66 Years On the Avenue, This Christmas The McBurneys Decorate It

EAST HAVEN, CT — Warren “Mac” McBurney dug the foundation for his Austin Avenue home by hand with a shovel more than a half century ago. Saturday, the World War Two veteran and Lois, his bride of 67 years, decorated their street sign for Christmas joining many across East Haven who’ve found a way to spread holiday cheer during the pandemic — with a street sign decorating contest. And it turns out that Mac "essentially built his own road to his property." But we'll get to that part.

The McBurney's haven't left their home since for months. Their five children, 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren miss regularly stopping by to see the couple. But after their daughter Gayle shared a photo of Mac and Lois on the Facebook community page, The Good Things About East Haven, where the couple pose in front of their Austin Avenue stop sign, now festooned with ribbons and wreath, nearly 1,000 people have 'liked' the image with hundreds commenting.

Created earlier this month on the Facebook page by user Dan Trickett Sr., the contest winner will be chosen by popular vote on the page. The prize is a handmade wreath by Mary Correia-Bucko.

Mac, 94, and Lois, 88, raised their family in the home Mac built on land his mother gave him in Momauguin. Lois was a neighborhood mom who never let a kid go hungry. Mac was the dad who, when many decades ago his kids saw the neighbor with a new above-ground pool, broke out the shovel and dug them an in-ground pool, which is still in the yard.

The McBurney’s are East Haven.

When Mac returned from Japan at the end of WWII, at just 20, the East Haven High School class of 1944 graduate took advantage of the GI Bill and became a mechanic. He’d later co-own a garage on Main Street, M&S Auto on the site of the old Esso station. In 1953, he married Lois, née Maggiore, and the couple had and raised five kids. Active in the community in myriad ways, they also were involved in East Haven Bowling.

Mac, who would later become a machinist, also became a pilot and flight instructor, his son Craig McBurney said.

The couple's daughter Gayle lives with them and cares for them. And while their health is good for their ages, COVID-19 has kept them from enjoying the frequent visits from their kids and grand-kids. Just like so many others.

Craig McBurney told Patch that what the pandemic has meant for them, and endless other families, “Is the saddest thing.” But his sister is there, and, he said, their neighbors are also right there.

“They are the best people. They keep an eye on them. You could not ask for better neighbors,” he said.

Gayle told Patch that she'd seen the decorating contest on The Good Things About East Haven Facebook page.

"I thought (her parents) would like to do that," she said, and, it was a great, and festive, way "to keep them active and getting them involved with what’s happening in the neighborhood."

"Mom really enjoyed helping to decorate," Gayle said. "The pandemic has been very difficult. I won’t take them anywhere where there’s going to be other people, we do take trips to the beaches in the area, and I get them outside in the yard on these warmer days."

But, it's been a tough year.

Craig McBurney told Patch that his father not only built his own home, but the road to get to it.

"Austin Avenue ended at Stevens Street, and North Atwater ended at Meadow Place. The town said Dad could access his lot if he took on the responsibility to clear the town property from Stevens to the corner where 'their' stop sign is now located. So, he essentially built his own road to his property."

Another reason to make sure to drive by Austin Avenue to see the McBurney's decorated stop sign.