant pressure, the water stopped flowing periodically. While firemen waited for the water to flow, the fire slowly consumed the structure. It was almost midnight before the flames were finally extinguished, attracting thousands of people and tying up traffic on the busy thoroughfare for three hours. Only the front part of the old farmhouse, which Bramley lived in for many years for market gardening and a fruit and vegetable stand, was left standing.
In the commotion of the tragedy, Bramley suffered a fatal heart attack. After he collapsed, he was taken to Hartford Hospital, where he died on admittance. He had three children. His wife remained a widow until her death in March 1943.
Children[]
- Eleanor Bramley (1909-2001)
- Frank A. Bramley (1907-1982)
- Alice C. Bramley